(1) Marlin spikes must be used for splicing. The marlin spikes must be:

(a) Large enough for the size of the line being spliced; and

(b) Maintained in good condition.

(2) Short splices, eye-to-eye splices, cat's paws, and knots are prohibited except for moving nonload-bearing lines. Knots may be used on single drum tractors, grapple pickup lines, and dropline carriage systems using slider bells if the knot is tied on the end of the dropline.

(3) Wire rope one-half inch in diameter or less must be tucked at least two times provided the rope is used only as a strawline.

(4) Eye splices in all regular lay lines and straps must be tucked at least three times.

(5) Eye splices in lang lay lines must be tucked at least four times.

(6) Splices, other than eye splices, in lang lay loading lines are prohibited.

(7) Long splices must be used to permanently join regular lay running line.

(8) The length of line strand to be unraveled to make a long splice in wire rope must be as shown in Table 2: Length of Line Strand. The full length of the splice is twice the length of the rope to be unraveled.

Table 2: Length of Line Strand