Problems making Mason line whoopies

[Short White Guy]

I don't taper when I splice with mason line, but I do taper with other ropes that I splice. I figure that my mason line items won't be under enough load to be a big enough issue about the reduced strength, and the line is so small that I would have problems getting the individual strands out to taper. I also use the wire bent in half instead of a hook or a needle. It's flexible enough to handle odd curves, but also stiff enough to feed through the bury. The wire that I use is 22 gauge floral wire that I got at Hobby Lobby or Joann's. It was only a couple bucks for an entire spool of the stuff.

[momtaxi]

I was trying to splice some cheap stuff from home depot a few weeks ago and it was a complete bear. Some lines work better than others. I used jewelry wire from Michaels that I had lying around to splice some amsteel yesterday and it was much much easier. The cheap stuff that I was using for a canopy over our pool I ended up just sealing the end and doing a double overhand instead. Not as pretty but perfectly functional for the job.

[5th]

You can also use a steel guitar string folded in half. Use one that is a single strand and not wrapped. It's a handy use for old or broken strings. Tapering is useful on smaller line and required on suspension lines like 7/64" Amsteel Blue.

[Bubba]

... However, I did want to do the eye splice to lark's head to the tarp, since I think it looks cleaner than a bowline.

Good point.

[jackleberry]

That needle is too big. Like 5th, I also use an old guitar string (G, I think). Works great for mason line, dynaglide, amsteel, everything.

[SilvrSurfr]

I'm now planning on using regular line with tensioners and marlin spike it to the stake, Shug-style. However, I did want to do the eye splice to lark's head to the tarp, since I think it looks cleaner than a bowline.

I larkshead the line onto the tarp without a loop - don't see the purpose. Once larksheaded, the line never slips:

http://www.animatedknots.com/cow/ind...matedknots.com

[dfscott]

Update:

Thanks for the help all -- with a switch to a doubled-over spiral notebook wire and making sure to taper, I was successful!

round 2-1.jpg

round2-2.jpg

[gmcttr]

Congrats. A little technique goes along way when splicing.