Splicing is a method of creating a strong loop or eye in a length of rope. It’s achieved by unravelling the strands of one end and weaving them individually through the body of the rope.

Done properly, it’s a more reliable technique than tying a knot, which runs the risk of coming undone, is stronger, and offers a more aesthetically pleasing finish.

Splicing tools and equipment explained

Not sure what the difference is between a fid and a needle? Allow us to explain with a brief overview of some of the key splicing essentials:

• Fid – a traditional tool for separating and manipulating rope strands. These work well on thicker rope.
• Needles and D-splice – particularly useful for ropes with a smaller diameter to make it easier to pull strands of rope through the weave. 
• Ceramic knife – the ideal tool for slicing through synthetic rope fibres.
• Scissors – specially designed to make light work of cutting through strong fibres such as HMPE and Dyneema®.

How to splice

New to splicing or keen to brush up on your skills? Then check out our handy ‘how to’ video on how to splice rope.

Buy high-quality splicing tools today!

We stock a practical range of everyday tools, splicing equipment and accessories – particularly ideal for yacht and dinghy sailors (check out our pre-assembled dinghy splicing kit and yacht splicing kit) - but also a great addition to any rope user’s toolkit.

Shop now or if you have any questions, feel free to contact the team by filling in our online form or emailing   [email protected], and a member of the team will be back in touch soon.

FAQs

Why splice ropes?

There are numerous reasons why rope splicing is used. The most notable being that the end result is a stronger, sturdier connection than simply tying a knot – which always carries the risk of coming undone.  

Splicing also results in a smoother join and avoids the bulk associated with knots, which can easily snag.

Splicing is particularly useful for creating eyes and loops – perfect for joining ropes together or attaching to fixed points. And rather than considerably weakening rope as knots do, when done properly, splicing will ensure more than 80% of a rope’s original strength is retained.

Do I need splicing tools?

Okay, so you could splice entirely by hand, but not only is it hard work, it’s also likely to take you much longer – and achieving a neat finish can be tricky.

Why make things more difficult than they need to be? A better idea is to invest in rope splicing tools.

Our ready-made dingy and yacht splicing kits have everything you need all together in a convenient pouch. Or if you prefer to cherry-pick your own tools, choose from the fantastic range above and keep them safe in a D-splicer P40 pouch – ideal for storing all your splicing essentials.

What ropes work well for splicing?

In general, any 3-strand ropes that aren’t too thick or thin are the easiest for splicing, especially if you’re planning to do the job yourself. Synthetic hemp rope is ideal, as it’s particularly easy to manhandle and weave.

However, regardless of the rope involved, investing in specialist splicing equipment helps to make life much easier. A simple fid (we have both small and large Swedish fids available for under £10) is a great tool for creating the perfect splice and can make the task of pushing rope strands through the weave much simpler.