How to make a Flemish eye splice.

[Graps]

I'm going to try and show how to make a Flemish eye splice that will hold even with B-50 and will not creep.
After a short break in period, you can set your brace height and you won't have to keep adjusting it all the time because the splice is creeping ( slipping within itself).

First, clamp the bundles together at the length you want to use. I like 9".

20180603_151107~01.jpg (59.41 KiB) Viewed 565 times

[Graps]

Now with the clamp attached to something, you twist the bundles to the right and cross them to the left. Keep going until you have the length you want for the loop.
I like 2 1/2" for the bottom loop which I make first.

20180603_151133~01~01.jpg (97.05 KiB) Viewed 564 times

20180603_151228~01~01.jpg (107.71 KiB) Viewed 564 times

[Graps]

Now unclamp and bring the loop together.

20180603_151243~01~01.jpg (72.54 KiB) Viewed 564 times

20180603_151421~01~01.jpg (140.97 KiB) Viewed 564 times

Clamp the loop and taking opposite colors, you twist one bundle and one tag end in the opposite direction.
Twist to the left and cross over each other to the right.
You should notice that the " Barber Poll " look will be going opposite from the loop.

[Graps]

This is how it should look at this point after both sides are done.

20180603_151559~01~01.jpg (128.12 KiB) Viewed 564 times

Notice that I use a small paper clip to hold the twist together.

[Graps]

Now holding the loop in my left hand, I twist one bundle away from me and with my two next fingers I grab the next bundle and rotate it back to the top.
When I twist away, I like to feel it tighten up to the point that there is a distinctive stop, kinda like when a nut hits the bottom when you turn it with your fingers.

20180603_151625~01~01.jpg (96.93 KiB) Viewed 565 times

[Graps]

Keep going and every couple of turns, untangle the bundles. When the paper clips start to get in the way, pull them off and continue being careful to get the string ends tucked in as good as you can. That just makes a neater looking splice.

20180603_151714~01~01.jpg (91.82 KiB) Viewed 564 times

[Graps]

When you get the splice as long as you want it, clamp it with something so it won't unravel while you do the other end.
I like 7".

20180603_152029~01.jpg (68.86 KiB) Viewed 564 times

[Graps]

Now I will show an example of a mistake that a lot of string maker do.
They let the bundles twist up while making the second loop and the result is what is called " Cabeling " .
It makes a string that is not round and when the string is served, you can see the helix under the serving and it's hard to get a good nock fit.

20180603_152313~01~01.jpg (52.31 KiB) Viewed 563 times

[Graps]

So before starting the second loop , straighten the strands of the bundles and put just a few twists in the opposite direction. The back lay of the second loop will counter twist the string and after the second splice is finished, the strands will be close to straight.
Before you do the finish twist up with the whole string, try and work out any tight spots and get the strands as even as you can and twist it up to the overall length.
This is how it should look at this point.

20180603_152641~01~01.jpg (28.63 KiB) Viewed 563 times

[Graps]

When you are all done the splice should look like this with a diamond pattern.

20180603_155039~01~01.jpg (23.65 KiB) Viewed 565 times