One on one whip swap for Erik

Charlie - looks like a good start.  However, I'm confused by your core.  Five pieces forced into each other??

Awesome! This is very exiting to watch the progress - to say the least! Ending the bellies that way is pretty innovative, looking good so far :]

To elaborate a bit on the core,  I have been using four different gutted sizes of Paracord.

For the smallest it will melt onto a welding rod nicely, the second will too but also needs a dab of superglue to make it strong enough. The third and fourth layer were pulled through with a b50 bowstring loop. The last was tough, I doubt I will do it again on anything but personal and special whips. I went in through the sidewall  and used the doubled wire to pull the rest of the core in. During the tougher sections it helps to keep the inner strands under tension and the outer bunched a bit as it goes on. I'll be doing a similar process for the fall so I'll get pictures for this then.

Here is the 12 belly rolled and bound, I'll detail the end of the core on the next belly, 16 strand.

Charlie, the taper is super.
This is looking very good.

Ron

Ok so I took some more pictures showing the end of the bellies and how I have been working the ends in.

I clipped back all of the threads apart from the last worked strand at the point where the core becomes empty from the last strand of the previous belly.

Used a fid to open sidewall of core about 6" down

Used doubled wire, with the strand melted on to draw it in to and out of the wall of the core.

Crap photo but I then bunched up the outer cord to cut the inner at about 3.5"

4 plait locked off

The next strand is then drawn in ahead of the first

then the next etc.

Here is the final belly bound and ready for the overlay

Fingers crossed it works out, its not too bad patience wise it's not so fiddly when you do it and it makes it really consistent to bind. I will use a variation on this whip for sale eventually but this is the whip I want to make for myself after this one.

I know it will be heavy but it shouldn't be too bad weight wise, there is no lead in there and the handle is pretty slim.

I have done short stiff transitions with not too much sinew because of the number of layers but each layer should transition nicely in stiffness but let the loop form early and the weight as far forward as I want to go to get the drops nice at the end, it actually drops its first strand at 18" but on the overlay there will be 2' or so of 20 plait, I find its much easier to let things bunch a little before dropping especially as the overlay will have two strands running the whole time underneath. The last two drops of the overlay will be pulled into the core and the last inner strand will hopefully end in the hitch knot so that its dropping mass right to the tip

Thank you guys

Ohhhh I see! I thought you were literally jamming 4 strands all into each other This way seems much more productive~

The whip is looking really good!