The "Making of" Gallery - Rachel McCollough

[Wolfgang Timm]

I agree...and a picture of a well-plaited, coiled whip sometimes has something almost ‚hypnotic‘ in it... one could look at it for minutes!

Wolfgang,
That it what I do, I pull it up in a tab and zoom in so that it is almost like it is sitting in front of me! :P I've actually learned a bit about plaiting just by doing that, as, when someone describes a dropping method, color or plaiting pattern, etc I've seen it, or at least something like it. That way I can imagine and understand what they are describing without them showing pictures.

Whipmaking is probably a prime example of an art that can be very well spread via internet. Without all these pictures and videos I don’t think there wouldn’t be as many good whipmakers.
I wonder how the business was going in the pre-youtube era.

[Rachel McCollough]

No excuses for not cracking your whip. It's too cold... Too wet... Too dark... I'm too tired...
I say those things too.
No more excuses.

I had the opportunity to mend an older whip, that is very special, for a dear friend. This whip has a story, you can find it in the leather section if you like, under "Little Projects."
I only added a fall and cracker...


And here is a video of the gentleman's brother cracking the mended whip.

https://youtu.be/P5N9hNMtqaA

This is why I build whips. We build dreams, friends. It was my honor to work on this swivel handle four plait whip. It is a fine whip because it holds fine memories for the family. It is a fine whip because it holds the dreams of the owner... Who is not now breathing to express his dreams. It brings back the dream to life for those still living. It is a connection to history, to our roots.

You can crack a whip, my friend. I don't want to hear one excuse, not one.

[Robert Gage]

Rachel, that's a great story - and you are a wonderfully generous person!

[Robby Amper]

You are so right, Rachel. So right... I keep telling the people that whip cracking is not about making noise. It is about improving your hand/eye coordination. To improve your overall fitness. And to have a little fun outside

Robby

[Rachel McCollough]

Mr. Robert, we have known this family for over 20 years... Great people.

Robby, that is it exactly.

[Rachel McCollough]

The rest of the story
Thank you, Robby. All of the Amper Style Whips that are more highly patterned after the style of Scott's and Robby's whips will be called "Amper Style Elite"
Whip Basics Review
https://youtu.be/3gf2RqMswMM

Placing these pictures where they belong
Bringing them over from the "Making of" Gallery.

That was made for me. To be specific - it was made for the WB Meeting. I wanted to teach a way more elegant and slow way to crack a whip, than the usual "Machine Gun" style. "A Whip Crack...loud as a gunshot!" So I asked Rachel for a whip, that rolls out not only slow, but very slow. And I asked for a red fall, so the motion of the whip is even more visible. And on top I asked for some leather wrapping on the handle, because I needed a safe grip. Those who were with me at the WB Meeting could see that I hold the whip sometimes only with two fingers. Because if you know what you do - and the tool is from the highest possible quality - sometimes two fingers are enough.

And now the whip looks like this...
















There will be more about that whip...

Robby

[Robert Gage]

Rachel, I cannot praise this whip highly enough. As you know, I got to try it last September, and was absolutely amazed! It truly has a life of its own! Well done!!!

[Wolfgang Timm]

I was fascinated to see it in Robbys hand in September, this was definitely the slowest rolling out of a whip I have ever seen. Almost like slow-motion, only that it was the actual speed.
I don’t remember what crack it was, I think it was a sidearm flick, but I still remember that I thought „Unbelievable, this is too slow to be working, but it does!“

[Wolfgang Timm]

I noticed I already wrote that in post #344, but it‘s still true

[Collin Weaver]

I'm watching this drooling Rachel...I love that handle! Also, it was funny watching Robby start grinning as he handles it

[Robert Gage]

Collin, no one could handle this whip, and not start grinning!

[Rachel McCollough]

Thank y'all, very VERY much!

[Ethan Mitchell]

Very Cool Rachel! That whip is a beauty.

[Scott A. Cary]

Also, it was funny watching Robby start grinning as he handles it

Speaking from personal experience - he can't help but to grin.

[Jyri Haveri]

Beatiful work Rachel!

[Rachel McCollough]

Thank you Ethan! Just wait until I can show the next one.... It is a beauty.

Scott, that's the highest praise, right there!

Thanks, Jyri!

[Sir Roger Tuson]

I can only echo Robert, Wonderful work!

[Rachel McCollough]

Sir Roger, thank you!

[Rachel McCollough]

Ethan's
7' 16 plait chocolate brown Amper Style Elite with Cumaru handle.

[Ron May]

Great job Rachel.
I love the fancy plaiting on the thong.


Ron