RTI/A 24/ 001.

02
15.05.01
Page 1 of 4

SPLICING EIGHT-STRAND ROPE

stitch
General
Plaited ropes are sometimes described as square
braids. They are produced on a plaiting machine
containing eight reels, each containing one strand.
Frequently, as in the eight strand x-plaited rope,
groups of two reels interweave as a pair around the other pairs of reels to produce an eight strands
rope of a somewhat square cross section.
material

Preperation
The rope is best spliced on a clean workbench or floor. To make
the splice a sharp knife, electric tape, a marker pen a tape
measure and a splicing fid are needed. The use of a protective
sleeve over the eye is strongly recommended, e.g. flexible fire
hose.

full tapered
tucks tucks
4
1
6
1
6
1
6
1
6
1
7
3

Polyprop
Bexcord
Bexcord composite
Nylon
Polyester
Dyneema

Splicing
1. For additional protection of the eye a sleeve can be put over the rope.
2. Form the eye (for mooring ropes a typical eye length is 1.8 m) and if
applicable ensure that the protection is over eye. The free leg should be on
the right-side. It should be long enough to undo the free length of the rope
by as many stitches as the total number of tucks plus one,
see also table. For example a Bexcord Composite rope
photo 1
has five full tucks and two tapered, thus the rope will be
undone by 5+2+1 = 8 stitches. Left-hand strands or S and
Right-and or Z should be tucked under the corresponding
strands on the standing leg.

Z-twist

S-twist

As a check the splicing fid should be laid under the Sstrands, see also photo 1.

photo 2

3. Undo the first two S-strands of the free leg

and tuck the first strand under the
corresponding strand of the standing leg
following the twist direction of the yarn. See
also photo.2
Repeat this step for the second S-strand, by
tucking it under the second strand of the
standing leg, again with the twist direction
of the yarns.

Vermeire n.v. Industriepark Zwaarveld 19 9220 Hamme Belgium Tel. +32(0)52 47.86.41 Fax +32(0)52 47.09.77
BE 45 393-0720225-89
BE 61 293-0060005-17
B.T.W.-T.V.A. BE 424.156.947
bexco@bexco.be www.bexco.be

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photo 3

4. Turn the eye around and undo two Z-strands.

5. One of the Z-strands should be laid over the spliced Sstrands and then tucked under the z-strand of the rope
(again following the twist direction of the yarns). This
step should be repeated for the other Z-strand. See
photos 3 and 4.

Photo 5

Photo 4

6. Now the other two S-strands should be undone. Then they should be tucked under the
corresponding S-strands of the standing leg (following the twist direction of the yarns). See photo
5, 6, 7 and 8.

Photo 6

Photo 7

photo 8

The information disclosed herein was originated by and is the property of BexcoRopes n.v. BexcoRopes reserves all intellectual and industrial
property rights such as any and all patent, trademark, design, manufacturing, reproduction use and sales rights thereto and to any article disclosed
therein, except to the extent rights expressly granted to others.

RTI/A 24/ 001.02

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7. Turn the eye around (180). Now two Z-strands should put through the eye, see photo 9 and 10.
photo 10

photo 9
8. Now the last two Z-strands should be tucked under two S strands, see photo 11 and 12.
Photo 12

Photo 11

9. One of these strands should be pulled under the two Z-strands. The other should be pulled under
onnly one Z , see photo 14, 15.
Photo 13

Photo 14
The information disclosed herein was originated by and is the property of BexcoRopes n.v. BexcoRopes reserves all intellectual and industrial
property rights such as any and all patent, trademark, design, manufacturing, reproduction use and sales rights thereto and to any article disclosed
therein, except to the extent rights expressly granted to others.

RTI/A 24/ 001.02

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Page 4 of 4

10. Now all the free strands are separated and distributed
over the circumference of the rope, see photo 15.

Photo 15
11. Take one of the free S-strands and tuck it under the
lower S-strand. The
second S-strand is
then tucked under the
upper S-strand. Repeat
this for the other two
S-strand and the four
Z-strands.
This
completes one full
tuck. Repeat this until
Photo 16
the required number
of full tucks is
completed.

12. When the splice is complete , the free strands should

be taped per pair and cut to a short length, see photo 17

13. As mentioned on page 1, the eye should be protected

with fire hose or heavy duty cloth for protection, this
has been left out for clarity. Photo 18 shows a typical
example of a finished splice, as it can be used in
practice.
Photo 17

Photo 18

The information disclosed herein was originated by and is the property of BexcoRopes n.v. BexcoRopes reserves all intellectual and industrial
property rights such as any and all patent, trademark, design, manufacturing, reproduction use and sales rights thereto and to any article disclosed
therein, except to the extent rights expressly granted to others.