Whip Basics. The Forum

I may have been 'afk' for a while but I've still been busy!

Here's my latest, a 6' Bullwhip in Black and Green. 10.5" 8mm steel handle, two bellies (4 and 8 plait) with a 12 plait overlay. 4mm BB core from handle to 2'6" with un-cored 550 all the way to the fall. It has a triple stranded 5x7 TH on the heel and a double stranded 11x6 TH variant (thanks to Turk's Head Cookbook!) on the transition.

<whispers>I did use electrical tape for the transition binding on all layers but the rest is unbound</whispers>. I'm going to try binding with the core strands on my next one. Don't have any artificial sinew.

Anyhooooo, apart from thinking that the THs are far and away the best I've ever done (tightening the 11x6 was a nightmare!) and the fall knot looks great, I also think this may be the best whip I have made to date. It cracked straight out of the box, went into slow figures 8s with ease (the only whip in my 'collection' that does that), sideways, overhead, they all just work!

Rather chuffed tbh. Some pics...







Not so happy about the handle plaiting - bit wonky



This I do like!




Couple of things I learned from this build:

Don't try and use BBs that have been sitting for a while in an unsealed container as the slight patina of rust (these are cheap non stainless) makes it all but impossible to slide them down the cord.

Don't try and be clever when tying heel knots. The triple strand 5x7 was the third attempt to cover the handle properly. I'd tried a doubled 5x9 and then a doubled 5x11 to fill the gaps before realising that a straightforward 5x7 but tripled(!) was what I needed. D'oh!

Looking really good. The transition knot looks interesting, I've seen those somewhere but not on a whip before. That would probably make a really cool pineapple knot too.

Also great work on the fall hitch! I have used an eye for everything lately, and my next one will need a traditional fall hitch. I'm not really looking forward to that part, for some reason they're really difficult for me.

I have agree with your last lesson there. Don't try getting clever with turk's heads, it will end in tears.


- Pokkis

Roger! I'm seriously impressed with that transition knot! Overall a beautiful whip. I know the feeling when everything works right when you are finished. Truly a joy. Well done sir!

Thanks both.

Ever since I got my copy of the THCB I've been wanting to try out some of the more unusual designs. Pokkis's whip, a snake, needed the blue and white std TH so this is the first time I've had a chance to use one on a bull. I'm about to start on an all black bullwhip with a single strand of purple tracer so will be able to have a play with another nice TH variant on that

Roger, you ought to feel chuffed! That's an impressive whip: great colours, great knots - and it sounds like it performs well, too, which s the most important thing. Furthermore. the wonkiness of the last bit of handle plaiting won't show up so much if it gets sweat-stained from lots of use! This looks like a real advance in your work.

Overall a nice job! Seams look nice and straight, great taper, and a beautiful fall hitch.
The THCB is a great resource. It makes things too easy.

Only thing that sticks in my mind about this whip is the turks head knots. Did you leave the guts in them? I would have built the knot foundation and then used flat paracord to cover it with a turks head. A lot smoother that way.

Jeff

Looks nice Roger, the patterns look good as well. I personally would have used coreless for the knots, but they still look well done, and I haven't seen a transition knot in that form either.
The fall hitch is nice and clean, though I personally would worry about it coming undone without any tails.

On the BB's, I like the zinc plated ones best as they seem to be the smoothest.

Thank you all again!

Hmmm, coreless THs or not, that is a good question. For the heel knot I built up a slight 'bulge' with electrical tape to create a more rounded feel, the first time I've done this. The only whip I've held with a coreless heel knot is Keanu's from the whip swap. I must confess to preferring the larger knot you get keeping the cores in, as it sits in my (somewhat larger than average) palm more comfortably. I also like the look of the thicker transition knot over the flat cord style.

After the comment about the nice taper I went and had another look and yes, it is rather good isn't it </smug>

Point taken about the lack of fall hitch tails. I will keep a careful eye on it as it gets used. Just looked neater to me :/

Nice! Real nice!
I feel a growing regret that I have neglected to take pics of my whips and noting in which order they were made (making a very firm note to self). Not that the first ones were much to look at, but...

[quote="Antti "Pokkis" Mäkinen"]Don't try getting clever with turk's heads, it will end in tears.
- Pokkis[/quote]
Yep, you´re right, Pokkis! TH:s are, if you ask me, extremely unforgiving. Attempts to shortcuts and/or skipping steps like that extra round of working out slack and making the knot regular and even always backfires. Always. You do them right and proper - or do them over again.

Lasse

Lasse Carenvall wrote:<snip>... You do them right and proper - or do them over again.

Lasse

...and again, and again, and again etc etc

@ Roger: Yep. Been there, done that. Several times. Gradually less often, but...

Looks great Roger. The knots look very good!

Looks Great Roger! I totally dig the handle pattern. Simply and elegant.

Thanks Chris

Nice Job Roger!

I like it good job.