what type of fid do you use?

What are the pro's and cons of the type you use?

Does anyone use wire?

This style (pic below) seems great to me (no need to tape the line to the fid since it has a hook)... but hard to find... any cons to this style?

http://www.samsonrope.com/index.cfm?page=28

I got this from Jake some time back. Fid info. is at the very bottom of the page.

Thanks Pete, good info there

I've tried the 3 readily available sets and have made some of my own.I needed smaller than 1/4" and couldn't find any so Mike Krantz told me to try a knitting needle cut in half. I did that then drilled out the inside and tapped it so you actually screw it on to the line. Works great. Another good trick is the get some small wire and double it, push it through backwards then pull you line through with it.
The very best (also the most expensive) is the Brion Toss rigging wand. I got the micro. I probably don't use it enough to warrant the cost but it works like a champ and saves alot of headaches.
http://www.briontoss.com/index.html

Todd

Thanks Todd... great stuff...

I invested in the Brian Toss and it is by far the easiest I have ever used. Coupled with the video that came with it even I have been able to many types of splices. I have bought the style you showed above but they never get used since I bought the Toss gear. Worth the money in my opinion.

Hey Tawd,

I was just about to refer to the earlier thread in which splicing was discussed and you've gone and brought up the Toss wand, good man.

I did look at the earlier thread to see whether it was worth reference and noted that you'd asked me a question about which wand. Well, I have the micro, which is gonna do just about everything you'd want for a beachcat. I also have the small, which will splice everything I've got on the trimaran that the micro doesn't handle. Video is worth getting as well. And there is a discussion forum at the Toss website
http://www.briontoss.com/spartalk/
not real busy, but a search brings up most any question you want answered.

In fact, anyone wants a set of Samson fids, they are welcome to mine for the price of shipping same.

edit: y'know, you can pay for that Toss wand by offering to splice for guys with leaners... Only took a couple halyards and it paid for my wands. (well, actually, splicing my own sh!t paid for my wands and vid several times over.)

dang it Mary, we can't even say 'sheeit?'

Thanks Tami

I was almost talked into ordering from the toss site.,.. but i cant justify $100 (with dvd and shipping) to splice 1 line on my boat at this time.. i will have to try the wire... and play with the old school fids for now.

I have repeatedly observed sticker shock when people are referred to the Toss wand. Think about it this way.

-If you go have the line spliced, it's at LEAST $20 for the service, maybe less for online but then you have to eat shipping.
-If you tie knots in your line and the knots fail, it could be quite expensive, ranging from a lost race to broken rigging.
-If you're not the most patient soul, then you'll be dealing with the stress involved in fooling with inadequate tools.

I've always believed in buying the best possible tool for any task, because in the long run it certainly pays. YMMV.

I am sure you are correct.. but i can't swallow that pill now.. if i end up doing more splicing (which i know i will) i will probably pay the $100...

Once you start, you will find more reasons to splice. I just mada a ski boot carrier out of stripped cover from another splice job. The ski boot carrier was a 1 beer job. I have the swedish fids from APS. Didn't know about the Toss stuff until Tami brought it up here. Better tools are usually the better investment...

bruh you ain't kidding. Splices for beachcats can include:

Rid yourself of shackles by building eyes in the centres of screacher and spinnaker sheets (Brummel splices). Same for jibsheets, why not? If you're using Salsa or Bzzz or one of the newer mixed-fibre lines it's real easy.

Build eyes at the beginnings of trampoline lines so they're only knotted at their bitter ends.

Build eyes on one end of your martingales (whisker stays for chute poles) and just tie them to the bows rather than having knots at pole eyes and bows.

Build eyes for your mainsheet bitter ends. End-for-end splice to your traveller line. Build tapered sheets.

For that matter, you could build your own shrouds, and if you don't care to do that, you could certainly build your own trapeze lines.

Things will run more smoothly and foul less often (no knots to snag on), and most importantly, you'll just look real kewl.

All sounds good...
In due time i would love to get to remove more and more metal from my cat.

Tami, what size line do you use for shrouds?

Which boat?

F-27GS is somewhere like 8, maybe 9mm
18 Square is something like 4-6mm

Go to the Hampidjan website and research size for load information:
http://www.hampidjan.is/Products/Dynex/Dynexropes/
Splicing has been discussed here at Catsailor:
http://www.catsailor.com/forums/ubb...rds=hampidjan&Search=true#Post170010

I didn't build either of my shroud systems, I got them from Précourt. Although when it comes time to rebuild, I prolly will do it myself. And I did just build a lashing line for one of my F-boat shrouds out of Amsteel Blue.

I oughta be getting a commish from Toss, Hampidjan and Précourt, huh? I'm just real pleased with their stuff, so I tell everyone. Sorry if it's a belaboured point.

they are Selma fids http://www.selma.no/sider/produkt.html

I eBay'd a set from the UK and they work very well. The wand is probably good for splicing but i don't see how it would go replacing the core of a rope. The Selma works like a rat up a drain pipe!

I use a bit of coat hanger, a little length of narrow stainless rod that I ground a point on, or a small drill bit.

The price is right - and when splicing high tech single braid I think it is hard to go wrong.

Chris.

Chris, are you using those tools to splice covered line? I gota know your technique 'cause I'd be tearin' my hair out.

Finally! Hair pullin and coat hangers... now we are getting somewhere!

Chris... please explain a little more how you use your system... or a pic... or a diagram.. .or a 3D CAD render....

Or you could have bought them right here from Rick.
https://store.catsailor.com/pc/viewPrd.asp?idcategory=341&idproduct=8253