Tapering cover on DB splices

[kram]

I have been using the Samson db class 1 instructions, here:

https://www.samsonrope.com/docs/default-source/splice-instructions/dblbrd_c1_eye_splice_web.pdf

Unsure what strand cover they have in video but looks a lot more than 24 - its still quite full at the end.

 

In a 24 strand cover, that leaves the cover taper quite short - not ideal. In my past splices I have started like that and then finished the taper by eye, as shown in most other splicing instructions, to get nearer the full length.

 

Heres an old scrap as example of 24 strand cover with it marked every 5 pairs:

The right needle is mark T. The small fid is at the 12th pair, which would become the end of the cover, about 70mm shorter than the measured length.

 

I had a damaged rope with a factory/shop splice and was interested to open it up. To disassemble, I extracted the core from the eye which loosened up the cover, then the crossover easily pulled out.

Then pulled the tapered cover. It is labeled a 11.7mm rope but thinner in practise - I was expecting the taper to be about 235mm from the T mark. Its quite a bit longer, near 300mm

I found each pair and taped together to get an idea of the spacing, 12 pairs:

The spacing starts off very close then spaced from 9cm to 22mm and close again for the last four. It makes sense to me that the taper is sharper at the crossover end, where the core is also buried and the cover is tightest.

Found that interesting as I have a few ropes to splice soon.