Whip Basics. The Forum

Sven, I drop one strand at a time and plait some time over them and snip them off. The mistake I made is that when I dropped strands tugged them too hard and they popped little bit out of order. Maybe I was too tired at the moment
When I dropped from 6 to 4 I plaited over the core which was paracord inside another paracord and it might have been little too thick for 4plat. I should have had that douple paracord end earliel so i would have been able to drop those strands where the doubled paracord ended and there I would have been able to make the taper better.

About dropping strands.. I have only watched youtube about it. I think I have watched bernies videos most of the time and used or tried to use those techniques, but i think maybe it would be easier to drop 2 strand at time on nylon whips?
And its pain in the ass trying to figure out 12 drop points instead of 6.
So if someone would point me to some tutorial/video where I could learn it I would be grateful!

Knots are done and the whip is finished! I was going to take it apart and correct the mistakes I did, but my friend cannot wait longer and since there is not money involved I am going to let this one go and make next one better.
I hate making knots but I guess I just need more practice.

Jyri, I'm pretty sure that the knots all the least favorite part for all of us. It came out looking pretty good though. Nice job.

Jyri, nice looking knots.
For most of us knots are not the favorite part of a build but practice makes it easier and good notes will help in the future.

Ron

Thanks! I should take the time and get exact measurments from the foundation so I could do them faster without try and error.

Jyri, that does look good. Well done! (But of course, the next one can always be better!)

Despite the flaws - its decent looking Jyri

Jyri, I'm a fan of double dropping as opposed to single drops. It helps keep patterns in line although avoiding a bulge as you plait over the dropped strands can be a little awkward.

I found Bernie's 'double drop' Youtube video very helpful in learning how to do this properly. There's a specific technique as going from 16-14, you do it one way and 14-12 you do it another. Have a look and see if it helps.

Nice, clean work! Great job, Jyri!

That's a beaut, good job Jyri

Thanks sir Roger! I have to watch it!
Thank you all! Today this whip went to new owner and he was happy.

I like really enjoy the classic look of this whip.
as whipmakers, we are always going to be criticizing our own work more than our friends who we make them for, & we will always be perfectionists. there is no getting around that if you are actually passionate & trying to progress in the craft.
I think the build is fine as it is, but if you see need for improvement, try to make note of it & improve it in your next build. if the whip rolls out nicely & flies straight & your friend is happy with it, then those are all good things.
also, keeping whips around with flaws that you are aware of will always serve as a good reminder to how much progress you continue to make.
as far as knots go, they are probably one of my absolute favorite parts of building a whip. that finishing touch, the thing that brings it all together & makes it complete. I love experimenting with different types & patterns as much as I do on the thong. it's the foundation that I really dislike having to do lol

Jorden, thank you! I too like sertain kind classical or simple look in whips. Maybe those knots will begin to feel better after lots of practise. I may have figured out how to mix knife making to whip making

Jyri - my biggest recommendation when it comes to strand drops is to only drop them when the whip tells you to. No matter where I intend to drop the strands, I wait until the plaiting gets way to crowded and then drop them. Also, on my last few whips I just couldn't get the 6 to 4 drop to work, so I just took the overlay all the way to the end with 6 strands and ended the whip in a six point fall hitch.

Craig, there is actually a very good example of how to seamlessly drop from 6 to 4 strands.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=sLTUCNciu3s

the only thing I would disagree with in this video is that you don't have to shake it loose the way he does after flipping the whip over. (he says "it won't work if you do it one at a time!", but it works perfectly well. I know because I've done it).

the key is to make sure that (using the color examples in this video), your "blue" strands that are on the right STAY on the right side after you flip the whip & unplait it a bit, & your "brown" strands that are on the left, stay on the left. it works. very well.

Second one on the go! 1st belly done.

lookin good, Jyri!

That's a very nice start.

Ron

Indeed it is, Jyri!