Plaiting

[Devin Bauer]

Alright, I'm getting ready to do a couple more whips and there is something I'm curious about. When I plait, the strands seem to bunch closer on the top side relative to where I'm plaiting, and wrap around the bottom further before the seams show again. Is this a matter of plaiting without a hook or is the diameter of the under layers too big for the strand count?

[Jeremy McEachern]

You need more or wider strands.

[Devin Bauer]

I was afraid of that, but since I'm doing nylon I'm not too enthusiastic about doing more than 16 plait. I am doing a 1/4 rod instead of a 5/16 this time.

[Jeremy McEachern]

A lot of it depends in how you do your core, what type of core you do and whether or not you use bolsters ( on nylon ). Tape counts as a bolster in most situations by the way because, especially over several layers, it really can increase the diameter.

[Stephane Normand]

having a hard time wrapping my brain around the explanation...

so your strands are bunching on the top where the plaiting is facing you, but you have gaps on the backside? Is that what's happening?


what is the diameter of the core/belly you're plaiting over where this is happening?

[Jeff Roseborough]

Make sure you use the correct number of strands. You could change the angle at which you plaight slightly. Thin the bolster a little also. If using a bolster between each belly you could omit a bolster after the first belly.

When making a whip it helps to plan ahead where possible. With practice you get better at judging strand number and width.

[Tyler Blake]

Also, on the 16 plait, are you going under 4 over 4? One time way back I tried going under 2 over 6 and it did exactly what you just described. You might see that a little on the sections where the plait count isn't divisible by four, but if it's really noticeable you probaly do need a thinner core or more coverage.

[Devin Bauer]

Yeah, I did under 4 over 4, but from what everyone says, it is the diameter that is an issue, since my previous whips weren't large enough to cause the spacing between strands. Going for a single strand core and 1/4 rod for the next whips.

[Franco Zoccali]

The idea isn't to reduce your core and handle foundation to fit a methodology you already know, but to learn why things work the way they do and to adapt to each whip. That's what every whipmaker does...

[Caleb Krug]

I had this problem with my whip as well, I also think it is a matter of too much bolstering. One thing I don't understand is people are saying "you need more strands" but I thought we were supposed to plait with multiples of 4. Can someone clarify this?

[Kinky_swede (Passed away)]

Well, i've made a few where i had to go up to 14 strands.
No problems as long as there isnt any pattern, it's the same thing that happens after a drop.

/Kent

[Jeremy McEachern]

I had this problem with my whip as well, I also think it is a matter of too much bolstering. One thing I don't understand is people are saying "you need more strands" but I thought we were supposed to plait with multiples of 4. Can someone clarify this?

If its to the point that your plaiting is doing what was described, then adding four strands won't cause a problem. There is a very large amount of leeway in how wide your strands can be to fit what you're plaiting over if you know what you're doing. You can have a steep or narrow plaiting angle, but you have to change your technique for both.
Btw it's ok to have plait numbers that aren't a multiple of four when you're dropping , it's just better not to start it that way.

[Caleb Krug]

Okay, thanks guys! I think I understand now.