When performing fusion splicing you will need a Fusion Splicer, fusion splice protection sleeves, and isopropyl alcohol and stripping tools. If you are using a mechanical splice, you will need stripping tools, mechanical splices, isopropyl alcohol and a mechanical splice assembly tool. When hand terminating a fiber you will need 99% isopropyl alcohol, epoxy/adhesive, a syringe and needle, polishing (lapping) film, a polishing pad, a polishing puck, a crimp tool, stripping tools, fiber optic connectors ( or splice on connectors) and piano wire.
When a termination is complete you must inspect the end face of the connector with a fiber optic splicer Microscope. Making sure that light is getting through either the splice or the connection, a Visual Fault Locator can be used. This piece of equipment will shoot a visible laser down the fiber cable so you can tell that there are no breaks or faulty splices. If the laser light stops down the fiber somewhere, there is most likely a break in the glass at that point. When there is more than a dull light showing at the connector point, the termination was not successful. The light should also pass through the fusion splice, if it does not, stop and re- splice or re-terminate.
