Whip Basics. The Forum

I figured I might as well make a thread for the whips I make instead of a new thread for every whip.

This one is the last bullwhip I made, whip #5.
6.5ft, 16 plait. First whip i’ve made with no shot loading.



Here is my first stock whip. The thong was based off of the Nick stock whip, but I didn’t do the twisted taper at the end so I could do a pseudo english eye. It turned out to be about 4.5 feet, with an 18 inch aluminum rod for the handle. I love how these two colors look after waxing. It’s soooo light. My next stock will be longer and heavier.





Thanks for taking a look. Many more to come, I cannot stop making them.

Those are pretty colors together. Very nice! How does it feel when it’s thrown with such a long handle?

Those colors on the stock whip are very close to my school colors.
(Go Bulldogs!)

Ron

Neat looking whips Nathan!
How did you like the core with no bb:s?

Very nice! I'm also starting to appreciate a nice clean bullwhip with no transition knot. I also like the orange fall against the blue! You seem like a baptism by fire kind of guy lol

Nathan, that is really very nice work. You really are coming along quickly.

Ron, that’s exactly what I think of when I see the burgundy and yellow together, school colors

Jessie thank you. I still need to get used to such a long handle, though I haven’t been able to try it out much with the crappy weather we’ve been having. I think i’ll make a longer thong to go with this handle.

Thank you Jyri. I was not expecting the dramatic weight difference without the bbs in the core. I also used a lot less binding so i’m sure that cut the weight down as well. So she is very light. I admit I don’t have much experience throwing whips, only practice with the ones i’ve made, but i’m finding that I prefer longer and heavier. So as we speak i’m planning out a 10ft that will still have no bbs but will have a third belly.

Collin thank you. I’m kind of a minimalist, so transition knots look unnecessary to me. Plus they detract from the shape of the whip in my humble opinion. I too like the orange against the blue. I like a brightly colored fall, helps me see what’s happening at that end of the whip.

Mark thank you. Help and inspiration from all of you has helped me progress.

Nathan, I'm typically a black and grey kind of guy, but I do like these colors together. Nice choice!

Thank you Scott!

Another question for the whip makers..
The way I’ve added another layer of plaiting on the stock whip handle to bulk it up a bit, can I do that same thing for the overlay on a three bellied bullwhip, starting a few inches before the transition? I’m thinking about this so the handle doesn’t get too fat from another layer. Would the diamond plait be enough to hold it in place?

Nathan Mayer wrote: I admit I don’t have much experience throwing whips, only practice with the ones I've made, but I'm finding that I prefer longer and heavier. So as we speak I’m planning out a 10ft that will still have no bbs but will have a third belly.

Nathan, in general, I almost always prefer longer and heavier. I find that 'longer and heavier' means more relaxed cracking!

Nathan - I really like the colors of that first whip. A good contrast without being overly so.

Thank you craig. I saw that color scheme first in one of Rachel’s whips so the compliment goes to her.

Mr. Robert, The more I practice with a whip the more I appreciate the form of slower movements. It just feels better. So i’m sure long whips with good weight will always be my preference.

Hey y’all. I’ve been taking pictures while building my first 10 foot four belly whip. Thought i’d share. I found a lot of good quality pink cord for very cheap, so i’ll be hiding it on the insides of my whips for a while.

The core with the bends showing the drops.





I tried this method to attach a twisted taper to a bullwhip handle. It worked out very well without adding a lot of bulk.











The first belly had a decent arc.



Even better after closed loop binding and X’s over that.







Belly two before I added the twisted taper.


I finished belly two last night and plan on rolling and binding and rolling it tonight and starting belly 3. Thanks for taking a look

I love build threads .

Ron

Nathan, this will be an absolute monster of a whip. Can't wait to see it in action

Don't worry, we won't tell anyone about the pink guts! Thanks for sharing the build.

Looks good. You're gonna be as sick of pink as I am soon.

Nathan, this is going to be my kind of whip. Looks great!

And I thought my 10' 3 belly whip was ambitious, a 4 belly is going to be a monster! Can't wait to see this one completed.