Posted on Leave a comment

The ultimate guide to splices and whippings (used to splice ropes together).

Short splice step 2

Splices

It is not uncommon, especially in a wilderness survival situation where you possess limited supplies, to encounter situations where a longer length of rope is needed.  Rope splices are used to splice shorter lengths of rope together to form a single, larger length of rope.  Good rope splices hold tight without impacting the natural shape and resiliency of the rope.

Short Splice

A Short Splice is the easiest method to splice two ropes together.  It is a bulky knot, though and will not pass easily through blocks or pulleys.

  • 6 8 2023 6 55 09 PM
  • Short splice
  • Short splice

Step 1: First, unlay the lay of both ropes several times the rope diameter. A temporary whipping (see below) one will prevent unraveling. Marry the strands together, alternating one from each end.

Step 2: Next, tuck F under E and G under D.

Step 3: In #3, the first two tucks are completed.

Step 4: Finally (see #4) rotate the splice 180 degrees and tuck H under C. This completes the first set of tucks. Continue tucking F, G and H over one lay and under the next. Remove the temporary whipping and tuck C, D and E over one strand and under the next. Tuck each lay three times.

Eye Splice

6 8 2023 6 58 45 PM

Step 1: Count 5 rounds of the rope.

Step 2: Count back and unlay 5 rounds of the lay of the rope.

Step 3: Fan the unlaid end of the rope and place it over the standing part of the rope. The strand to the inside of the eye must look like it is coming out from under the other two strands, and the other two strands must be fanned in such a way that they do not cross each other.

Step 4: While holding the inside strand in place, stick the middle strand under one of the strands of the standing end of the rope.

Step 5: Pass the inside strand over the standing end strand and stick it under the next standing end strand.

NOTE: The second strand goes in where the first strand came out.

Step 6: Turn the splice over.

Step 7: Stick the third strand under the remaining strand of the standing end.

NOTE: The third strand is stuck in where the second strand came out and comes out where the first strand went in.

NOTE When the third strand is stuck, it appears to go backward, but when it is examined closely, you will see that it is stuck in the same direction as the other two strands.

Step 8: Complete the splice by working the strands snugly and adding 3 to 5 rounds of tucks. NOTE: When the strands are folded back over the eye, you will notice that there is one strand going in and one strand coming out between each of the strands of the standing end.

  • Eye Splice knot step 1
  • Eye Splice knot step 2
  • Eye Splice knot step 3
  • Eye Splice knot step 4
  • Eye Splice knot step 5
  • Eye Splice knot step 6
  • Eye Splice knot step 7
  • Eye Splice knot step 8
  • Eye Splice knot step 8f

Back Splice (Lazy Man’s Whipping)

A Back Splice is a good splice to prevent a rope’s end from unraveling and is easy to make.  It does thicken the rope, though, which could make it difficult to pass through a block or pulley.

Step 1: Unlay the rope 5 or 6 turns

Step 2 and 3: Form crown knot as shown. From above it should look like this:

Step 4: Tuck one lay over the adjoining end and under itself.

Step 5: Tuck the next strand over and under

Step 6: Tuck the remaining strand over and under.

To finish the back splice, continue tucking each lay over and under several times.

  • 6 8 2023 7 03 35 PM
  • 6 8 2023 7 03 39 PM
  • 6 8 2023 7 03 43 PM
  • 6 8 2023 7 03 45 PM
  • 6 8 2023 7 03 49 PM
  • 6 8 2023 7 03 51 PM
  • 6 8 2023 7 03 54 PM
  • 6 8 2023 7 04 13 PM

Whippings

A whipping knot is a knot tied at the end of a rope.

Whipping itself is a binding of twine or cord around the end of a rope to prevent its natural tendency to fray. You can bind the end with waxed thread too. When whipping, the binding must be tight and start away from the end of the rope and work towards it.

Sail Maker’s Whipping

A Sailmaker’s whipping will stand harder wear than other whippings.

