Wire splicing

[John Arton]

When splicing wire it was useful to tape up the ends of each strand to make it easier to push it through the opening made by your marlin spike.
A post came up on Facebook showing a marlin spike with bar welded to its top to form a t shape and the body of the spike being hollow. Put your strand in the hollow section , insert the spike to open up the lay and push the spike through, the strand is prevented from splaying out as it's held in the hollow body of the spike, pretty cool, I thought
Rgds
J.A

[Ivan Cloherty]

Alas all my wire splicing was before 'the tape' we had to whip the ends, the hollow spike would have been nice

[j.sabourn]

#1. My last few years at sea splicing wires in most cases especially on rigs and platforms was a no no and was replaced by the use of ferrules . Many’s the time even though the use of ferrules was strange to me I had to inspect and certify that they were done correctly , it was a fast learning curve. JS.

[j.sabourn]

Just put on but seems to have vanished …I suppose today in any case the old terms for wire re the lay and number of strands will not be too important as it used to do , as the wire for special purposes is ordered as such as needed . But the number of wires to a strand was 12, 24, or 37 and was the deciding factor of the flexibility of the use of the wire to any special needs. Even there right or left hand lay. However today one just gives the order and requirements and what the wire is going to be used for and hey presto the rigger in some loft is king of his own Castle and relives his own past, however by now most wires will rely on AI for its construction . AI once again is artificial Intelligence, so AI will have to answer all questions why the wire broke well below its SWL. Cheers JS

[Johnny Kieran]

Didn't do much wire splicing, just odd times sent to help the lampey doing a bit.