Collins whips/making of

[Scott A. Cary]

Collin, I've actually crossed the line(s) from player to referee and now coach. Perhaps too many shots to the head?

[Collin Weaver]

Well, here is my first finished stock whip. I won't bore anybody with pointing out things wrong, but rather say it was fun and I'm already planning my next one with some corrections one thing I did differently than Nick's video was use 95 Paracord and do a grapevine hitch over the handle keeper that I tightened with artificial sinew. I couldn't justify fluffing out the extra length when I had plenty for a nice round look. Still needs to be waxed, I just have to wait until power is restored :

[Ron May]

Nice job Collin.
I like the pattern on the handle.
The fall hitch looks a little odd to me.

Ron

[Ethan Mitchell]

Not bad!

[Collin Weaver]

Thanks Ron and Ethan.

Ron, it goes to a 2 strand fall hitch. Adam Winrich has a video showing how to replace one for a close-up. I don't think I'm a fan. This is a lightweight whip already, and it's almost too fast (which is why it was designed this way admittedly by Adam W.). Next one I'm going to do a normal 4 point fall hitch with a weighted core. I also need to make the keeper loop on the handle a bit bigger as it's stiff in one direction and barely has any offset from the wooden handle.

[Collin Weaver]

So it was going to bother me, and I realized the nice thing about stock whips and how easy it is to change something. I opened up the handle keeper a little more and re-hitched it, then chopped off about a foot on the thong and gave it a 4 point hitch. Although it's even faster now, it handles a little better being how light it is. Next whip though definitely needs needs more weight wether that means shot loading or higher plait counts.

[Andrew Van Werkhoven]

Very very cool, nice job Collin. I must admit Stock Whips don't really do it for me personally, but I can appreciate the work you put into it, Nice job on the grapevine too

[Collin Weaver]

Thanks Andrew. I really enjoy the experimenting with different styles of whips. I like the look of a nice stock whip and the nostalgia around one, but can definitely now appreciate more a nice heavy slow moving bullwhip.

[Collin Weaver]

Here's is a new 5 ft stock whip thong I finished tonight. It has a little slower taper, and goes to a 4 point fall hitch instead of a twisted taper. Feels a little more sturdy. I also went towards the extreme side and tried 3ft of shot loading to see what happens.

[Ron May]

I like this much better.
I'll bet it probably feels a little more balanced too.
Have you cracked it yet?

Ron

[Robert Gage]

Collin, I agree with Ron. I think this looks better - and the added weight should help a lot.

[Mark Elliott]

Same here, a very marked improvement. Good job, man.

[Collin Weaver]

I put it on the old handle to test crack it, and what a difference. Definitely easier to crack, as well as feeling much better balanced. I'll have to give it the honors of its own handle now.

[Collin Weaver]

She wont win any beauty contests, but here is the redesigned complete stock whip. I wanted to try the new design so went function over looks to make sure I liked it. After waxing it handles and cracks easier than some of my bullwhips. I'm still not 100% sure how tight I want the keepers. The thong barely rests on the handle, but I'd be afraid if I let it out any more it would become sloppy after it breaks in and stretches a little.

I also wanted to show my rebate quick. I went old school and formed a 5/8" oak dowel by hand with my trusty Nicholson file. So far it seems to work really well for both stock whips.

[Andrew Van Werkhoven]

Leaps and bounds man, leaps and bounds, that looks great! (For a stock whip :P )

[Sir Roger Tuson]

I really do like that last one, Collin, it's a huge improvement. Must agree with what Andrew says above - leaps and bounds! Good stuff.

[Collin Weaver]

Andrew and Sir Roger, thanks very much! I'm really enjoying these stock whips at the moment.

[Mark Elliott]

Collin, I like stock whips a lot, myself, both making and cracking them. Unfortunately, they don't sell that well here in the states. I have a lot better luck with bulls and cow whips.

[Collin Weaver]

Mark, that is my next concern. I have 15 whips of various degrees (some might not even deserve to be called whips but rather nylon noodles : ) I have to start unloading them. I have a few friends that will be on the receiving end, and a few that I believe are presentable to sell at least on an online garage sale. That is my next dilemma though, how to position the ones I have at an honorable/ fair price. I was thinking as low as $40-$50 local pickup only for them to mainly recoup some cost so I can purchase more supplies and really get serious about making some presentable pieces without "hurting" and encroaching on the more professional makers.

[Mark Elliott]

Collin, I've given away a lot, and sold a few. One thing I can say is don't sell yourself short. If you are proud enough of them to put them up for sale then ask a fair price. So maybe we aren't on a par with members of the ring, so I don't try to get what they get, but I'm certainly a better whipmaker than a lot of the people selling whips and I ask a bit more than they do. I'd even say price it a bit high. You can always barter with someone and if you go down a little they feel like they've gotten a deal and you have sold a whip.