How to Tie a Back Splice in a Rope

Back splices can prevent a rope that has been cut from unraveling.

When a rope is cut, the fibers at the end of the rope will begin to separate and fray. A back splice is a type of knot that you can tie at either end of a rope to prevent it from coming unraveled by splicing the rope into itself. You can also use back splices to join two ropes or connect a rope to itself at a loop. To keep a back splice from coming undone, wrap the strand tips with tape.

Things You'll Need

• Scissors
• Tape

Instructions

1. Unravel the rope two inches at its end. This provides enough length in each strand to be tied into the crown knot that will begin the back splice.

2. Cock the top half of strand No. 1 to the left. Place strand No. 2 on top of strand No. 1 to make a loop. Lay strand No. 3 under strand No. 1, then over strand No. 2 and back under the loop. This is a crown knot.

3. Wrap the tips of each strand with a small piece of tape.

4. Stick one of the wrapped tips over the closest braided strand to the crown knot and then under the second braid. Pinch the second braid with your finger tips to loosen by pulling and wiggling the braid. When it becomes loose, stick the wrapped tip under and pull it out the other side.

5. Repeat the process with the other two strands, bringing the wrapped tips over the closest braid and tuck them under the second-closest braid. Continue to weave over and under until the wrapped tips are the only part of the strand that is not woven into the braided rope.

Tips & Warnings

• If you cut the tape narrow, less of the whipped tip will be exposed when the back splice is finished. Loosen the braids slightly before attempting to tuck the wrapped ends under them.

• Do not pull the rope tight until you are finished with the back splice. Pulling the rope tight will make it very difficult to loosen it when you need to tuck the wrapped ends under the braided strands. The back splice will make the rope thicker in the area where it's used, which could make it difficult to feed it through small holes.

References

• Integrated Publishing: Splicing Nylon Line

Resources

• Marinenews: Back Splice