Samson DOUBLE BRAID Class I User Manual

SAMSON SPLICING INSTRUCTIONS

Double Braid Class I End-For-End Splice

Class I Double Braids are made from any or all of the following

bers: olen, polyester, or nylon.

This splice can be performed on new and used rope. This is an
all-purpose splice technique designed for people who generally
splice used rope as frequently as new rope.

MEASURING AND MARKING

Tape the end of each rope with 1 thin layer of tape. Lay 2 ropes to be spliced side-by-side and measure 1 tubular d length
(or 2 wire d lengths) from end of each rope and make a mark. This is Point R (Reference).

step

1

From Point R measure 1 short d section length (as scribed on the d) then mark. This is Point X (where you should extract
core from inside cover.) Be sure both ropes are identically marked. Tie a slipknot approximately 5 d lengths from Point X.

Note: If you require the rope
with the nished splice to
be a certain overall ength,
refer to “Special Tips for
Splicing Double Braid
Class I”, on th last page
of these splice instructions.

EXTRACTING THE CORE

step

2

Bend rope sharply at Point X. With a pusher or any sharp tool, such as an ice pick, awl, or marlin spike, spread cover
strands to expose core. First pry, then pull core completely out of cover (shown in white) from Point X to the end of rope.
Put 1 layer only of tape on end of core (shown in gray.)

To assure correct positioning of Mark 1 do the following: holding the exposed core, slide cover as far back towards the

tightly tied slip knot as you can. Then, rmly smooth cover back from the slip knot towards taped end. Smooth again until

all cover slack is removed. Then, mark core where it comes out of cover. This is Mark 1. Do this to both ropes. (Fig. A)

Figure A

X

X R

Tie a slipknot in each line about
5 fid lengths from Point X.

X

Finished splice

Short

section

of fid

R

Core must be extracted
from cover here.

R

1 fid OR

2 wire fids

1 layer of

tape

cover

Mark 1

X

X

Do not pull cover strands away from rope as this will distort cover unnecessarily.

INSERTING CORE INTO CORE

step

3

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Hold 1 core at Mark 1 and slide cover back to expose more core. (Fig. B)

From Mark 1, measure along

3A

core towards X a distance
equal to the short section

of d and make 2 heavy

marks. This is Mark 2.

3B

From Mark 2 measure in the

same direction 1 d length

plus another short section
and make 3 heavy marks.
This is Mark 3.

Mark second core by laying it alongside

the rst and using it as an exact guide.

X

Mark 3

X

R

1 fid length plus another short section

Mark second core using first as exact guide

R

R

cover

core

core

cover

core

core

cover

One layer
of tape

Figure B

Short section

Mark 1

Mark 2

PAGE 1 OF 4

SAMSON SPLICING INSTRUCTIONS

Mark 2

Mark 3

Mark 1

X

X

Mark 3

Mark 1

Double Braid Class I End-For-End Splice

step

4

step

5

MARKING THE COVER FOR TAPERING

Note nature of the cover braid. It is made up of strands. By inspection you can see that half the strands revolve
to the right around the rope and half revolve to the left.

Beginning at Point R and working toward the taped end of cover, count 8 consecutive pairs of cover strands
that revolve to the right (or left). Mark the 8th pair. This is Point T, which should go completely around cover.

Starting at Point T and working toward the cover’s taped end, count and mark every second right and left pair

of strands for a total of 6. Then, on the other rope starting at Point T, count and mark every second right and left
pair of strands for a total of 6. Make both ropes identical.

Right pair

Marking
cover strands

R T

Read instruc­tions Carefully

Left pair

X

Mark 3

X

R T

R T

cover

core
core

cover

Mark 2

PERFORMING THE TAPER

Bring cover-tail down on side
of rope (minimum 2 times rope
circumference in inches) and lock
stitch (or tape) excess cover to
rope. After lock stitching, excess
cover should be whipped to the
neck of the rope with appropriate

whipping twine. Start whipping at

the throat of the eye moving toward
tail using Whipping Method 2.

Mark 1

Mark 3

R

T

Tapered cover

core

RT

core

Mark 2

Figure D

Mark 1

REPOSITIONING THE ROPES

Reposition ropes for splicing according

6

step

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to Fig. D. Note how the cover of one
rope has been paired off with core of
the opposite line. Avoid twisting.

Figure C

Cutting pairs

X

X

R T

R

T

Removing
cut pairs

Tapered cover

core
core

Tapered cover

Mark 2

Mark 2

PAGE 2 OF 4

SAMSON SPLICING INSTRUCTIONS

X

R

T

Mark 1

Mark 2

Mark 3

Mark 2

Mark 3

Mark 1

Mark 2

T

Double Braid Class I End-For-End Splice

step

7

step

8

step

9

PUTTING THE COVER INSIDE CORE

Insert d into rst core core (shown in gray) at Mark 2 and

bring it out at Mark 3. Add extra tape to tapered cover (shown

in white) end then jam it tightly into hollow end of d. Hold

core lightly at Mark 3, place pusher point into taped end

pushing d and cover in it from Mark 2 and out at Mark 3.
(When using wire d, attach d to cover.) Then pull d through

from Mark 2 to Mark 3. Pull cover tail through core until Point
T on cover meets Mark 2 on core. Insert other cover into core
in same manner (Fig. E).

