Chris splices a loading sling

Here Chris (that's me), demonstrates how to splice a loading sling made of wire rope.

This particular specimen is a 1 inch by 24 foot loading sling with 3 foot eyes. Pretty much standard fare for the bed-trucks in the oilfield -- often they'll have slightly longer lengths, or slightly larger diameter rope used to support more weight.

This is one of the many tasks that I do at work... and now people might have an appreciation why I can eat like a horse when I mention that I've been splicing loading slings all day!

Cameraman: Drew

Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• splicing
• wire
• rope
• loading
• sling
• rigging

[peteacher52]

Thanks Chris - I'd always assumed that a clever robotic machine of some sort performed those difficult splices on wire rope. Turns out that the clever robot is indeed you. Cheeses! You must need steak and eggs for breakfast. One false move and you'd have your finger "squeezed" in one of the openings created by that steel fid, yet you're tossing the thing around with the same assurance as granny tatting with her crochet hooks! I guess you'd lose your rhythm if you tried to slow it down. Cheers!

[chrstphrr]

@peteacher52 Oh no, you'd never get your finger stuck in one of those ... you're much more likely to slip and lose your grip on a tail you're splicing in, and it goes whipping around.

Anyone who's done this, has been hit by in the face by one of those tails springing back on them.

Even if you're the nicest guy in the world, it makes you violently, instantly mad -- you'd punch babies, if there were any nearby.

[rfw700]

very impressive. you make it look easy. but for anybody who has not spliced wire, its not easy.

[chrstphrr]

I'm glad you have an appreciation for it -- it IS hard work to make it look easy.

Splicers end up with "popeye" forearms when working with wire rope, and a grip that you have to hold back on when shaking people's hands afterward.

A great trade if you want to fish barehanded, BTW. :)

[spentacle]

ps that's 3" in old measure ( circumference)

[spentacle]

This must be one of the few videos where the comments are from people who know the job. My only experience is soft eyes in 3" manila or hemp for mooring lines on river cruisers. That doesn't bite back!

[lusthawk61]

Yep...that is a speedy splice alright...well done...a straight up Liverpool right?...I did not notice if there was a lock tuck. I was in riggin loft a few years myself...some splicing which was a nice change from the 500pc orders for chokers...got to doing Flemish eyes in my sleep....lol. I liked doin spelter sockets...they were fun...but splicin was my favorite...specially the cut-hand splice...customers liked it because it had no jaggers....I liked it cuz it was fun to do...LOL

Great vid!!!

[peteacher52]

@chrstphrr Cheers Chris, and may you never have such a bathplug of an accident, but tell your mates to leave their babies at home just to be prudent!!

[chrstphrr]

@swn02 Ugh... no, that's not fun AT ALL.

I've had to re-eye thimble eyes on used rope rarely. We'd never tag them, because, those were usually eyes on winchlines. With the lay of the rope all stretched out, it used to spring away from itself.

I know we had to splice some poorer quality rope into these same loading slings. Every strand on every lay would fan out when cut. So, I feel for you having had suffered splicing used rope.

[swn02]

@chrstphrr yeah nice splice dude,but you in a shop with nice new rope.now do it in the mud with an abused logging rope that cracks up when tucking etc,not fun,oh and holding the eye between your legs.bet you still do a better job of it than me ha ha.

[ThePhatdog]

Guiness world record right here!

[jackkoon]

I rigged for 3 years and NEVER had to do one of these, lol. The "big jobs" we did were with synthetic ropes and then the occasional order of 10-20 1 1/2" slings, standard and thimble sized eyes. 2 riggers, that was it. We did spelter sockets and poured larger cables but recently everything sized up so 2 3/8" is "outdated" now for those boom cranes. Really though, is it just a locking splice? Also, heavygrippers, google it. Helped me tons. handgrippers that go up to 350lbs. I'm at 250