It's time to do something for these whips. Since I don't have my paracord I had to do some work on my handles. Usually I have used carbon arrows which I have filled with lead shots. This time I'm going to use stainless steel rods. They are pretty thin but they sould be strong enough.
I have tapered the ends to fit paracord filled with bbs. I am going to reingforce transition area to be sure that everything is going to last. I have to round those edges too. Its going to be bretty thin so I don't know if I'm going with the usual 2 plaited bellies or 3. What do you think? They are 11inc long.
Sven, it looks like 1/4" rod and the recess looks very nice.
That's sort of the way I grind mine as well.
I also bind the steel handle all the way for two reasons. One is to give the cord a good grip and two is to keep the diameter of the handle closer to the diameter of the core and bellies, leaving less "transition bulge". I bind all, the core and bellies this way for this reason.
Ron
It's ok if you disagree with me.
I can't force you to be right.
Ron May wrote:Sven, it looks like 1/4" rod and the recess looks very nice.
That's sort of the way I grind mine as well.
I also bind the steel handle all the way for two reasons. One is to give the cord a good grip and two is to keep the diameter of the handle closer to the diameter of the core and bellies, leaving less "transition bulge". I bind all, the core and bellies this way for this reason.
Ron
Sven? I am going to put one layer of hockey tape and then bind it with waxed thread all the way where the bb's stop and little bit past that. How long do you bind different layers?
Matt Henderson wrote:Looks like you've got a good plan to go, Jyri . Your grinding's very neat, as'd be expected from a knifemaker
It's turned on a lathe I had to thin it down with belt sander because it got too thin for the lathe. But I think that was only good thing. After grinding them with 60grit belt they are going to really stick to paracord.
If you worry about the ground portion beein too thin/fragile you could do the following: after you've slid the core string containig the BB's over the end of the rod you could use some epoxy glue to strenghten this portion of the handle. binding over this glued porion with sinew while the glue is still wet will help to keep everything round and to avoid having "glue bumps". Just make sure that the glue won't reach the flexible part of the core.
Ben Varsek wrote:These handles do look great Jyri !!!
If you worry about the ground portion beein too thin/fragile you could do the following: after you've slid the core string containig the BB's over the end of the rod you could use some epoxy glue to strenghten this portion of the handle. binding over this glued porion with sinew while the glue is still wet will help to keep everything round and to avoid having "glue bumps". Just make sure that the glue won't reach the flexible part of the core.
Jyri, normally Jessie or Ron would say this, but don't quote all of the things you're responding to. It makes the thread very long and redundant. Do exactly what I just did; just write the name of the person you're responding to. This helps people to find information in the threads without having to dig through all kinds of quotes.
Now and then we had a hope that if we lived and were good, God would permit us to be pirates.
-Mark Twain
Little update. I finally got my paracord. I have shot loaded cores ready and binded them with waxed thread. I haven't made whips this long before and I'm hoping I didn't overshoot it with the bbs. Exact measurments aside, I am thinking to plait first belly little over where the bbs stop and second little over that. Sound right?
I'm trying to take more measurments this time so it would be easier to make whips in the future as I have been making them by gut feeling to this day. I am doing 3-shift job and making whips at nights is really taking its toll
Jyri, how long is the length going to be on these whips?
How far did you load the core with BBs ?
How many bellies are you planning on doing?
What plait count are you making them?
What plait count are you making the overlay?
With out knowing specifics it's impossible to help with the answer to what you are wanting to know.
It looks like a good start though.
Ron
It's ok if you disagree with me.
I can't force you to be right.
Ron, I am aiming to 8ft whips. To plaited bellys, maybe 6 and 12plaits and 16plait overlay.
If I don't remember wrong I loaded them about 60cm?
I have used lead shots till this day and steel felt really light
I am going to put one layer of hockey tape and then bind it with waxed thread all the way where the bb's stop and little bit past that. How long do you bind different layers?
. Your grinding's very neat, as'd be expected from a knifemaker
