11ft Bullwhip - First 'long' whip build

[Sir Roger Tuson]

For the last couple of weeks I've been building my first proper 'long' whip. It was original designed as a 12' but (as always, it seems) circumstances meant it ended up at 11'.

I've done a standard 4-3-2 Twisted Taper core and this time I only closed loop bound the first few inches past the transition. To be honest, I just couldn't face closed loop binding 11' of thong! I hope it hasn't cost me...

Anyway, from a build perspective it's just a longer version of my standard model - 3 bellies (8/12/16 plt) ending in a 4-pt tip. I'm planning a slightly different transition Turk's Head which I hope will work.

Here are some pics:

Sorting the overly strands



Gotta say, this is damn straight plaiting!



After rolling, pre knotwork, fall and cracker










It's been a hard build, long hours of binding and plaiting. Just hope it all comes good.

[Rachel McCollough]

VERY nice plaiting, Roger!
It's a beauty!

For what it's worth I only close loop bind all TT core and belly ends, and just a few inches past the transition- from 4" to 14" of closed loop, but more than that of x binding.

This is really nice work, a beautiful whip!!!

[Matt Henderson]

That's looking fantastic, Roger . How do your TT core and handle fit together?

[Ron May]

Roger that's looking very good.
I love the colors.
It's a shame waxing will dull and probably darken them.

Ron

[Craig Frank]

Very straight and very good color combo. It's always fun trying to decide in which order to drop colors, huh?

[Sir Roger Tuson]

Matt, I use 10.5" 6mm steel bar as a handle, one end ground down to a round point. I 'hard' score the handle to create something for the paracord to grip onto (kinda like Velcro - hook and loop) and then start a 4-plt over it. When I get to the end of the handle, I switch from a 4-plt into a 2+2 strand Twisted Taper. Where you make the change from plait to twist can leave the transition very floppy but copious use of sinew sorts it out a treat.

Build your TT to desired length or style and then start an 8-plait belly from the top. This is your first belly. Bind heavily as per preference. 12plt second belly and bind, 16 plt overlay.

And there ya go. Roger's build method in two paragraphs. <cough>although there's a bit more going on</cough>

[Sir Roger Tuson]

Yeah Ron, I expect the dark blue to go close to black, the mid blue to go way towards the original dark, and the carolina blue to do... something?

Whatever, into the wax it will most certainly go.


Craig, the damn shop shorted me on the dark blue. I originally planned to have the pale blue disappear and have a darker tail. Thing is, while I ordered 100ft of each, they only sent 60ft or Dark Blue so I had no choice but to swap the whole thing on its head. As it happens, I think it works really well.

[Charlie Carpenter]

Looks really good Roger, nice plaiting. I'm still to tackle a whip so long. Thanks for the build pics

[Matt Henderson]

Sounds good to me . I do mine a bit differently, but I'd like to try your method; it looks like the transition comes out really smooth. My biggest problem with how I do my TTs is getting a bulge at the transition, which is probably caused by not filing down the rod enough; I file it to a square, take 1" of gut out of my four core strands, and lash them on to a deep groove I rat-tail file in the handle about 1" down from the end. Do you gut your core strands, leave them, or weight them? Just wondering how it'd affect the thickness of the handle.

[Ron May]

Matt, maybe if you plaited the handle before you start your TT core it would turn a little more even at the transition. (plait turning into TT)

Ron

[Jesse Bessette]

Roger, you beat me to it. I do have to say, I'm really digging the 4 color overlay the way you did it. It makes for a very eye-catching pattern. Well done sir.

[Brandon "Sparky" Lam]

Frigging awesome Roger! Is the overlay 20 plait? (on my phone so pictures are small)

I don't think wax will affect the colour too much, my bright neon pink was only slightly less bright neon pink :P

[Jesse Bessette]

It looks like 16 plait to me. Based on the fact that the plaiting starts off with 4 light blue then 4 dark blue.

[Brandon "Sparky" Lam]

Yeah you're right, now that I can see clearly on the computer :P

[Rachel McCollough]

Matt, I believe Roger guts all his strands. The inner strands of paracord can shrink if they get wet but the outer sheath may not- causing very weird twisting. It also makes for a "mushy" whip. I would urge you to always gut the strands. You will get a much smoother and more compact base. That's what you'll want to look for, tight and firm. My opinion

[Robert Gage]

Roger, that looks splendid! I really hope I might be able to try it one day....

[Michal Pylak]

Roger, this plaiting is outstanding. I love this colour choice and I'm waiting for final photos

[Sir Roger Tuson]

I really want to get on with the knotwork but I have so much writing to do. I can't get out and crack it yet as the garden is just too wet and muddy (I usually attach fall and cracker before the knots just to get a feel for the flow). I may sneak down a little later and start the transition knotwork. Got something in mind for that...

[Ron May]

Roger , I'm looking forward to seeing what you come up with for the transition knot.

Ron

[Roy Partin]

Congrats Roger! You did a damn fine job on your first long one. I'm a sucker for blue, so that color scheme is right up my alley