Club Obi Wan

Paul_Stenhouse

One bit of advice--always take notes on what you did/do. David told me to write down measurements--me, being too smart (cocky and young) told him I didn't need that. Two whips later, I realized I needed to write stuff down otherwise I would be making it up each time. I made two whips 7 and 9 feet in...

Paul_Stenhouse

Get a 4 plait cowhide stockwhip that cracks like a cannon. I can't count how many times I've turned dogs around and changed their attitude by cracking it right in their face--never hit them, I didn't need to. Just let 'em come, knowing you're going to straighten them out shortly. The most priceless ...

Paul_Stenhouse

Hi All, It's been awhile, I know...how is everyone? Few years older and wiser I hope? I still occasionally plait, but not like I used to. Kids, work, other hobbies keep me busy. For me, life's a journey. Whipmaking was just one of those paths I went down for a while. My obsession about it, just like...

Paul_Stenhouse

As far as the video format goes, I've asked for help to break up and post segments of the cracking and maintenance video I made years ago. Nothing yet, but I'm keeping my fingers crossed! If I wasn't such a poor computer user, I'd do it. But, I need the help and am at the mercy of others' busy sched...

Paul_Stenhouse

I have against several dogs in my life. No contest there, as they don't want the opportunity to experience a sonic boom 12 inches from their nose. Also, one other time in New Zealand against an unruly sea lion that had decided to make Warrington Beach it's new home (the only one on the whole beach)....

Paul_Stenhouse

With all those 'failed' experiments laying around, try finishing them into a workable whip. If you can't get a working whip out of what you've started, start over with a different design. For example, you tried making an 8 foot whip, but it didn't work out. Try making a 5 or 6 foot snake whip from i...

Paul_Stenhouse

Certainly welcome. I'm happy to be able to give this knowledge away freely.

Paul_Stenhouse

Hi Aldo, That last diagram, although I couldn't find it just now, is what the final overlay should look like once it's been cut out, stretched, and pared. The corresponding letters a, b, and c match up to the cutting lengths in the table above. If you follow the cutting lengths, then when plaiting, ...

Paul_Stenhouse

Okay, I'll bite...why the extra knots?

Thanks,
Paul

Paul_Stenhouse

All, You're very welcome. It cost me a couple of years and several $K to figure this out, but as far as I'm concerned, it's free information at this point. Kind of like a tune that's been around so long no one knows the owner. I wrote it, so it makes sense to me but not necessarily anyone else. I ju...

Paul_Stenhouse

Thank you, Dan. That's excellent!

By the way, if anyone wants the whole word file, I'll ship it out. Can I post a personal e-mail address here?

Paul
paulandangie@shaw.ca

Paul_Stenhouse

Other Notes of Interest When you cut strands, you have different ways to cut them. I started out using a lace cutter that I had made from a block of wood, and had made about a dozen whips using this technique. This worked okay for awhile, but I found that I was unable to adjust my cutting for sectio...

Paul_Stenhouse

Making a Cracker/Popper Most whipmakers prefer to make their own crackers, as it is an inexpensive process and relatively quick. You can make them out of several types of material, including horsehair, bailing twine, waxed string or dental floss, or nylon thread. You will need about 18” of length an...

Paul_Stenhouse

Finishing the Whip Take a look at your whip. You will see two things of interest that you need to complete to make the whip cosmetically complete. One is a turk’s head knot at the transition from single diamond plaiting in the handle, to herringbone pattern where the thong begins. You can put a 3 le...

Paul_Stenhouse

Cracker Attachment This can be done in three different ways, which I will describe. The first method involves cutting a slit in the end of the fall, about ½” to ¾” long and put the fall through the loop in the end of the cracker. Slide this above the slit in the fall, the put the loose end of the cr...

Paul_Stenhouse

The Final Overlay This is the most difficult part of the whipmaking process. But don’t be discouraged, as it is totally possible to complete (how do you think whips get made, anyway?). Here we go! You will need to look at your hide to determine which part is best to cut through for a beginning. This...

Paul_Stenhouse

The Third Bolster While essentially the same shape and length as the first two bolsters, with one problem. You will have to cut two bolsters, since the kipside isn’t long enough to cut out a single piece. You will want this join to occur about 10-12” from the end of the second belly, so cut accordin...

Paul_Stenhouse

The Second Bolster Again, this is fairly easy to accomplish since it only involves cutting. You are going to cut a similar piece of kipside as you did before, which starts near the end of the nail and continues down the whip over the first belly. To do this, lay your first belly on the edge of the k...

Paul_Stenhouse

The First Bolster This is one of the easiest parts to make, because it involves only cutting. Determine the circumference of the nail shaft. It is probably about 1”. Cut your first bolster about 1”-1 3/4” wide depending on how thick you want your final diameter to be when finished. It will be 38” lo...