Sail Maker’s Whipping

Step 1: Begin by unlaying (untwisting) the rope two inches. Make a bite in a 3-foot length of whipping thread and place it around one of the strands.

Step 2: Re-lay the rope. Wind the whipping thread tightly around the rope end for a sufficient number of turns.

Step 3: Carry the bight originally formed back over the end of the same strand around which it was laid.

Step 4: Pull ends tight and tie them with a square knot between the rope ends. Trim ends of whipping thread.

English Whipping

English Whipping

Form a loop in whipping thread and lay it along the end. Wrap the whipping thread tightly around the rope. When the whipping is as wide as the rope is thick, slip the end through the loop, pull hard, and trim whipping thread.

Crown Knot

A Crow Knot binds the ends of the rope’s strands together with the strands coming out the bottom of the knot.  In the description below, we pass the lines through the bights (loops) of its neighbor to the left, but it can be reversed and passed through the bight of the neighbor to the right.

  • 6 9 2023 8 22 58 AM
  • 6 9 2023 8 23 12 AM
  • 6 9 2023 8 22 19 AM
  • 6 9 2023 8 21 57 AM

Step 1: Unlay the rope.

Step 2: Bend strand 1 into a bight towards the end of the rope.

Step 3: Bend strand 2 into a similar bight with its end passing through the bight of strand 1.

Step 4: Pass strand 3 through the bight of strand 2 and work it tight.

Wall Knot

A Wall Knot can be used to bind the ends of the rope’s strands together.  It is similar to the Crown Knot (see above) but the strands come out the top of the knot rather than the bottom of the knot.  It also differs from the Crown Knot in that each strand passes outside of its neighbor first before going upwards through its bight (loop).

6 9 2023 8 20 30 AM

Step 1: Unlay the rope.

Step 2: Pass strand 1 outside of strand 2 but inside of strand 3.

Step 3: Pass strand 2 outside of strand 3 and the end of strand 1.

Step 4: Dip strand 3 outside of the bight (loop) of strand 2 and bring it up through the bight of strand 1.

Step 5: Work all of the knots tight, clip off the ends, and Whipping.

Manrope knot

11 29 2022 2 05 10 PM

A Manrope knot is an effective stopper at the end of a rope. First, form a Wall Knot. Form a Crown knot on top of the Wall Knot (a). Follow around the Wall. Follow around the Crown (b). Cut the ends off close.

Diamond Knot

A Diamond Knot is often made in the middle of a rope.

Step 1: Unlay the rope to the point where you wish to make the knot, taking care to preserve the lay as much as possible.

Step 2: Lay each strand alongside the standing part so that you leave three bights standing above the point where they fork.

Step 3: Take strand I outside strand II and up through the bight of strand III.

Step 4: Take II outside III and up through the bight of I.

Step 5: Take III outside the bight of I and up through the bight of II.

Step 6: Re-lay the rope.

11 29 2022 2 09 15 PM

Snaking

Snaking adds security and decoration to the whipping. You pass the twine through the rope with a needle. Pass the twine around the rope once, back and forth across the whipping, alternatively over and under its top and bottom turns. Finally, pass the twine back through the rope.

Worming, parceling, and serving to protect rope

Somewhat related to whipping is worming, parceling, and serving. Worming makes the surface of the rope smooth and ready for parceling. Simply bind yarn or other small cord into the hollows between the strands.

Parceling gives a firm surface for serving and also prevents water from entering and degrading the rope. For this reason, when a rope that will be held vertically rather than horizontally, always start from the bottom and work upwards. Parceling involved binding strips of cloth, two or three inches wide and preferably of old, tarred canvas, around the rope with the lay so that each turn overlaps the edge of its predecessor.

Service is the final step in protecting the rope’s surface. Yarn is bound tightly and closely around the rope against the lay. It must be put on tightly (a serving mallet helps, as does two people working on the rope at the same time).

To help you remember:

Worm and parcel with the lay

But always serve the other way

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *