How to Back Splice a Rope

There are a lot of ways to finish the end of a rope, to keep it from fraying. This is an elegant and classy way to finish a hemp or cotton rope. Try it on other types as well!

Many thanks for watching my video, I truly appreciate the support

Enjoy EC? Join Essential Craftsman Academy!
This is the best way to support Essential Craftsman and you get a LOT of perks as a bonus!

Did you know we have a podcast?

If you are going to hire a contractor for a big project PLEASE read our ebook first!

Amazon Affiliate Links:

Video Equipment and Misc.

Learn more about Essential Craftsman

Thank you, be safe, and be grateful.

[mr.rodriguez]

Please don't take this the wrong way or think I'm weird. You often speak of mentors in your life. I'm 42 years old and grew up without a father and still to this day wish I had a mentor in my life. Therefore, I watch channels like yours of men who I see as great father figures and mentors for men as myself who never had that in our lives. You are a great example of fatherhood, mentorship and manhood. Thank you for your vidios and for teaching those of us who never had someone to teach us the skills of being a man, a father and a friend. Much respect. 👍

[stonearches]

Years ago I served in the Connecticut National Guard. A buddy of mine, Joe Miller, worked for Connecticut Light & Power, long lines. He was a high tension guy. On day with some down time in the guard, Joe showed us how to work ropes. He showed us how to tie the end as you did. He also showed us how to weave “eyes” in the end. He even showed us how to splice two ropes together so they would pass through a block without binding. 40 years later I still remember how to do it all. It’s actually quite relaxing to sit down and do it.

[markcoffman]

Not a trick, but an essential skill, that is fading away. Glad you posted it.

[rjtumble]

well damn, now I have to go find an old piece of rope. That was a neat tip, thanks.

[Spookdog]

👍was always taught to roll the splice under foot when finished and then pull it tight to make it clean and tight.

[MarchHare]

Thank you for making this video, my grandfather was a retired shipyard rigger, he passed away before I got a chance to ask him if he could teach me things like this. This makes it feel a little closer now.

[gamilton]

Great video as always. Thank you for showing, what is, a dying art. Too often people throw out stuff that could be repaired, either through laziness or perhaps just a lack of basic skills. I was lucky to have been brought up on a small island to the very north of Scotland and we were taught seamanship, how to tie knots, how to splice ropes and most importantly, how to use your brain and a bit of common sense as there were no big DIY stores to just buy a broken tool or frayed rope. Thanks again and hopefully more people will try to repair and not just replace.

[DeanLangley]

Excellent demonstration. I learned that and many others when I was a young boy from my father who served in WWII as a coxswain in the Navy. A Turks head is a running plait around a round object. Usually rope but could be anything round as it’s a decorative knot. The knot that starts the back splice is called a crown knot and you described how to tie it well.

[andrewhobbs]

As an Eagle Scout I can remember the very first time my scout leader (who has since passed away) taught me how make all kinds of rope splices, including the back splice. I have samples somewhere in my scout trunk of all the ones I did. MAN I LOVE THIS CHANNEL!!! Keep up the great videos!

[royallclark]

funny that I would see this now. I just made up a line to replace the rope on my 24' extension ladder. Back spliced one end and spliced an eye into the other end. I don't do this very often anymore and had to "think" about how to get the crown knot going to start it off correctly. My father was a welder/pipefitter and a jack of all trades (came up through the depression years) and could fix anything. Had too, we were too poor to go buy new!! He taught me how to work with ropes and knots 60 years ago and most important, how to take care of the good old hemp ropes. Then there was the canvas tarps he too great pride in having. Way before the cheap poly tarps...
Thanks for a great video and jogging great memories of my dad... Miss him still

[tassiehandyman]

It's been years since I did this last. I was always taught to start with a crown and wall knot, but your Turks Head is a similar idea. One upon a time, I back spliced 5 feet of 2 inch wide 3 strand mooring line, and was promptly told it needed an eye splice - so I undid again. 'Tis the lot of a bosuns mate to follow the orders of his sailing master, after all... 👍

[SetemkiaFawn]

A Turks Head is a totally different beast. You are using the simplest version of a Crown Knot. I've done many back spices. It's a pleasure to see a good tutorial. I recently purchased a knife for the whole reason that I needed marlin spike.

[TyREMAN]

Thank you. Ironically, I was trying to remember this technique the other day. I earned my Eagle Scout award nearly 22 years ago when I was a part of Troop 44 in Drain, OR (just North of you). It’s amazing how much you forget over the years.

[mariusvanniekerk]

You are doing it exactly how I was tough, except we would taper it down by cutting away some of the fibres in each strand after the third tuck. Also before cutting the ends of, put it on the ground and roll it with you foot. Finishes it of perfectly.
Just for keeping it from unraveling, this is as simple as it will get.

[ScrewThisGlueThat]

A True Craftsman and Awesome Teacher... At the time I watched this there were 6563 Views, 698 Likes and ZERO Dislikes. Now that speaks volumes about this man and the quality of his teaching.

[johnhunter]

A dressed knot is always ready to go to work!

Loved the use of elegant to describe the finished knot.

[grieske]

If you don't let all the strands end at once, but you stop splicing them one at a time, there is a smoother transition in thickness. This makes it less likely to snag on something. The end result is that all the strands are in a straight line.

[johnnybenoit]

Years ago back in the late 70's and into the mid 80's. I worked the oilfield offshore of Louisiana. I threw the chain to screw five inch pipe then it was tighten with 2200 lbs. with tongs. This was the knot I used at the end of chain.

[RonaldLAbbey]

My dad once brought home a 50" rope he found that had this done to it God, that was about 50 years ago, & it was the only time I'd ever encountered it. He explained that this was something that those who could braid or splice rope often did. I became fascinated with by it, but could just never figure out how to do it. I LOVED to work with that rope for in addition to it never unraveling that little weight at the end always seemed make it over whatever I was throwing it over, & usually made it to the ground, when I was tying down a load. Thanks for this episode, I'm sure I'll watch it a few time more & then try doing it to my hemp ropes.

[dannyfromtexas]

Every man will eventually need some knowledge of ropes and lines. Braiding a loop in the end of a rope would also be a useful bit of knowledge for young men. My dad taught me these while I was young. Tying a bowline, clove hitch and a hay hauler knot should also be included in a mans skills. Thanks for sharing.