I understand that Brion Toss has some special splicing tool. Are they being offered as a special on this forum. What is the smallest size perhaps for 1/4" and 3/8" doublebraided line? How much are they and do they come with directions? Why do I hear that they work much more easily that other fids?
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I have two and ...
they are great!! I think that there is a video and probably a CD. Very informative and well worth the cost. Just like his climbing harness, it is something I would not be without.
they are great!! I think that there is a video and probably a CD. Very informative and well worth the cost. Just like his climbing harness, it is something I would not be without.
I also have both sizes
I have both sizes & Brion's video. They work better than the standard fids & pusher but still not as easy as Brion makes it look in his video! Sometimes it works just fine and other times it's a struggle. Good activity for those long New England winters.
I have both sizes & Brion's video. They work better than the standard fids & pusher but still not as easy as Brion makes it look in his video! Sometimes it works just fine and other times it's a struggle. Good activity for those long New England winters.
Brion about your splicing tools
BTW I like your video also and you DO make it look so easy. When splicing on the boat how can you tie down the splicing wand? In the video you use a vise. On the boat, what? Jim S/V Java
BTW I like your video also and you DO make it look so easy. When splicing on the boat how can you tie down the splicing wand? In the video you use a vise. On the boat, what? Jim S/V Java
It's getting easier all the time
Hello, And thanks everyone for the kind words. I came up with that tool for myself, because I was really tired of the alternatives. The tool was inspired by one invented by Jim McGrew, who some of you may have heard of. Genius. Anyway, there are three yacht sizes, each of which will do a variety of rope diameters; you almost always can do all the lines on a given yacht with one size. There's also an industrial-size version, about the size of a lightsaber, for Mongo line. We clamp ours in a vise in the shop, but in the field I just tuck the handle under one arm, leaving both hands free. We are big on education around here, encouraging sailors reclaim their marlingspike heritage, so we've put a lot of time and effort into refining the instructions, to make the splices more intuitively comprehensible. The most recent version is in our new braided rope splicing book. We also do weekend workshops once or twice a year, filling this place with rope and people. With better instructions, we hope to get across the hints and details that reduce the incidence of struggle. Remember, it should be easy. And I always stress that the Wand is the least important part of the splice; you can use a coat hook if you have to, or on some rope just a bit of masking tape. The important stuff is proper line selection, the proper splice structure for a given rope, and proper bury length and taper. As for a special, I'd love to offer one, but have been trying to avoid commercial notices, as they seem contrary to the spirit of this site. So if I've mentioned books, tools, and such, it was meant as information, not marketing. I hope it seemed that way, anyhow. On the other hand, you've all been a great crowd, very friendly, with some interesting questions, and I would love to declare the kind of unilaterally-given discount that drives our accountant nuts. Is there a way to do that, without fouling things up? Fair leads, Brion Toss
Hello, And thanks everyone for the kind words. I came up with that tool for myself, because I was really tired of the alternatives. The tool was inspired by one invented by Jim McGrew, who some of you may have heard of. Genius. Anyway, there are three yacht sizes, each of which will do a variety of rope diameters; you almost always can do all the lines on a given yacht with one size. There's also an industrial-size version, about the size of a lightsaber, for Mongo line. We clamp ours in a vise in the shop, but in the field I just tuck the handle under one arm, leaving both hands free. We are big on education around here, encouraging sailors reclaim their marlingspike heritage, so we've put a lot of time and effort into refining the instructions, to make the splices more intuitively comprehensible. The most recent version is in our new braided rope splicing book. We also do weekend workshops once or twice a year, filling this place with rope and people. With better instructions, we hope to get across the hints and details that reduce the incidence of struggle. Remember, it should be easy. And I always stress that the Wand is the least important part of the splice; you can use a coat hook if you have to, or on some rope just a bit of masking tape. The important stuff is proper line selection, the proper splice structure for a given rope, and proper bury length and taper. As for a special, I'd love to offer one, but have been trying to avoid commercial notices, as they seem contrary to the spirit of this site. So if I've mentioned books, tools, and such, it was meant as information, not marketing. I hope it seemed that way, anyhow. On the other hand, you've all been a great crowd, very friendly, with some interesting questions, and I would love to declare the kind of unilaterally-given discount that drives our accountant nuts. Is there a way to do that, without fouling things up? Fair leads, Brion Toss
The splicing tool is kind of like
a needle threader for a sewing machine. I am not the guy to explain it but trust me it works better and easier than anything else I have tried. Check the link and just buy one. I also have his harness and his books. Get them too. You will not be disappointed. There is a forum linked and you can ask anyone there. If you cannot tell from his last post, Brion is one of the most thoroughly analytical, thoughtful and genuinely decent people I have ever had the pleasure to meet. If he is selling, I am buying.
