Whip Basics. The Forum

Here’s a 6 ft bullwhip in white paracord with a black paracord handle. The handle core is a 10-inch long 3/8″ steel rod covered in a 20 strand, short herringbone pattern. The heel knot is weighted with lead and covered with a 7×6 three pass Turk’s head knot. The transition does not have a knot covering it because I really liked the way the square start of the over 2, under 2, short herringbone pattern looked. The whip thong has a twisted, tapered core, 2 plaited bellies, and a 16-plait overlay ending in an English eye fall hitch. the fall is 28 inches long, weighted with a loop on each end. The cracker is 8 inches long and made of B55 nylon bowstring material. The whip is waxed. This is whip #54.

That's a very nice whip Mark. The transition not does indeed do it justice. No need for a knot there.
The taper looks great.

How does it perform?

Sven

What a beauty Mark.
How does it crack?

Ron

It's been a little muddy to really give it any good throws, but I did a few overheads and it seemed to move very nicely. I bought a large tarp and when the wind dies off I will lay it out and give the whip a good workout. I'll try to video it as well.

Mark, that’s beautiful! I’ve often wanted to use a square start and plait handle back, very nicely done!!!

Beatiful whip Mark!
I have yet to learn u2o2 plait some how i'll just end up with caucho plait.

Looking forward for the video

This is superb, Mark! But how long will it stay white?

Thank you every one.

Robert, I shall have to be very careful where I use it, for sure. Tyler gave me some tips on cleaning it.

Jyri, the gaucho and the short herringbone are both o2u2 plaits, but the short herringbone is much simpler. The SH is the exact same on both sides for every run, whereas the gaucho is a rotating pattern that is different on each side and cycles every other run.

Rachel, it took me a while to figure out how to start the O2U2 pattern square.

If anyone is interested, here is a tutorial on how to do it that I made a couple of years ago. I was looking at Grant's encyclopedia for how to do it or at least for clues as to how it might be done and came across Plate 42 "Back braid of eight thongs." and kthe light bulb popped on.

https://palodurowhips.com/2017/07/11/sq ... rringbone/

Mark I added this tutorial to the FAQ section.
Thanks for posting. This is very cool.

Ron

Thanks, Ron, nice to be able to contribute something, occasionally.

Another unique beauty! Your whips always seem like true art.

Thank you, Wolfgang, that is very kind of you.

Your tutorial is awesome!

Thank you, Rachel. I put it there mostly for myself, so I could find it when I needed it! I am more than happy to share, though.

I love the look of that transition. Well done, Mark!

Thank you, Scott.

It is well done and that’s a great way to remember