Editing Rope splicing (section)

==Types of splice==

[[Image:Splitsar.png|thumb|left|Examples of splices in different stages of completion, from the ''[[Nordisk familjebok]]'':  a) long splice b) tapered short splice c) eye splice d) short splice]]

*Back splice (or end splice) – A splice where the strands of the end of the rope are spliced directly back into the end without forming a loop. It is used to finish off the end of the rope to keep it from fraying. The end of the rope with the splice is about twice the thickness of the rest of the rope.  With nylon and other plastic materials, the back splice is often no longer used; the rope strands are simply fused together with heat to prevent fraying.<ref>{{cite book
 | last    = Merry
 | first   = Barbara
 | title   = The Splicing Handbook
 | edition = second
 | year    = 2001
 | publisher = International Marine
 | isbn    = 0-07-135438-7
 | page    = 31
}}</ref>[[Image:Cut Splice.gif|thumb|An unfinished cut splice]]
*Cut splice (originally cunt splice) – A splice similar to the eye splice.  It is typically used for light lines (e.g. the log-line) where a single splice would tend to come undone, the rope being frequently wet.<ref name="falconer">William Falconer, ''[http://nla.gov.au/nla.cs-ss-refs-falc-1243 Universal Dictionary of the Marine]'' (London: Thomas Cadell, 1780), 1243.</ref>  It makes a very strong knot. A cut splice is a join between two ropes, made by side splicing the ends slightly apart, to make an eye in the joined rope which lies shut when the rope is taut. Its original name was [[bowdlerize|bowdlerised]] to "cut splice".[[Image:Splice on snap shackle.jpg|thumb|A line eye-spliced to a [[snap shackle]]]]
*[[Eye splice]] – A splice where the working end is spliced into the working part forming a loop.
*Ring splice – Attached the working end of a rope to a ring or clew.<ref>{{cite book
 | last    = Merry
 | first   = Barbara
 | title   = The Splicing Handbook
 | edition = second
 | year    = 2001
 | publisher = International Marine
 | isbn    = 0-07-135438-7
 | page    = 27
}}</ref>
*Chain splice – Attached the working end of a rope to a chain.<ref>{{cite book
 | last    = Toss
 | first   = Brion
 | title   = The Complete Rigger's Apprentice
 | year    = 1998
 | publisher = International Marine
 | isbn    = 0-07-064840-9
 | page    = 89
}}</ref>
*[[Figure-eight knot#Figure-eight bend|Figure-eight "splice" knot]] – A splice-like bend knot used for joining two ropes.
*[[Horseshoe splice]] – A cut splice where the two sides of the loop are of unequal length.
*Long splice – A splice used to join two rope ends forming one rope the length of the total of the two ropes. The long splice, unlike most splice types, results in a splice that is only very slightly thicker than the rope without the splice, but sacrifices some of the strength of the short splice. It does this by replacing two of the strands of each rope end with those from the other, and cutting off some of the extra strands that result. The long splice allows the spliced rope to still fit through the same pulleys, which is necessary in some applications.<ref>{{cite book
 | last    = Toss
 | first   = Brion
 | title   = The Complete Rigger's Apprentice
 | year    = 1998
 | publisher = International Marine
 | isbn    = 0-07-064840-9
 | page    = 94
}}</ref>[[Image:Kurzspleiss.jpg|thumb|right|A short splice, with ends [[Whipping knot|whipped]]]]
*Short splice – Also a splice used to join the ends of two ropes, but the short splice is more similar to the technique used in other splices and results in the spliced part being about twice as thick as the non spliced part, and has greater strength than the long splice. The short splice retains more of the rope strength than any knots that join rope ends.<ref>{{cite book
 | last    = Merry
 | first   = Barbara
 | title   = The Splicing Handbook
 | edition = second
 | year    = 2001
 | publisher = International Marine
 | isbn    = 0-07-135438-7
 | page    = 29
}}</ref>

Splices are often tapered to make the thicker splice blend into the rest of the line. There are two main types of tapering, the standard and the "West Coast Taper". 
*Standard tapers progressively remove a portion of each remaining strand – one-third at a time is typical, resulting in a taper of two additional tucks beyond the splice – thus making each successive tuck produce a narrower splice. This is only practical with laid-lines – those made up of numerous strands laid side by side. 
*West Coast taper (or Fisherman's taper) is effected by extra-tucks of entire strands, such that the second strand is woven one more time than the first and the third is woven an additional time after the second.