a needle threader for a sewing machine. I am not the guy to explain it but trust me it works better and easier than anything else I have tried. Check the link and just buy one. I also have his harness and his books. Get them too. You will not be disappointed. There is a forum linked and you can ask anyone there. If you cannot tell from his last post, Brion is one of the most thoroughly analytical, thoughtful and genuinely decent people I have ever had the pleasure to meet. If he is selling, I am buying.
Go for it!
Hi Brion, You've given us a tremendous forum and it's been anything but commercial. I know a lot of folks are interested in the splicing tool so absolutely, if you can work something out go for it! Heck, we all enjoy tormenting the accountants!
If we can assist in any way let me know. Thanks Brion!
Hi Brion, You've given us a tremendous forum and it's been anything but commercial. I know a lot of folks are interested in the splicing tool so absolutely, if you can work something out go for it! Heck, we all enjoy tormenting the accountants!
If we can assist in any way let me know. Thanks Brion!Brion, thanks, send order form
Brion, your comments and the remarks of others are very convincing. Please send me an order form for (I think) the small wand and whichever book you recommend for the splicing. In answer to others about a vice, I have always had a small VacuVise (model 300) on my boats. Sucks onto any flat surface and helps on all kinds of projects. I have had mine for many years. The box says Lord & Hodge, Inc.
Brion, your comments and the remarks of others are very convincing. Please send me an order form for (I think) the small wand and whichever book you recommend for the splicing. In answer to others about a vice, I have always had a small VacuVise (model 300) on my boats. Sucks onto any flat surface and helps on all kinds of projects. I have had mine for many years. The box says Lord & Hodge, Inc.
Okey-doke
Hi again, And thanks to everyone for an extraordinarily interesting and enjoyable first week of residency. I've felt welcomed, really at home. And thanks to you, Phil, and all the other people at sailbboatowners.com — you run a great site! So, as promised, I've convinced the Powers That Be here to okay a Limited Time Offer: Now through May 11th, anyone reading this is eligible for a modest-yet-appreciable 10% off of all our merchandise — books, video's, tools, harnesses, whatever we sell. And autographs on the books are free. To see what you can get, drop by our website at briontoss.com. While you are there, look up the Puzzler (it's under "Education". We have a monthly rigging puzzle, and the randomly-chosen winner always gets a Fabulous Prize. In the same area, look up "Fair Leads", my semi-monthly essay on some aspect of rigging. This month it's titled "Three Chainplates", and if you like it, there are several years' worth of essays archived there. Ordinarily there'd also be a rigging forum called "Fair Leads" on the site, but we've been having some really annoying software difficulties there. I understand that those problems might be solved by Phil and company here (will keep you posted). Meanwhile it's great to have such a lively place to hang out and talk rigging. Fair leads, Brion Toss
Hi again, And thanks to everyone for an extraordinarily interesting and enjoyable first week of residency. I've felt welcomed, really at home. And thanks to you, Phil, and all the other people at sailbboatowners.com — you run a great site! So, as promised, I've convinced the Powers That Be here to okay a Limited Time Offer: Now through May 11th, anyone reading this is eligible for a modest-yet-appreciable 10% off of all our merchandise — books, video's, tools, harnesses, whatever we sell. And autographs on the books are free. To see what you can get, drop by our website at briontoss.com. While you are there, look up the Puzzler (it's under "Education". We have a monthly rigging puzzle, and the randomly-chosen winner always gets a Fabulous Prize. In the same area, look up "Fair Leads", my semi-monthly essay on some aspect of rigging. This month it's titled "Three Chainplates", and if you like it, there are several years' worth of essays archived there. Ordinarily there'd also be a rigging forum called "Fair Leads" on the site, but we've been having some really annoying software difficulties there. I understand that those problems might be solved by Phil and company here (will keep you posted). Meanwhile it's great to have such a lively place to hang out and talk rigging. Fair leads, Brion Toss
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