The "Making of" Gallery - Rachel McCollough

[Rachel McCollough]

Thank y'all!
Wolfgang, definitely both are here. Many of the whip handlers became whip makers because, like Mark, they wished to have a whip and it was not inexpensive to purchase a decent whip. However, as Mark pointed out so well, one whip would have been less expensive than all those supplies.... But what learning we would miss out on!

Craig, thanks!!! Great to see you!

[Georg Ernst]

Wolfgang here are both, think every one here had try to make a whip in his oder her life, but not everyone here would build his own whips

[Wolfgang Timm]

So a good mix of ‚makers‘ and ‚only-users‘
I assume there are hardly any ‚only-makers‘

[Rachel McCollough]

My apologies, I have been working...
Resume!
Now, can you guess?

[Rachel McCollough]

This is part of the project, but not for the stock whip.


And.....



The white on the fiberglass handle is staging or mason line, to bring the diameter of the handle to the same as where the paracord is epoxied onto the handle.
No tape of any kind...(Not all tape is bad, I just do not use it in my style of whips),
No epoxy past the tip of the handle.
No bolsters in my nylon whips.

[Rachel McCollough]

Here we have starting the first belly, a square start.


Other side:


Starting the first belly on the other whip...


And the finished first belly of this one:

[Mark Elliott]

Rachel, watching you work is a pleasure.

[Ron May]

I like watching the progress on your whips.

Ron

[Rachel McCollough]

Mark and Ron, Thank you very much. That means a LOT!

[Jyri Haveri]

Beatiful work Rachel!

[Robert Gage]

Rachel, this is so tantalising! Thanks very much!

[Georg Ernst]

It's always interesting to see the progress of a construction. Thank you Rachel.

[Sir Roger Tuson]

I agree with all the above, Rachel. This is fascinating to see each stage.

[Ethan Mitchell]

Nice looking so far! Why do you do that short section of diamond plait at the end of the handle?

[Mark Elliott]

Ethan, I'm guessing that it's because it the easiest way to begin the square start. Or at least that's why I do it.

[Rachel McCollough]

Thank y'all very much!

Ethan, if you are referencing the square start then yes, just as Mark stated.

I have a feeling that you may be referencing the other (transition) end of the handle. If that is the case, I use a diamond or short herringbone plait on any whip with an internal handle. I start that plait a few inches above and end a few inches past the tip of the tapered internal handle. This helps strengthen the transition as well as most likely keeping the narrowed and tapered tip of the rod from ever jutting through the plaiting, as I have seen pictures of some bent tent nail rods doing. It works well for the feel of the whip as well as it makes me feel better.

[Mark Elliott]

Didn't even notice the DP at the transition end. Cool.

[Ethan Mitchell]

Mark,
I was talking about the transition area.
Rachel,
Thanks! That makes sense, but does the diamond/short herringbone plait add that much rigidity? I was thinking that you did that so you can line up the diamond/short herringbone on the handle overlay...

[Rachel McCollough]

Hey Ethan,
No I generally only use the side seams to gauge all of the centering of the seams. Every plait has a slightly different center line, some very difficult to see.

[Rachel McCollough]

It adds some rigidity, really more spring than rigidity.