The Striker

[Roy Partin]

This is a little sneak peek at what I'm working on. Still a lot of work to do. Stay tuned

[Bobbi Holyoak]

Ooo! That is going to be cool!

[David Cross]

Looks good, Roy. Got a little bit of a "beehive" theme going for the handle, looks like.

[Taylor Jennings]

Man, that laser straight plaiting is something to behold. Looking forward to seeing the whole piece done.

[Roy Partin]

Thanks Bobbi, David and Taylor. David, I was going for a reptilian look but your right it looks more like a honey comb. Oh well, too late to change now

[David Cross]

Hey, don't knock it. It's working. Go with it; see where it takes you.

[Robert Gage]

That's really great, Roy!

To me, it actually looks more reptilian than 'beehive'....

Can't wait to see the finished work!

[Ryan Fitts]

Holy crap, Roy. That plaiting is bananas. You're making me realize how bad I suck over here.

[David Cross]

Now, now, Ryan: Recognizing skill is one thing, but that doesn't mean you don't have any.

There are a lot of folks on here better than I am, but I've managed to get myself past that "I suck" phase, and it's helped me immensely. Credit yourself for every legitimate success. To do otherwise is simply counter-productive.

Roy's plaiting really is making me kind of jealous, though. >_>

[Robert Gage]

There are a lot of folks on here better than I am, but I've managed to get myself past that "I suck" phase, and it's helped me immensely. Credit yourself for every legitimate success. To do otherwise is simply counter-productive.

Very wise, David! And this applies to almost any sphere of activity. If everyone looked only at the highest achievements and then gave up, nothing would ever happen! For example, without all those thousands of children scraping away at violins all over the world, there would be no great orchestras. Everyone has to start somewhere - and, at whatever stage of development one finds oneself, there is always room for improvement. That's what makes life exciting!

[Sir Roger Tuson]

That is nice plaiting though. Curt, aspiration man! Use Roy's work to drive you to improve your own. That's what I do!

[Roy Partin]

You guys are making me blush. Thanks so much for the kind words. I'm afraid the handle is going to take longer to complete than the thong did. I will post some build pics of the thong when I'm all done.

[Guest]

Cool! Looks pretty reptilian to me

So I guess the snake pattern will go all the way up the handle? That's a lot of wood burning, but it will look great too.

I would make a joke about how your plaiting makes us mortals look bad, but that has already been said here. And personally I see it as inspirational. It looks better than my work, but I know it's been made by a guy who has a brain and two hands just like the rest of us, so it's more "mine will look like this with experience" than "why doesn't mine look like this".

And I know you're not that good for real. You've just been practicing :P


- Pokkis

[Curt Baumgardner]

Pokkis, I like your spin on things. I keep telling myself, give it a couple years and mine will look like that.. Its the same thing I say when I see Robby dance with a whip.

[Roy Partin]

Pokkis is exactly right, anybody can do it. There is no secret. Plaiting is just repetition until your eyes cross. Once your eyes straighten out then keep on.

[Rachel McCollough]

That's beautiful work, Roy. The handle will look different when you are done, it will be very neat to see the comparison. Definitely inspirational! That's going to be a beautiful whip.

[Robby Amper]

The cowwhip from Roy I had the honor to do the video review on was great. Straight seams, a perfect taper and a beautiful handle. And - yes - if it's plaiting a whip or cracking it... Practice makes the master. Not only to dream about becoming better. In Germany we say: "There was never a master just falling from the sky." It means that hard work and practice will make you one. Roy is a great whip maker. And he is happy to help others. That makes a real master!

Robby

[Roy Partin]

Thank you so much Rachel and Robby. I will never be happy with my own work but to see the rest of this crew develop and hone their skills just tickles me to death. To see so much progress in a short period of time is very rewarding.

[David Cross]

Without this place, and the standards it holds us to, most of us would still be scratching our heads in confusion.