Uncoiling Line

New line is coiled, bound, and wrapped in burlap. This protective covering should not be removed until the line is to be used because it protects the line during storage and prevents tangling. To open, remove the burlap wrapping and look inside the coil for the end of the line. This should be at the bottom of the coil. If it is not, turn the coil over so that the end will be at the bottom. Pull the end of the line up through the center of the coil (fig. 4-4). As the line comes up through the coil, it will unwind in a counterclockwise direction.

Uncoiling Nylon Line

Do not uncoil new nylon line by pulling the ends up through the eye of the coil. Avoid coiling nylon in the same direction all the time, or you could unbalance the lay.

Making Up Line

After the line has been removed from the manufacturer's coil, it may be MADE UP (that is, prepared for storage or for use) by winding on a reel. It may also be made up by cooling down, faking down, or blemishing down.

To COIL DOWN a line simply means to lay it in circles, roughly one on top of the other (fig. 4-5). Line should always be coiled in the same direction as the lay-clockwise for right lay and counterclockwise for left lay. When a line has been coiled down, one end is ready to run off. This is the end that went down last

Figure 4-4. - Uncoiling line.

Figure 4-5. - Colling down line after use

and is now on top. If, for some reason, the bottom end must go out first, you will have to turn your coil over to free it for running.

Whipping a Line

The term whipping refers to the process of securing the ends of a line to prevent the strands from unlaying and the yams from separating or fraying. It will not increase the size of the line enough to prevent the fitting of the blocks or openings through which it must pass. Whippings are made with fine twine.

Figure 4-6 shows the steps to follow in applying a whipping. Make a loop in the end of the twine and place the loop at the end of the line, as shown in the figure. Wind the standing part around the line covering the loop of the whipping.

Leave a small loop uncovered, as shown. Pass the remainder of the standing end up through the small loop and pull the dead end of the twine, thus pulling the small loop and the standing end back towards the end of the line underneath the whipping. Pull the dead end of the twine until the loop with the standing end through it reaches a point midway underneath the whipping. Trim both ends of the twine closeup against the loops of the whipping. Before cutting a line, place two whippings on the line 1 or 2 inches apart and make the cut between the whippings, as shown in figure 4-7. This procedure prevents the ends from untwisting after they are cut.