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Thread: Fid Question

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    Fid Question

    Well, I just got a couple coils of 7/64 Amsteel and a 4mm "fid" which was the smallest one I could find. After giving it a brief try, the fid seems too wide for this diameter line. Is this the case, or am I not trying hard enough?

    If so, any suggestions as to where to get the correct size fid or other tool/method for splicing 7/64 line would be much appreciated.

    Thanks

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    Quote Originally Posted by cliff355 View Post
    Well, I just got a couple coils of 7/64 Amsteel and a 4mm "fid" which was the smallest one I could find. After giving it a brief try, the fid seems too wide for this diameter line. Is this the case, or am I not trying hard enough?

    If so, any suggestions as to where to get the correct size fid or other tool/method for splicing 7/64 line would be much appreciated.

    Thanks
    a 4mm fid is going to be to big.

    I have a 2.75mm knitting needle I used to use and its almost to big.

    You can get one of the Toss splicing wands in "micro" If you want to pay between $55 and $80.

    Or you can double over some 18-22 gauge wire and use that. Its simple and cheap.

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    did you squish the amsteel together to loosen the the center to pass it better?
    I don't use a "fid". I use a very large sewing needle almost as big as a crochet needle but not quite. Loosening the rope before you try to thread by squishing it is really the key for me.

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    Senior Member opie's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by cooldays View Post
    did you squish the amsteel together to loosen the the center to pass it better?
    I don't use a "fid". I use a very large sewing needle almost as big as a crochet needle but not quite. Loosening the rope before you try to thread by squishing it is really the key for me.
    Theres still almost no possibility of getting a 4mm fid down the 2.5mm cord.

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    I use a very thin knitting needle. Sorry, don't know the number.

    Insert it where the tail will exit and have the needle exit where the bury should start. Butt the Amsteel end and needle together. Wrap a short section of masking tape around both (keep number of wraps to a minimum to avoid bulk). Pull the needle out and the Amsteel will follow. Have used the same method with a length of solid copper wire. A section of coat hanger should work as well. But the knitting needle works best because the tapered point guides well through the center of the Amsteel when you insert it.
    Knotty
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    Quote Originally Posted by Knotty View Post
    I use a very thin knitting needle. Sorry, don't know the number.

    Insert it where the tail will exit and have the needle exit where the bury should start. Butt the Amsteel end and needle together. Wrap a short section of masking tape around both (keep number of wraps to a minimum to avoid bulk). Pull the needle out and the Amsteel will follow. Have used the same method with a length of solid copper wire. A section of coat hanger should work as well. But the knitting needle works best because the tapered point guides well through the center of the Amsteel when you insert it.
    Thats exactly how I used to do it. To the letter.

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    Senior Member Knotty's Avatar
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    Getting the tape off can be a bother but otherwise it's very easy.

    If you're doing a fixed eye with a tapered bury, I think it's easier to pull the end out of the bury far enough so you can do the taper AFTER doing the bury.
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    i have used one of those plastic yarn needles for crafts and been very successful with amsteel. they probably cost about $2 at wallyworld. be careful because they break easily if you are rough with them. If you don't like that I have used an old paper clip that has been straightened out and then doubled over as a needle. took this from work so it was free. just put some tap around the ends to make sure you don't get any snags.

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    Thanks for all this info. Tonight I will accoutre myself with wire, needles and so forth and take another run at it. Too bad about this 4mm fid - it sure is a handy looking device.

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    Senior Member Knotty's Avatar
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    Traditional splicing work has you put the end of the line into a hollow at the back of the fid and then jam a pusher into there as well. You then starting at the entry point you push the whole thing through. This approach just doesn't work all that well with the small sizes of Amsteel we use. Actually, I don't believe anyone even makes a true fid for 1/8 or 7/64.
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