Whip Basics. The Forum

Okay, I have kept this a secret for a while now, but if I am going to show my whip being built, I may just as well spill the beans. I am going to Germany next month to participate in Robby's meet and greet. (yay!)

I am making 2 whips. One will be a secret until I get there and the other will be for my own personal use while I'm there. I have been trying to figure out a twist ending and have had some troubles, but I might have it this time. Anyway, this will be my personal whip. It will have a wood handle that Rachel made for me and that I woodburned flowers all over. My plan is 10 feet. I finished the core, binding that, and the first belly today. It hasn't been bound yet, so its still pretty. Non-electrical tape whip number 4.

Nice straight looking seams!!! You go Girl!!!! And everybody's now jealous that doesn't get to go to the meet and greet.... Congratulations to you, Jessie, both on your trip and your whips!!!!
You got it goin on!

Rachel is right! Jessie, you're doing splendidly - and for a fourth whip, this looks outstanding. Let us know in due course how it passes all the various 'Robby Tests'. But well done you!

Jessie, outstanding.

Ron

@ Jessie Edwards:

Fantastic work Mrs. Edwards !!!
The belly has a very even taper and the plating looks thight with streight seems and shows no gap - very well done !!!
I can't wait for you to reveal your secret whip as well as seeing the finished meet and greet whip !!!
Congratulations on your trip to Germany !!!

All the best
ben

Thanks. Hopefully it will be good enough to serve its purpose for me and I can learn a few things on the way.

A question: If I have a finished whip. But Im not sure if I really want it finished, can I bind the overlay and plait a new overlay making it a core-belly-belly-overlay whip? is that allowed or would it mess everything up?

Jessie, my second whip (Blue Lightening) had a core two bellies and an overlay.
It made it a little heavier but didn't mess anything up at all.

Ron

Jessie, my 8-foot Tank by Keanu has three plaited bellies - and I believe each of them is bound, though I'm not certain.

Looks good to me. Also, I don't think there's any law against plaiting over a finished whip. You may run into issues with carrying the point of the old overlay into the new one, but you can leave some of the tails from the new overlay longer than normal and use those to plait over when you reach the end of the old overlay. It'll be a little fiddly, but totally possible.

I have plaited over a single belly I was unhappy with before. It went fine, just a bit extra attention at the end to make sure it tapered properly

Okay, well then all is not lost. I made a bit of a mistake with surprise whip and I think if I go that route I can fix it without a lot of drama and waste.

Lovely taper Jessie. And I'm well jealous you're going to the Meet n Greet. I'd love to go but can't get the time away.

Aww, that's sad,Roger. I was hoping to meet as many of you over there as I could. . Maybe I can do it again next year. That is, if Robby can stand me more than once in his lifetime. There is that. If nothing else, maybe a sensible whip will tone down my sparkling personality.

It's the weekend of Sept 3rd isn't it?

Yes.

Hmmmm, damnit, I'd love to go. I DO have another 'thing' that weekend but nothing important that can't be cancelled. I think a chat with 'er indoors is required. If I could go, do you think it would be ok with Robby? I'd be happy to camp in the garden (or sleep in the car)...

Pft. I don't have a clue. It's Robby's thing. I don't know anything. I don't even know how to ride in an airplane at this point, so I am the last person to ask.

It'd be a bit of a trek for me either by motorbike or car - 750 miles each way - but feasible. I'd better chat with Kat first before contacting Robby...

Just a quick question to the experts. I'm going to be finishing off the whip today and how long should the twist be? My niece has a 4 foot whip from Midwest Whips that is maybe 2 feet plaiting and at least half twist. How long should I make this goofy thing?

My extensive experience (read: the five or six times I've done a twist as an internal layer) says "Hmmm, about that long."

In all seriousness, I wouldn't do it any longer than any of your other plaits. If your 4 plait is 8", then that's how long I'd do the twisted taper. Longer or shorter would screw up the acceleration and diminishing mass.