Splicing and Whipping

Robert W. Brey
Roundtable Staff

09/15/13
Rope work
 Back Splice
 Eye splice
 Short Splice
 Whipping

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Back splice
 Un-lay 3 to 4 inches
of the rope
 Identify the three
strands as A, B, and
C
 Lay strand A back on
the standing part

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Back Splice
 Wrap B around the
loop formed by A

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Back Splice
 Bring strand C
through loop A

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Back Splice
 Tighten all strands,
pulling one against
the other.

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Back Splice
 Tuck strand C over
one strand and under
the next.

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Back Splice
 Continue with strand
B, then A. Complete
sequence C, B, A a
total of four times
 To make the splice
thinner, trim one
third of each strand
after the second tuck.

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Eye splice
 Determine size of the
eye that you want
 Add 3 inches to size
of eye
 Apply whipping 3
inches from end of
rope
 Unlay 3 inches of
rope

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Eye Splice
 Untwist rope where
you want the eye to
finish
 Identify A, B, and C
on unlayed rope

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Eye Splice
 Tuck strand B
through one strand
on the standing part

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Eye Splice
 Tuck strand A under
the next strand on the
standing part

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Eye Splice
 To complete the
splice, turn it over

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Eye Splice
 Tuck strand C under
the next strand

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Eye Splice
 Turn rope back to
original position and
repeat steps 2 - 5.
 To make the spliced
part thinner, trim one
third of each strand
as it is tucked the
third and fourth
times.

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Short Splice
 A short splice can be used in place of a
knot to join two ropes or the two ends of
the same rope together.
 If two ropes are being joined with a short
splice, they should be the same type of
rope and have the same diameter.

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Short Splice
 Unlay the ropes, intertwine the strands
and tie a temporary whipping to hold the
ropes together.

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Short Splice
 Identify the parts of the splice as A, B, C
and 1, and 2.

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Short Splice
Take strand A of the left rope and take it
over strand 1 on the right rope and tuck it
under strand 2.

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Short Splice

Roll rope towards you and take

strand B over strand 2 and under
strand 3.

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Short Splice
Roll the rope toward you again and
tuck strand C over strand 3 and under
the next strand.

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 Short Splice
Continue rolling the rope toward you and tucking
the appropriate strand. Tuck three times with each
strand. To make the splice thinner, trim one third
of each strand as you tuck.

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 Short Splice
Remove temporary whipping and do the same
tuck and roll working to the left. Complete three
tucks with each strand.

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Whipping
 West Country Whipping
– From an area in Bristol, England, consists of a
series of overhand knots alternating on each
side of the rope to be whipped. Make the
whipping as long as the diameter of the rope.
Finish with a square knot and trim the excess
ends.

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Whipping
 Sailmaker’s
whipping
– Unlay the three
strands of the rope
about 1 inch. Use 16
inches of whipping
cord and form an
open bight about 3
inches in length. Slip
the bight over one
strand of the rope and
then relay the rope.
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Whipping
 Re-lay the strands of
the rope to the
original twist. Wrap
the cord clockwise,
moving towards the
end of the rope
approximately six
turns.

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Whipping
 Complete whipping
by bringing the bight
over the same strand
it was originally
looped over. Pull the
short end of the
whipping cord until
the bight is pulled
tight.

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Whipping
 Finally bring the two
ends of the whipping
cord up to the end of
the rope and between
two strands of the
rope. Tie a tight
square knot between
the strands of the
rope and cut off
excess.

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Splices and Whipping 2002
Pictures and text adapted from
Pioneering merit badge pamphlet,
1995 printing of 1993 version, Boy
Scouts of America

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