Double lace is applied in a manner similar to single lace, except that it is started with a telephone hitch and is double throughout the length of the lacing (figure 2-43). Both double and single lace may be ended by forming a loop from a separate length of cord and using it to pull the end of the lacing back underneath a serving of approximately eight turns (figure 2-44). An alternate method of ending the lacing is illustrated in figure 2-45. This method can also be used for either single- or double-cord lacing. Another method is by using a marling hitch as a lock stitch (figure 2-46) to prevent slippage. This procedure will also prevent unraveling should a break occur to the lacing.

Figure 2-43. - Starting double lace.

Figure 2-44. - Terminating double lace.

Figure 2-45. - Alternate method of terminating the lace.

Figure 2-46. - Marling hitch as a lock stitch.

The spare conductors of a multiconductor cable should be laced separately, and then tied to active conductors of the cable with a few telephone hitches. When two or more cables enter an enclosure, each cable group should be laced separately. When groups are parallel to each other, they should be bound together at intervals with telephone hitches (figure 2-47).

Figure 2-47. - Spot tying cable groups.

Q.51 What size wire bundles require double lace?
Q.52 How is the double lace started?
Q.53 How are laced cable groups bound together?