REINSERTING THE CORE INTO THE COVER

Now put core back into cover from Point T to Point X. Insert d at
Point T, jam taped core tightly into end of d (Fig. F). With pusher,
push d and core through cover bringing out at Point X. When using
wire d attach d to taped core. Then pull d and braid through from
Point T to Point X. Do this to both cores. Remove tape from end of

cover. Bring crossover up tight by pulling on core tail and tapered
covered tail. Hold crossover tightly, smoothing out all excess
braid away from crossover in each direction. Trim end of
tapered cover at an angle to eliminate blunt end.
Tapered cover tail will disappear into core
at Mark 3. Cut core tail off close to
Point X at an angle.

Fid and end

of core comes

out at X

BURYING THE EXPOSED CORE

Hold rope at slipknot and with other hand milk

cover toward the splice, gently at rst, and
then more rmly. The cover will slide over

Mark 3, Mark 2 the crossover and Point

R. Repeat on the other side of the splice.

Continue burying until all cover slack
between the knot and the splice has
been removed.

Beginning at each slipknot, milk

cover by sliding hand toward splice

X

Figure E

X

Tapered cover

T

R

Figure F

Insert core into
cover at T

R

End of taper disappears here

core

T

X

R

core

cover

core

core

tapered cover

crossover

Pinch taped
end to insert

into fid

core

cover

R

T

core

core

X

Opening in crossover should be
no larger than diameter of rope.

FINISHING THE SPLICE

10

step

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The splice is nished when all cover

slack has been removed and there is
an opening in the splice approximately
equal in length to the diameter of rope.
If, at the opening, one side of the
splice is noticeably longer than the
other side, something is wrong. Check

Steps 1–9 and remake if necessary.

Now untie the slip knots.

End of buried section

Continue “milking” to remove all cover slack

Crossover point buried

to approximately here

End of buried section

PAGE 3 OF 4

SAMSON SPLICING INSTRUCTIONS

5 fids

Special Tips for Splicing Double Braid Class I

SPLICE WITH THIMBLE

Follow Step 1 of the Eye Splice Double Braid Class I for determining the correct eye size. When burying exposed core, as in Step 8, bury to
crossover, then insert thimble into eye before milking cover all the way. If using a thimble with ears, before inserting cover into core, as in Step

5, insert core through the rings (dog ears) and slide thimble beyond Mark 3. Proceed to make the splice according to instructions.

Note: Before nal burying, slide thimble around to cover side of eye. To secure nished eye tightly around thimble, either whip throat or dip the
eye in hot water for several minutes. Hot water will shrink the eye tightly around thimble for nylon and polyester ber ropes.

SPLICING ROPES 3" DIAMETER OR LARGER

Before splicing rope, measure back 8 ds and insert a large d through the rope to anchor the core and cover together. Use a milking strap to
milk slack of cover toward end of rope. A milking strap is a smaller diameter rope that is cinched around the rope to create more seizing power

than a human hand can apply. It helps to pull the milking strap with mechanical means (a winch or come-along.) Cut off any excess cover.

Milking the cover is a crucial step and will be done several times during this splice. The milking process aligns the core and cover braid angles
and allows them to more effectively share the load when the rope is in use. It is best done with a milking strap for ropes 3" diameter or larger

After milking, check for cover slack. If cover slack remains, repeat milking process until slack is gone.

MINIMUM LENGTHS

Minimum eye-and-eye sling length with Class I Double Braid is 5

d lengths from extraction Mark X to extraction Mark X, regardless
of rope diameter. The size of eye does not affect the minimum

length. Proceed to make the eye splice as per instructions.

Mark X

Mark R

END-FOR-END SPLICE

Minimum endless loop (Grommet) with Class I Double Braid is

10 d lengths between extraction Mark X to extraction Mark X,

regardless of rope diameter. Proceed with the Class I Double
Braid End-for-End splicing instructions.

Mark X

Mark R

Mark X

Mark X

Example: How to make an Eye-and-Eye Sling 10' long overall with two 6" eyes:

10 ft.

6"

Measure and cut a length:

1 Eye

10 ft.

Circ. 3 fids

Then start with Step 1 of Class 1 Double Braid splice.

Exact overall lengths with endless loops are determined by allowing for extra
rope consumed in making the End-for-End Splice. The length of extra rope is
equal to 4 fid lengths.

Example: To make an endless loop 10' overall:

10 Ft.

Measure and cut a length:

20 Ft.

6"

4 fids

Then start with Step 1 of the End-for-End Double Braid Class I Splice instruction.

DOCUMENT Double_Braid_C1_End_for_End.pdf

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© 2012 Samson Rope Technologies, Inc. All rights reserved. S/WD #108294 7/2012

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