PSA: An old timer in Philly told me my rope splice was 'too pretty' and it changed my whole approach.
He said, 'Grant, that splice will hold a beauty contest, but will it hold a car? You're burying too much tail and it's creating a stiff point.' I was so focused on making it look perfect from my apprenticeship days. Now I follow the exact length specs from the manufacturer's chart for that specific 5/8" rope, even if the taper looks a bit rougher. Anyone else get hung up on making things look a certain way before realizing function is king?
Ever had a boss who only cared about how clean your work looked? That stuff gets in your head man. I used to spend way too much time on finishes that didn't matter, just to make some foreman happy. The old guy was right, pretty doesn't mean a thing if it fails.