Rope splicing in rope work is the forming of a semi-permanent
joint between two ropes or two parts of the same rope by
partly untwisting and then interweaving their strands. Splices can be used to
form a stopper at the end of a line, to form a loop or an eye in a rope, or for
joining two ropes together. Splices
are preferred to knotted rope, since while a knot typically reduces the
strength by 20–40%, a
splice is capable of attaining a rope's full strength. However, splicing usually results in a
thickening of the line and, if subsequently removed, leaves a distortion of the
rope. Most types of splices are used on 3 strand rope, but some can be done on
12 strand or greater single braided rope as well as most double braids.
The eye splice is a method of creating a permanent loop in the end of multi stranded rope by means of rope splicing. The ends of the rope are tucked (plaited) back into the standing end to form the loop. Three tucks are the minimum for natural fibers, five tucks are necessary for synthetics. Variations of eye splices include