How to Make an Eye Splice in a Climbing Rope

When you need to have an actual eye-loop at the end of a climbing rope, get ready to cut, braid and splice. Making an eye splice is a complicated process that yields a very strong, intermeshed eye-loop on your climbing line. Go slowly with this knot; it requires a good deal of dexterity and precision. If you find yourself "lost in the knot," go back, unbraid if necessary and start fresh.

Things You'll Need

  • Cutting tool
  • Lighter
  • Climbing tape
Show More

Instructions

    • 1

      Cut and peel back the kernmantle sheath surrounding the climbing rope strands. Cut down approximately 4 feet and expose the internal strands.

    • 2

      Unbraid the internal strands, and separate out three strands from the bunch. Go down approximately 4 feet on the separated pieces and tape them together using a small piece of climbing tape. If any strands have frays, hold them over a lighter flame to melt the frays.

    • 3

      Take the center strand of the three taped strands and pass it through the standing (other strands) strands on the rope. Take the lower strand of the taped group, pass it through the same standing strand and pull it down from the first taped strand.

    • 4

      Take the top strand of the taped group and push it through the same standing strand, keeping it between the other two taped strands.

    • 5

      Take the top strand of the taped group and pass it through the standing strand next down the main rope. Pass the bottom taped strand up through the same standing strand, then the top strand through the same. Continue this braid until you run out of the taped strands.

    • 6

      Insert a hand through the eye-loop and grip the main rope with your other hand. Pull in opposite directions to lock the eye-splice knot.