Whip Basics. The Forum

As promised here are some pics. I actually started this whip before I knew who would be getting it.

The handle after tapering the end. 7.5 inches chrome steel rod.


Handle with core and wear leather attached. 22" long.


Kangaroo hide before trimming:


And after:


First belly cut out, stretched, and beveled. I started at the lower left leg and went up around the neck and back to the right leg


First belly after plaiting. It is a 4plait starting at the butt of the handle, plaited about 3ft. The remaining strands will be divided and tapered to form the core for the 2nd belly.


My next step is to cut out and split a bolster. It will be cowhide and will cover the plaited part of the first belly.

Nice

I've been expecting for a leather whip build thread for a while now, so thanks for making one.


- Pokkis

Yet alone the first pictures and description tells me that there will be some lucky, lucky guy to own that whip! Thank you for the detailled info.

Robby

Jeff thank you for pictures! That is beautiful, beautiful... Some lucky guy is right, Robby. Wow. How cool... One day I'm going to get some leather and try it out.

So you're sure that the lucky one will be a guy? It could be any of us. Of course it's more likely that the recipient will be a guy because statistics, but isn't it a bit too early to call something like that?




- Pokkis

Well yes, true, and my husband would say the word 'guy' is heresy south of the Mason Dixon Line anyway...

Ah... Nitpickers! Okay - a lucky, lucky person. Lucky person. Happy now?

Robby

Oh this is really cool. I actually wondered how you made the big long plaits. I didn't realize that kangaroo can stretch straight like cowhide. I'm definitely going to play the whip swap next time. I was too self conscious that I was unable to make a nice enough whip this time around. You guys are really great motivators

Jessica M. Edwards wrote:Oh this is really cool. I actually wondered how you made the big long plaits. I didn't realize that kangaroo can stretch straight like cowhide. I'm definitely going to play the whip swap next time. I was too self conscious that I was unable to make a nice enough whip this time around. You guys are really great motivators

Kangaroo hides are actually small. Most I get are around 65DM or about 3ftx3ft. Obviously you can'[t cut a 9 foot strand in a straight line from them. Instead you cut strands in an oval shape. Strands start together and end differently. The inside strands are further "inside" the hide. Imagine a track and a 4000M race. Not all the racers start on the same line. They are staggered, and all end at the same spot.

For this belly I cut out 4 tapered strands. I dip them in cold water and then stretch them out. I actually gained about 8 inches in length.

I asked Paul Nolan once about making long whips (16-20ft). Obviously there isn't enough leather in 1 hide for 12 strands 30 ft long. You have to use 3-4 hides, cutting 3-4 strands from each. It also helps to plan for strand drops and cut strands short. This leaves more leather for longer strands.

I've made cowhide whips. Other than being thicker leather, it was easier cutting out a set. Along one side and across the end and back. None of this going in circles. Kangaroo is much stronger and thinner so I can cut thinner strands. Makes for nicer whips

I wonder...I wonder how something like an elk or moose hide would be for whip leather. As far as size goes, you can get some massively long strands out of them. I actually have an elk hide, but it has the fur still on...removing that is not a chore I even want to tackle. Yucky, yucky mess.

Coyote hide, maybe?

Drool....

Awesome

Robby Amper wrote:Ah... Nitpickers! Okay - a lucky, lucky person. Lucky person. Happy now?

Happy now. I'm glad we got that important detail straight


- Pokkis

I would like to echo the sentiment of political correctness. One luck person right there

For all those (and Robby) who are curious about my next step in making the Whip Swap Whip here is another picture!

Too cool! I really like the balance of blue and brown there, it looks so natural!
Fun, Jeff!!!

As promised more Kangaroo! This is the second belly. As the whip is getting close to the target thickness of 25mm at the handle I will probably skip a second bolster. The hide I am working with is pretty thick already. The strands have been stretched, sized, and beveled. I need to let them soak in some leather conditioner a bit; this is a pretty dry skin and as part of the stretching process I get the strands wet with cold water.

Finally got the second belly plaited and rolled. This whip is thick enough already and the leather I am using is about 1.5mm thick that I won't need a second bolster. When it is finished the handle should be around 25mm thick at the handle. Already the handle is hefty enough to balance out the eventual whip.

Oh wow Jeff, that's beautiful- that's just really beautiful. I love to see how that's coming together!!! One day I will get brave enough to try leather. This is really cool!