Splicing Wire Rope - Wire rope is usually six-stranded with a hemp core. Work the strands separately, but in some splices, pairs may be worked. This kind work calls for special tools and some degree of skill with lots of practice. If you know somebody who has done these splices have them help the first couple of times. When splicing wire, always insert the marlinspike against the lay, but make sure that you do not shove it through the core. In tucking the strands of a splice, open out the lay of the rope and leave the spike in, holding the strands apart until the tuck has been made.
Liverpool Eye Splice The Liverpool splice is one of the most common and the easiest of the eye splices to put. Never use it in a wire that when loaded, is free to spin, because it will pullout.
To find the distance to which the strands should be unlaid, multiply the diameter of the wire by 36 inches. Find and measure off that distance, and put a seizing on. Another seizing should be put on just below the point where the first tuck is to be made. Next, cut the end seizings, and unlay the strand, and whip the ends of each strand tightly with several turns of sail twine or tape. Cut out the core, form the eye, and put it in a vise, with the unlaid strands on your left. Stretch out the standing part of the wire, and you are ready to go to work.
The first strand of the splice goes under three strands, the second under two, and the third under one. They all enter at the same point but come out at different places.
The next tucks are made by wrapping each strand back around and under the strand it is already under. To avoid kinking the strands on the last tucks, insert the spike and run it up the wire. Follow the spike up with the strand, shove it under the spike, and pull taut. Keeping a strain on the strand, work the spike and strand back around and down together. Hold the strand there and work the spike back up the wire. Follow up with the strand, and take the last tuck. Work that strand back down and hold it there. Pull out the spike, run it back up until the strands of the standing wire bind the working strand in place. Make the second and third tucks with the remaining strands in the same way. A locking tuck may be taken after completing the third round of tucks to decrease the possibility of the splice working out. For this tuck, take every other strand and pass each of these over two strands, and tuck under the next strand. Each of these strands goes over the next working strand as well as the two strands of the standing part and locks the splice in place.
