Club Obi Wan

Simon Martin

Hi Franco

Good to see you managed to get hold of some ferrules in your neck of the woods, and they look really good.
Kind Regards
Simon

Simon Martin

Bernie said I think 10000 might be stretching it a bit Simon but I'll try and hang in there. I hope so Bernie :D Thought you may be interested to see the below picture. At the weekend I caught up with Gary Brophy from Sunrise Circus and you will see me holding a 160ft stockwhip with Gary looking on....

Simon Martin

Marhala said Wow Simon, and I thought I was very young when I had my first whip at age nine... It is good to see many little lads learning this interesting sport!!! Yes it's great. There seems to have been a bit of a generation jump. Grandfathers that were stockman's back in the 1950's and 60's are ...

Simon Martin

Ben acctually only took up whipcracking when he was 16 and with in 18months he was AWPA Australian Men's Champion, which he has won 5 times. He came 3rd after he had been cracking for 6 months and I'm fairly sure everytime he has competed since he has won the event. If you have a look around on you ...

Simon Martin

Well I got around to putting a couple of photo's up of some young whipcrackers. http://www.whipmaker.com.au/images/peewees%202009.jpg http://www.whipmaker.com.au/images/peewees%202009%20(1).jpg The first one is a couple of the boys waiting to be presented with their placings. The second is the top 6...

Simon Martin

Yes "Jim Craig" has enspired a lot of whipcrackers in this country over the years. Here's one little clip for those who don't know http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YNStbzxuAQ4 who Tom Burlinson (Jim Craig on the movie) is. Tom was one of the judges on Australia's got talent.

Simon

Simon Martin

Hi Bernie Sorry for the delay, but I just don't seem to have as much time to read the forum as I used to. I uploaded the video the other day here http://www.youtube.com/results?search_type=&search_query=30ft+bullwhip&aq=f It was raining the day I finished making it, so went to the nearest st...

Simon Martin

Bernie Said

TASMANIAN
We always say two heads are better than one down here.

And you can always tell when somebodys not from Tasmania as they wouldn't have kept the head they have

That's a joke my cousin uses when he gets rubbed about being Tasmanian, and I find it quite funny.

Simon Martin

Bernie said Did you get any video of the younger whip crackers Simon? If you did it would be good to post it on youtube so we can see the little whipper snappers at work. No, I didn't take my camera this year, but I've just uploaded a clip from my latest dvd here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YdDvz...

Simon Martin

The results from the 2009 R.M. Williams Australian Whipcracking Championships are now to be found here http://www.australianwhipcracking.org/Full_Competition_Results.htm And here is a picture of the place getters. http://www.australianwhipcracking.org/images/Place%20Getters.JPG There was a very larg...

Simon Martin

Bernie I saw some of those old tv clips recently on a video Chris lent me. They were very interesting. He told me when he was Australian Champ in the early 90's that he did over 150 shows one year. Makes you wonder how much schooling he did! He was the first to do the "Tasmanian Cutback" a...

Simon Martin

Simon calls it Whippa rather than nylon it's his own find, maybe he'll post but I'm sure I read somewhere he wrote that he has it specially made up.. Yes, I had this especially made up for me. It's technically not nylon, so I have just called it "Whippa" to make it sound like a special th...

Simon Martin

Having had time to watch both of Robby's excellent dvd's here are my reviews. Volume 1 I really like the way Robby explains things and his sense of humour make it very easy to watch. The cracks that Robby teaches in Volume 1 are done in a way that he makes it very easy to understand. The highlight f...

Simon Martin

Hi All Thought you may all be interested in my latest DVD production “Australian Whipcracking for Kids” This is presented by the Wicks Family Whipcrackers from Gunnedah, NSW. The DVD is an amazing showcase of Australian Whipcracking from a passionate Aussie family. The Wicks’ have travelled Australi...

Simon Martin

Thanks for your comments. Just out of curiosity, where did you get this material? Currently I don' t wish to say. Technically it's not nylon, and "Whippa" is the name I am calling it. Those white whips are super cool. I also wonder if they would get dirty fast and be hard to keep clean. I ...

Simon Martin

Hi Everyone Recently there was a post about nylon whips, and some of you mentioned that you don't like them. I was in aggreance with that to. However I have had a thread made for me that I am calling "Whippa". It is very tough (nearly blunted my scissors!) Each strand takes over 340lb in w...

