masons line eye splicing help??

[A.Bottoms]

hey everyone

what size needle do you recommend using for putting a locked Brummel in #18 masons line,

ive tried all the needle i own but either i cant get the line through the eye or its almost impossible to thread the line through itself

thanks,
A.Bottoms

[dragon360]

When you hold a section of the line (pinching it with your index and thumb on each hand about an inch or so apart) and gently push the line together, does the weave look like it opens up? hollow braid is key.

Next, a thin wire folded over works phenomally well. Floral wire, SS leader line (fishing), e string on a guitar have all been used with success.

As for needles, maybe a quilting or darning needle might work? Something thicker with a large eye?

[Tijereyes]

When I splice mason line, I use a splicing tool that I made for myself out of an E string. I took about 24" of it, along with a 1/2" dowel section about 4" long. Fold the wire in half (and try to get a sharp crease), and then tape the free ends along the length of the dowel (I wrapped mine in electrical tape, the whole length of the dowel). So I've got an 8" long loop available to thread into the mason line.

[Brute1100]

i used the wire out of wire ring binder... just unspin a few inches of the spool and you end up with a small thin stainless wire, and the binder still works...

[WV]

I use a Cortland "No-Knot" tool, sold for spicing fishing lines, but there are two kinds of Mason's line sold at Lowes. The type that's stocked in the cordage section is similar to line sold a lot of other places, and it's a pretty tight braid that is hard to splice. (It may be easier with one of the wire tools already suggested.) The other type at Lowes is stocked in the masonry section (bricks, blocks, et. al.). It's a much looser braid, though also yellow and made of fibers that look similar to the other type. It's a cinch to splice.

[JaxHiker]

18# wire (sans insulation) works well for me.

[bruinfan]

thanks wv for clearing up different types. I wondered about the difference

[GaryBunk]

I am on my second roll of mason line. I double most of it by pulling thru itself for prussiks a other various loops. The easiest tool I have found for pretty much all my splicing is a folded guitar string.

[old4hats]

Wal-Mart sells a 4 pack of darning needles which are not sharp, actually blunt. There are two sizes in the pack and I use the smaller one to open the cord, then I use a Dritz seam turner, also from
Wal-Mart to slide through and catch the end and pull through. The wire also works great. Keeping the line you are burying into slack is key, if it gets tight, constrictor!

[steveflinn]

Salt-water lead lines work. Theyre double-ended wire loops. 10 cents apiece at Bain Capital's Sports Authority stores.