I understand the how, I just simply can't manage to achieve a splice.

I come stuck when feeding the core back through the jacket every time. I cannot get the core more than 2 or 3 cm past where the core comes out of the jacket and that to me does not feel like it is enough. I know you can stitch/whip it but you would now be relying purely on the cotton for strength.

It doesn't matter what or where I buy the rope from and I am using Selma Fids (not cheap, but cheap fids aren't any better or worse).

What other options are there other than tying a hitch or bowline? Every couple of years when I replace the line I have the same dilemma and end up just tying something like halyard hitch.

Not sure if this is what your describing but I was having trouble getting the core to bury in past the eye very far by milking the cover alone. I now manipulate the eye by pulling against it with a spike or screw driver as well and it seems to bury the core well past the eye and deep into the line.

It sounds like one of you guys posted a video however it doesn't appear to be a link. Likewise I can't seem to post a link here anymore either 🤔
But it sounds like you both go off a different video to the ones I have tried to follow.

Cammd, considering most videos show very similar techniques, where I get stuck is after passing the cover through the core, then passing the core through the jacket, you try and bury the core back up the standing end of the rope past the intersection of the core coming out of the cover (I hope that makes sense).

Anyway, as usual I cave up and just tied a Haylard Hitch. I might have to buy a D-Splice or at least an egg whisk.

Thanks Gary, I haven’t seen that particular technique before.