Simon Martin

Hi Paul Just thought I better clarify some of your post. Ben Hughes hasn't competeted in whipcracking since he won the world championship in April 2006, but still goes along to a few competitions just to catch up and do a performance or two. Adam has really got good with his whipcracking, but still ...

Simon Martin

Thanks Christian It would be great to catch up sometime and do some whipcracking. This time of the year there are a few competitions, so you should try and make it to one of these just to watch and we can teach you some tricks after the comp. We have one a devonport on December 1st at the Show. And ...

Simon Martin

Hi Everyone I'm looking forward to meeting Adam and Chris at Glen Innes, it should be a real learning curve on seeing everyones work. Apparently they get up to 40 stockwhips entered in the comp. Adam I haven't talked to Ben yet about picking you up from the airport, but I will let you know. Paul, I ...

Simon Martin

Well with the Australian Dollar being so high I thought it was time to get one of David Morgans whips to add to my collection. I had quite an enjoyable chat with Mr. Morgan and we talk about whips, whipcrackers and whipmaking. Here are some pictures of a whip I made Before I recieved my Morgan last ...

Simon Martin

Chris, I really appreciate your compliments, thankyou. It is a real shame that you didn't enter at Sydney. However if they weren't careful with your gear I don't blame you. Sorry Paul, I didn't realize that you couldn't enter at Sydney. Glen Innes probably has more prestige here in Australia anyhow....

Simon Martin

Thanks everyone for all your compliments. Dan, unfortuantly I didn't get the time to do a bullwhip this year. The results for the comp were as follows: 1st- My stockwhip. I'm not sure, but I may be the youngest whipmaker to have ever won the Sydney Show. 2nd-Bill Glasgow from Toowoomba, QLD 3rd-Pete...

Simon Martin

Hi Everyone Thought you might be interested to see a whip I made for this years Sydney Royal Easter Show in the stockwhip section. It is a 7ft 24plait thong, with a 32plait handle. I spent between 40-50hrs on it. On the handle the strands started off at around 1mm in width. Paul N. Your website look...

Simon Martin

I used to use a cheap Ivan splitter when I was whipmaking as a hobby. It worked very well with Kangaroo, but wasn't very good on cowhide. Then I lashed out and bought a $650 Osbourne a few years ago which was hopeless :shock: When it was made the roller wasn't center of it's axle and it would leave ...

Simon Martin

No Adam I don't mind at all. I hadn't been telling to many because there had been a supply problem with Kangaroo hide, but at the moment I have around 600hides in stock with more on the way. So I'm more than willing to send leather to anyone who needs it. In regards to kangaroo hide falls, I only us...

Simon Martin

Great story Bernado. Thanks for posting all the photo's I found them very interesting.
By the way you are making some really nice whips.

Kind Regards

Simon

Simon Martin

Well thanks, but there are a lot of good whipmakers around. I guess it comes down to what each individual thinks. My whips may suit you, but not somebody else. All any of us whipmakers can do is aim to do the best job we can possibly do everytime we make a whip and hopefully learn something on every...

Simon Martin

Hi Paul

As I was logged in I thought I would ask you how thin you split your strands (if you did) on this NICE whip? I forgot to ask you when I was talking to you the other day.

Kind Regards

Simon

Simon Martin

Yes a number of competitions including the Australian Championships are run by the AWPA. There is still a lot of competitions that are not run under the AWPA, but eventually they may all be. Here in Tasmania there are 5 whipcracking compeitions everyyear (that I know of) and only the Tasmanian Champ...

Simon Martin

You've done a good job for your first go. Although it looks like you've had trouble with the turks head :) It brings back memories. Also you may be pulling one side of your plaiting tighter than the other because it is spiraling. Or it could be wider strands on one side than the other. There's so ma...

Simon Martin

Hi Taz Yes Agfest was great. Got to meet lot's of different people including Will Hodgeman. By the way it was Ben Hughes that was on the news. Here is a story that was in the examiner the other day http://www.examiner.com.au/story.asp?id=340858 Also there was a picture of Ben and one of my whips in ...

Simon Martin

Hi Taz Congratulations on ordering your first whip! I'm sure you will be happy with it and I will be interested to see it sometime and try it out. I don't have a problem with you buying your whip overseas as I sell to overseas customers and they could have bought from there local whipmaker and anyho...

Simon Martin

Thanks for the congratulations Steve. There is just so many fine craftesman in this country that one has to keep striving to improve all the time. Here's the results to the plaiting.CLASS: 232 Plaited Leather Stock Whip. Measurements of stock whip must be stated on the Application for Entry. STOCKWH...

