Rope Splicing Tools and Rope Care

Buying guide

Protecting and maintaining rope

A chafe sleeve slides over a rope at a friction point, such as a crotch or edge, to cut abrasion. Heavy-duty sleeves last longer on rough bark and rigging lines.

Splicing tools such as fids and pushers let trained users make eyes and terminations. Only splice life-support rope if you are trained in that splice for that rope, and follow the rope maker's instructions. Store rope clean and dry, away from fuel and sunlight.

Rope splicing tools and kits

A rope splicing kit typically includes hollow fids sized to rope diameters, a pusher, a marker and measuring tape. Different rope constructions use different splices, so the rope maker's splicing instructions are the place to start.

Splicing your own rigging slings, eye-to-eye prusiks and rope ends can save money and give you a custom fit, but only with proper training and testing. Many arborists send life-support splices to a professional splicer. Good tools for rope work make clean, tidy splices that hold up and run well through hardware.