Hi all I wondering what sort of needle i need to make splices in amsteel ???? many thanks
Hi all I wondering what sort of needle i need to make splices in amsteel ???? many thanks
If you play guitar or weld, your high E string, or a length of welding wire folded in half works quite well from what I've seen. I haven't done any splicing myself, but it seems to work well from the how-to videos I've seen, and since I play guitar, and my dad welds, it's what I plan on using.
I've had great success using steel yarn needles for splicing. I think I found a package of four, a larger pair and a smaller pair, for around $3. The larger needle is great for 7/64 Amsteel and the smaller for ~1.75mm braid splicing. Cheers!
EDIT - Sorry I just realized how unhelpful my post was. As far as the size of said needles, I am unsure. I will investigate that further once I am home from work...perhaps another splicer will chime in during the meantime!
Last edited by ganon414; 04-26-2011 at 12:37.
I use a guitar string as well. works for me.
I use 22 gauge solid aluminum wire. I get the kind you hang pictures with that doesn't have a plastic coating. I fold the wire over in half resulting in a 14" peice of doubled wire. I feed that through the core of the Amsteel and use to pull my splices rather than pushing with a fid or a yarn needle... I find the pulling to be much easier for me.
After further investigation of the interwebs, I would have to say that the needle I've used for 7/64 Amsteel is a size 13 steel yarn needle. I've spliced 1.75mm braids with a size 16 steel yarn needle.
cool thanks guys looks like a trip to the guitar shop !
i used a childs sewing needle from Michaels' 1.68 plus tax...perfect for 1/8 haven't tried the 7/64's yet..
I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived.
Henry David Thoreau
The previous posters all had good suggestions. I have also used "yarn darners" (needles). Dritz sells a collection of 7 needles in two different sizes, #14 and #18. I've used #18 for both dynaglide and 7/64" amsteel. You need to taper the end of the line to get it through the eye of the needle, but you should do that anyway to make a strong splice. You can use a fine file to smooth and dull the needle so it doesn't catch on individual fibers within the strands - makes it a "ball-point needle".
There is also a plastic needle that works. It looks like a child's toy (maybe it is).
However, my favorite splicing tool for amsteel is a "loop-turner" (Dritz #647). Splice your own splice.
I use a cut piece of coat hanger and scotch tape to make my whoopies and last night my first loopy.
-TN6
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