A method of eye splicing a dual braid rope by using an elongated tool portion having a tip portion, the rope having a hollow core and a hollow cover, the cover normally enclosing the core, the method including the steps of:
- (a) inserting the tip portion of the tool through the cover of the rope at a first position on the rope spaced from an adjacent end of the rope to generate a first opening in the cover and to determine a throat position of the eye splice,
- (b) withdrawing a portion of the core extending to the adjacent end of the rope through the first opening in the cover so that the core and cover extend as a separate core end portion and a cover end portion from the first position,
- (c) inserting the tip portion of the tool portion into the core end portion at a second position closely adjacent the first position, feeding the tool portion axially along the core end portion in a direction away from the first position so that a length of the tool portion lies inside the core end portion, and extending the tip portion of the tool portion outwardly from the core end portion at a third position on the core end portion,
- (d) threading the cover end portion of the rope through the tool portion and gripping the cover end portion of the rope with the tip portion,
- (e) withdrawing the tool portion and the cover end portion backwardly through the core end portion so as to draw a length of the cover end portion in through the third position and out from the second position of the core end portion until a desired size of eye is attained so that a first length of the cover end portion extends within the core end portion between the third and second positions, and separating the cover end portion from the tool portion,
- (f) cutting the cover end portion to length closely adjacent the second position of the core and stroking portions of the core and cover adjacent the second position as required to smooth the cover end portion into the adjacent portion of the core end portion,
- (g) inserting the tip portion of the tool portion into the cover end portion at a fourth position generally adjacent the first position, feeding the tool portion axially along the cover end portion in a direction away from the first position so that a length of tool portion lies inside the cover end portion, and extending the tip portion of the tool portion outwardly from the cover end portion at a fifth position on the cover end portion,
- (h) threading the core end portion through the tool portion and gripping the core end portion with the tip portion,
- (i) withdrawing the tool portion and the core end portion backwardly through the cover end portion so as to draw a length of the core end portion in through the fifth position and out through the fourth position of the cover end portion so that a first length of core end portion extends within the cover end portion from the fifth position to the fourth position, and separating the core end portion from the tool portion,
- (j) inserting the tip portion into a sixth position on the cover on a side of the eye remote from the second and fourth positions, feeding the tool portion axially along the rope portion between the core and the cover in a direction away from the sixth position and towards and past the first position of the cover end portion, and extending the tip portion of the tool outwardly from the cover end portion at the fourth position,
- (k) threading the core end portion through the tool portion and gripping the core end portion with the tip portion,
- (l) withdrawing the tool portion and the core end portion backwardly through the fourth position, past the first position and outwardly of the sixth position so that a third length of the core end portion extends within the cover end portion from the fourth to the first position, and a fourth length of core end portion extends between the core and the cover of the main rope from the first position to the sixth position, and separating the core end portion from the tool portion,
- (m) cutting the core end portion to length adjacent the sixth position and stroking portions of the rope as required to smooth the core end portion into the main portion of the rope.