Geeze, I KNOW I'm not a better splicer that the LEC guys. I do one about every 3 years :-)

I also can't do it for less, because I have to buy my splice cases and materials one-at-a-time.
However, in the Spring, I can get 2 or 3 small count splice kits...as long as they're gone before October, I'm good. Skip, you don't have that problem, although I still think the shelf life of the kit is less than 6 months.

About 5 years ago I did an outdoor splice at a concrete batch house. I guess it still works because we replaced thier phone system last year and have not had any service either on the cable in 5 years or the phone system after the Spirit had flown.

I don't own a 3M MS-2 splice tool, and I don't want to. A 25 or 50 pair is still spliceable in a 2x12 enclosure. The enclosure comes with all the hardware and sometimes the potting compound. I keep remembering what a wonderful time I had doing 900 pair cables...it keeps me from wanting to ever do it again.

Carl