Witchcraft - Splicing Octoplait

[Seaworthy Lass]

Originally Posted by Dockhead

3 strand works fine for a snubber, but octo will give more energy absorption if you need it. I still can't splice octo, though - as far as I can tell, it requires witchcraft. :-)

If anyone is prepared to sell their soul, read on for the instructions on how to splice 8 strand line with ease

[Tony B]

Splice Instructions

[Seaworthy Lass]

Firstly, eight strand is not scary so don't be intimidated by it.
Think of it as four strand, as until the last few tucks, you will be working in pairs of strands.

Understanding how it has been woven is the vital first step and the key.

These are the 5 critical points to remember:
- Two pairs of strands diagonally opposite to each other always wind anticlockwise and the other two pairs that are also opposite each other but a touch displaced always wind clockwise.
- Each pair winds 180 degrees between tucks.
- The strands going clockwise always tuck under a pair going anticlockwise and vice versa.
- All the strands keep leading in one direction as they weave around.
- Each pair of strands about to be tucked in must pass over a pair already tucked. Just keep working on the lowest pair of strands to achieve this.

You just follow this pattern to splice. Easy as child's play once you get the pattern going. Even easier than three strand line in many ways, as you have a pattern below to follow when you are tucking the strands in .

I have photographed the procedure below using a thimble, but it is exactly the same without a thimble.

Step 1
Make it easy for yourself and with the cut end closest to you mark the two pairs of strands going clockwise with black marking pen (the two lines of marks will be on opposite sides). Mark a length that is as long as the loop you require plus 16 more turns (8 for the standing portion and 8 for the portion that will be tucked in). In this case I needed to mark about 28 loops on each side.

[Tony B]

Question.....How come 8 strand as opposed to double braided nylon?
Just curious.

[Seaworthy Lass]

Originally Posted by Tony B

Splice Instructions

Excellent link. I modified the 'end to end' technique for mine .

I have written out the instructions now and taken photos, so will post them in case anyone is interested.

Originally Posted by Tony B

Question.....How come 8 strand as opposed to double braided nylon?
Just curious.

We use octoplait for our snubber and have heaps of it on board.

[Seaworthy Lass]

Step 2:
Curve the line around the thimble so that the marked loops end up on the top surface going all the way around:

[Seaworthy Lass]

Step 3:
Tie some whipping twine firmly as close to the peak as possible. The thread can actually be passed under the very end of the thimble. (If simply making a loop instead of using a thimble, then tie a knot tightly for the required size). BTW, thanks Dockhead and Wotname for giving me a nudge to learn the Constrictor knot - it worked really well in this application .
Next wind some tape tightly around the end of each of the eight strands:

[tamicatana]

I'm jealous! eight-plait is phenomenally expensive round here...

why octo? Because it's lighter, flakes better in the locker. Only thing is that octo will snag more readily, as in snag on splinters etc

[Seaworthy Lass]

Step 4:
Unwind the strands all the way to the constrictor knot, keeping the pairs together.
Shake out each strand so that it has unravelled completely then tape the pairs together just on top of the existing tape at the ends.
Cut with a hot knife on the diagonal to make the pairs easier to thread:

[Seaworthy Lass]

Step 5:
Now you get to the good bit. Decide which two pairs are the lowest (closest to the peak). You will be working with these first. They will both either be unmarked, or both have little black texta marks on them.

Here I have started with marked pairs as they were the lowest. I immediately know these will be winding clockwise the whole way and tucking under unmarked pairs on the standing bit of line the whole way (the sides of the lines). Each tuck for each pair will be on the opposite side of the line to the previous one.

So just go for it!
Find the closest loop to the thimble that is unmarked, stick a marlin spike in to create a bigger opening and thread one marked pair through in an clockwise direction under the unmarked loop. Make sure the strands within the pair are not crossed and give each a sharp tug as you are going to make sure it lies snugly.

[Seaworthy Lass]

Step 6:
Flip the thimble, find the unmarked loop exactly opposite, open it with the spike and feed through the second marked pair in a clockwise direction and again smooth and tug each strand with the pair.

Step 7:
Then take one of the unmarked pairs, find the marked loop closest to it (will always be on the top when the thimble is lying flat) and feed it under in an anticlockwise direction. Flip and repeat for the other unmarked pair.

Keep repeating this pattern with each of the two marked pairs then unmarked pairs. It is really easy, as you have marked pairs on the standing line that you just follow exactly if you feel a bit lost.

Here one of the unmarked pairs has just been tucked in, making it the highest in the sequence. The thimble has been flipped ready to spike the next marked loop and to push through the remaining unmarked line (the lowest depicted in the photo) anticlockwise:

[Seaworthy Lass]

Step: 8
Keep tucking under two marked then two unmarked:

[Seaworthy Lass]

Step 9:
When you have tucked each pair under 6 times, tightly twist one strand in each pair and tape close to the braid. These will be cut off later. Remove the outer layer of tape at the end of each pair and pull apart so that now you have 8 loose ends, not four:

[nigel1]

For some variation, it can be tucked one under one instead of two under two.
Like you said, its not magic, once you have done a couple you will wonder what all the fuss was about.

[Seaworthy Lass]

Step 10:
Keep the pattern going, winding in the single strands twice more, then again twist and tape each close to the braid: