First post, first whips and latest efforts

[Jesse Bessette]

Very well done Mark. Now, you did say something about using electrical tape. Are you doing that still, or did you move to sinew?

[Mark Elliott]

Mark - I think all of your whips look very good. You quickly solved your gap issues in your heel knots, which I still can't fix after 30+ whips.

Thank, you, but solved might be too generous. I'm getting better at tying them. There's a lady named Mabel Marble that has a you tube channel and is the moderator of a community on Google+ caljed Knot Just Paracord that is a knot tying fiend. She's been very helpful. Bernie Wojcicki has a formula for determining how wide to cut strands to cover any size foundation using what ever type of knot you want. When I get back from taking my daughter to work I'll dig it up for you. Since paracord strands aren't adjustable I use it to get a idea of how big to make the foundation for whatever knot I'm wanting to do. Another good source is Bruce Grant's encyclopedia. Rawhide braiders are knot tying wizards.

[Geoffrey Tucker]

Very nice Mark! Impressive. Keep it up...

[Jessie Edwards]

Nice job. I really see improvement right away. Before I say anymore, I need to greet you properly in the guestbook.

[Mark Elliott]

Very well done Mark. Now, you did say something about using electrical tape. Are you doing that still, or did you move to sinew?

Just on the first whip, the video I watched used it so I did. I used artificial sinew after that and maybe a bit of hockey stick tape on around the handle to keep it from being so slick when tying the core on with the sinew. I did use a plastic mesh carpet stick down tape on a few of the first ones as a kind of bolster, but quickly realized it wasn't actually doing anything but adding bulk.

[Robby Amper]

latest efforts, a 6 footer number 14 a birthday present for my son. 3 bellies, shot loaded core.

What impressed me on that is the fact, that you hold every single line down the handle.
No twisting, no spiraling. Very well made. Thank you for sharing those!

Robby

[Mark Elliott]

Robbie, I'm get better at keeping the lines straight. Have the most trouble with the fancy plaits using a spiral wrap technique.

[Scott A. Cary]

Well done, sir!

[Ron May]

Mark have you tried plaiting a fancy pattern?

Ron

[Ethan Mitchell]

Mark,
I think #12 is my favorite whip. Love the color combination!

[Mark Elliott]

Mark have you tried plaiting a fancy pattern?

Ron

Yes, but I have a really hard time keeping the pattern straight using the spiral method and although Ron Edwards book shows how to plait them in normal plait I haven't been brave enough to try that way
This was my first attempt on my 3 rd whip a 8 foot bullwhip and the pattern didn't really form well
Second attempt was on the red whip in the post above and a thrid attempt using different shades of black also shown in the above postthat turned out pretty good but is difficult to see in photos
4th was this one, another 8 footer. Still having a lot of trouble keeping the pattern straight
and the last attempt was this cat that I didn't post because I had read Robbie's post about the pervert and didn't want to give anyone a bad first impression of me. This one came out much straighter but still has a little alignment problem. I made it after watching Bernie Wojcecki's video. I think its a beautiful whip but maybe some others would not agree because of what it is. I'm not ashamed of it but it makes me uncomfortable to think about what someone might use it for so I probably wont ever sell it.

[Mark Elliott]

Thanks Ethan, I really liked that one as well. That one was one of the few that I made just for me. I made it light so that my arthritic wrists would complain less, but a guy down in Coperas Cove, TX saw it on reddit's whip forum and asked to buy it for his girlfriend's birthday and I couldn't refuse.

[Robert Gage]

That's a very impressive start, Mark! (Not sure about the cat, though....)

[Sven van Leeuwen]

There's definitely improvement from whip to whip. But already from the start it's looking good.

You seem to improve very well.
Can't wait what's coming next.

Sven

[Sven van Leeuwen]

The fancy plaiting on the handle is impressive.
Forgot to mention that.

Sven

[Mark Elliott]

Thanks Robert, I'm not too sure about the cat myself.
Thanks to you as well Sven. I started on a new one last night, an 8 foot bullwhip (that's all anyone around here wants, Texas, you know.) The guy I'm making it for wants a single color-black, but he didn't specify anything else so I'm going to have to try to think of something to make it a little more interesting.

[Sven van Leeuwen]

An all black whip is very nice. I made one too awhile back and it was one off my favorites.
Good luck.

Sven