Don't shudder, old-timers; this is not your cardiologist speaking.
Or your urologist either.
[After writing this, I realized that common plastic drinking straws will do the same job I've described in the following. Find a cocktail-stirrer for splicing ultra-thin hollow line.]
BUT
Most of us with problems opening and passing line in making up a few splices already know to look for the right size knitting needle. Real fids are lovely, and fit the hand well, but they're a luxury if only used rarely. It is one thing to politely ask to borrow a knitting needle (and return it with it with profuse thanks), quite another to cut it open to reach its hollow center, as has been previously pointed out. After picking up a cheap assortment of heat-shrink tubing to dress loose ends of rope, I found that this thin-wall tubing has a second use.
- It passes easily through hollow line, especially that which has been prepared first with a knitting needle.
- And it holds strands within it very nicely, reducing the need to have skilled fingers and great patience.
So,
- just load the heat shrink tubing of an appropriate length, pass it through the prepared opening in your hollow rope,
- pinching the tubing to hold that strand in place, if necessary.
- Milk it through -- very easy if you have first piled up the rope on a knitting needle, withdraw at the desired place, and
- remove the strand.
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