Whip Basics. The Forum

That's looking good there Ron.
I bet it makes it easier to keep your work nice and even and smooth this way.

Good job on the square start, it's so much cleaner than just folding them over.

Fritz, that's one of the things I am hoping for.

Ron

Brandon , you're right it is.

Ron

Well done, Ron! You really are going from strength to strength on a steep learning curve!

Thank you Mr. Robert.
I am having a little difficulty in transitioning from the checker board (?) to a 12 plait herring bone, but I will figure it out sooner or later.
I am determined that this whip will be done right and tight.

Ron

Ron, check out FAQ for fancy plaiting, it has a video for your problem!

Thanks Erik, I will do that.

Ron

I think I finally figured out what was impeding my progress in the second belly.
I kept getting to a certain point and it just did not look right. It looked sloppy and the strands kept trying to overlap each other.
I would undo it and plait again multiple times to no avail.

*BING* , then the thought occurred to me.... the strand count is not right for this section of the whip.
It's time for a strand drop ! It's a bit sooner than I had mathematically planned but it's necessary.

Now I understand what was meant by, " the whip will tell you things" when it comes to making the whip.
The thong was telling me to drop and I kept telling it to , " Shut up and lay flat.".

This would have been blatantly obvious to a seasoned whip maker. *face palm*, but I am learning.

I hope this solves the problem and I will be a better listener in the future.

Ron

good to see that you got past that issue, looking forward to seeing pics of the completed second belly

It'll talk to you
You can hear what it's saying then you're improving!!! Great!

Ron May wrote: Now I understand what was meant by, " the whip will tell you things" when it comes to making the whip.

Ron, I think this is true in all sorts of endeavours. I've designed several gardens over the years. I took careful measurements, worked things out very carefully on paper, but then - when it got to the point of actually doing it, I found I had to alter quite a lot. Lines and angles that worked on paper needed adjustment 'on the ground'. I suspect this goes for all sorts of plans....

Mr. Robert , you are absolutely right.
Reality is what happens when you are busy making other plans.
I would love to see some photos of the gardens or garden you have landscaped.
Personally I go for a more natural look as apposed to a manicured appearance. (get's me out of mowing the yard quite as often........ )

Ron

Ron, I have very few photos of previous gardens - and none are digital. I don't have the facility to scan them, either.... Sigh!

Take a digital photo of them printed photos, It'll be the same as scanning them

Ron, l learned how the whip speaks to you also, yesterday. I figure you can set the taper with the first belly. It was on the second belly I figured it out.

Thanks, Philbert - I'll have to give that a try. (The first thing will be to find the old photos. I know they're here somewhere....)

I just had a scathingly brilliant idea.
I may not be the first one to think of this but it's a first for me.

I hated the way the vice 'flattened' the thong while holding it for plaiting.
Soooo..... I thought of using a piece of leather wrapped around the thong and the ends of it
being clamped by the vice. The jaws vice are only clamping on the leather and not the thong which remains
round.
It holds very firmly and the thong, sitting on top of the vice, will not slip at all.




Ron

That's a great idea for vise plaiting Ron, also adjustable to boot. Looks like your colors are coming along nicely as well.

Devin, I think you're right. It will accept any diameter of thong down to the thickness of the
two sides of the leather being clamped.

Ron