Simon Martin

Hi Christian

There's no need to have you own whip as there is plenty of mine to borrow. It would be better for you though if you could learn on the one you are going to use. Do you think you will have it before the 3rd of June, as it would be great to see it.

See you round.

Simon

Simon Martin

Man it's taken me half an hour to read all that's been written :shock: Hopefully I haven't missed anything, but WOULD have tended to agree with Dan. But since I have known Ben Hughes, and he uses olive oil quite often, I have found it doesn't seem to have any effect on the whips apart from making th...

Simon Martin

Adam's right in regards to splitting making the whip smoother. It is not really neccessary in whips where the strands are 3mm or wider, but anything under that is impossible without a splitter unless your leather is already really thin. I've cut strands down to 1mm and somtimes you split the wrong s...

Simon Martin

Yes, I talked to Troy on the phone a few weeks ago, he origanally came from the US or Canada, I can't remember now. I told him about this forum, but I don't think he has joined up yet. If you have Troy, Hi from me. I have been supplying a couple of people good first grade quality roohides and I cont...

Simon Martin

Thanks Steve.
It's a 7ft, 16plait with a 20plait handle.

Simon

Simon Martin

Well, I just recieved this 10ft Indy Bullwhip from Adam Winrich. :) Adam did an excellent job of matching the Morgan and his workmanship is what I expected from the pictures I have seen of his whips. Now I have a bullwhip as close to the Morgan as possible to copy, thanks Adam. The picture is of Ada...

Simon Martin

Well, I go away for a few days then somebody wants me :) I've been in touch with Jim but for everyone else's info I buy stainless steel from the local steel store. Then cut it in the length I want it, then polish it. It is then engraved and then placed on the whip. Bernie makes his own and generally...

Simon Martin

G'day Dan

Yes, it is an interesting article, except it is very, very long.

Thanks for the thumbs up on my website. I'm only 23 so I've still got many years of learning.

Kind Regards

Simon

Simon Martin

G'day Everyone I've done a bit of research and found an interesting article http://wwwistp.murdoch.edu.au/publications/projects/lbraddick/braddick.pdf It's a very long article, and I only scan read it myself, but I picked out a few interesting bits. Page 11 say's there are currently estimated to be ...

Simon Martin

Hi Taz Yea, I started the group about 12months ago now. The most that have turned up is 20, which is pretty good for a small place like Tassie. Ben Hughes 4time Australian Whipcracking Champion is usually there and he will be this Saturday. Look forward to meeting you if you can make it. Kind Regard...

Simon Martin

Hi Indy Taz Your welcome to call in to my shop in Devonport and you can see what size you would like best. I wouldn't expect you to buy one, it's just alway good to have a chat to other whip enthusiasts. BTW this Saturday the Tasmanian Whip Enthusiasts are meeting in Devonport for some whipcracking....

Simon Martin

Spooky said: What do you have at the base of your handle? (Bernie places a silver cap with info. regarding the whip and my name) How long have you been making whips? Hi Spooky At the base of the handle of have a brass tack with my name engraved and the whip No. on it. I have done this right from the...

Simon Martin

Hi Spooky

A nice looking whip youv'e got. Bernies a great guy.

Below is an indy whip(variation) I made a while ago It's similar to yours except it is 7ft, 16plait.
Kind Regards

Simon
www.whipmaker.com.au

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Simon Martin

Hi Doc That sort of whip is called a Snakewhip. I have only ever made one, and I think they are useless. When you crack it there is very little control over the whip because it has no handle. Hi Bodhidiver I noticed something very interesting on your bullwhip on photo No. 4. Only us whipmakers might...

Simon Martin

Hi Chris

Thanks for the congratulations.

By the way I have admired your work for a while. You do very neat work. I especially like your bosals. Something for me to aspire to.

Hopefully somebody can answer the "Vendor" tag question.

Kind Regards

Simon Martin
www.whipmaker.com.au

Simon Martin

I think it may have been 12ft, but I am no expert, so don't take my word for it.

Regards

Simon
www.whipmaker.com.au

Simon Martin

Hi Adam The 6ft whip is a great choice. I started using 4 1/2 footers but it is to fast. I still havn'et mastered it completely yet though even with a 6footer. Practice make perfect they say :) I have just got the hang of the "Death March" which envoles volleys and drum rolls. That yellow ...

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New DVD Release

New whips.

My Morgan Whip

2007 Sydney Show Whip

The Closest Whip to a Morgan