How to make a Flemish eye splice.

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Graps
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How to make a Flemish eye splice.

#1 Post by 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".
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Graps
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Re: How to make a Flemish eye splice.

#2 Post by 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.
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Graps
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Re: How to make a Flemish eye splice.

#3 Post by Graps »

Now unclamp and bring the loop together.
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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.
"Maybe the truly handicapped people are the ones that don't need God as much." ~ Joni Eareckson Tada

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Graps
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Re: How to make a Flemish eye splice.

#4 Post by Graps »

This is how it should look at this point after both sides are done.
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Notice that I use a small paper clip to hold the twist together.
"Maybe the truly handicapped people are the ones that don't need God as much." ~ Joni Eareckson Tada

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Graps
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Re: How to make a Flemish eye splice.

#5 Post by 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.
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Re: How to make a Flemish eye splice.

#6 Post by 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.
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Re: How to make a Flemish eye splice.

#7 Post by 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".
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Re: How to make a Flemish eye splice.

#8 Post by 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.
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Re: How to make a Flemish eye splice.

#9 Post by 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.
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Re: How to make a Flemish eye splice.

#10 Post by Graps »

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