Paul_Stenhouse

The Handle Handles for whips can be made from a wide variety of items from the cane handle for Australian bullwhips to a pipe and bolt swivel handle whips. For this whip, we will use an eight-inch nail that can be readily obtained from any hardware store. The first thing you will want to do is round...

Paul_Stenhouse

How I make a whip, based upon knowledge bestowed to me by David Morgan. For this whip instruction, we will be making a 10’, 12-plait kangaroo hide bullwhip, with two plaited bellies. Materials that you will need: 8” Nail Lead Flashing Kangaroo Hide Kipside Leather Waxed String Knife Plaiting Soap A ...

Paul_Stenhouse

You haven't read it yet, so don't assume I'm a seasoned expert. It makes sense to me. After that, the standard disclaimer kicks in!

I'm also trying to figure out how to post a cracking and maintenance video I made to some other free place. Dan's helping me with that, too.

Cheers,
Paul

Paul_Stenhouse

All, Dan Borton is graciously helping me post some whipmaking instructions that I put down on paper electronically many years ago. What I think is most important in these instructions is the hide sizes and lengths for cutting. However, it's a long winded diatribe--all according to me. I'm posting th...

Paul_Stenhouse

Hi Robby,

That looks great. Very fluid and not a lot of muscle, emphasizing form and timing rather than strength, which I feel is a very key component to whip handling.

Keep up the good work.

Cheers,
Paul

Paul_Stenhouse

All, I've moved back from NZ--not that it's really important. More important is the good looking skins that just showed up on my doorstep. I'm going to slowly go back into it--I've got a job with a company I really love working with, and don't need the money, and am short on time, too. However, if a...

Paul_Stenhouse

Boy, is this ever sad news. Sad, because selfishly, I won't get to speak with Walt again for awhile. I spoke with Walt just before moving to New Zealand. He told me that he was very envious, because I was setting off on such an adventure, and living life for the sake of the experience. Over the year...

Paul_Stenhouse

Hi Franco,

I think so (the signing of work, that is). Some whipmakers do go the extra mile on signing their work, and good on them for doing so. I thought of the leather punched initials because I wanted to sign my work, but wanted to do it in an understated manner.

Best Regards,
Paul Stenhouse

Paul_Stenhouse

By the way, at the time, I didn't know of anyone else doing this, so I'm taking credit for the idea of initials in the leather on the butt. Innocuous, but visible if looked at.

Best Regards,
Paul Stenhouse

PS. I'm sure someone's going to prove me wrong now!

Paul_Stenhouse

Hi Everyone, I thought I chime in here. I'm back in the States--SE Idaho to be exact. I've just landed a house. Once settled, I'm going to look into making whips again. I've been keeping tabs on roo skin and am not duly impressed, compared to the quality and size I could get for a lower price in the...

Paul_Stenhouse

That's torn it.

I'm waiting for the video to come out on DVD and then MAYBE I'll rent it.

What a downer.

Paul_Stenhouse

What's also odd is that the wrist loop looks like three plait on the outside, but 4-5 plait on the inside part.

Hmmm

Paul_Stenhouse

Satipo, Where the belly ends, there are loose strands and bolster carried on. The trick with this transition is to plait it tight through that section to strengthen the change from plaited belly to loose belly. It's more noticeable when the plaiting in the overlay is loose to begin with. I like to p...

Paul_Stenhouse

Are you going to Tasmania to meet up with Simon?

Paul_Stenhouse

Hi Adam,

I see you've been practicing a bit in your spare time!

Why not wear the 'puffy shirt' from Seinfeld at the rennaissance fairs?

Nicely done. You should be getting calls from Hollywood as a choreographer. Every movie needs a whip in it. And I do mean every movie!

Regards,

Paul

Paul_Stenhouse

ztmario,

Looking at your pictures, it's evident that you also need some leather dressing on your falls. When you see fuzzy hairs like you've got in your photos, the fall is too dry. This lends itself to breaking much easier.

Regards,

Paul Stenhouse

Paul_Stenhouse

What about using the whip to slice off a trigger finger. Or, is that over the top?

Paul_Stenhouse

Hi Dan,

Yeah, I can see where one wouldn't be too chuffed about working on a major blockbuster movie that many people would have waited for over a decade now!

Nice try, mister!

Regards,

Paul.

Paul_Stenhouse

Hi Dan,

Fair enough. Very clever putting the font really really small. I couldn't make out what that was until I got really close.

No worries, I'll see it in 2008. Can you tell how you became privy to what's in store?

Best Regards,

Paul Stenhouse

Paul_Stenhouse

Dan, can you post some spoiler stuff over in the IV section?

Paul_Stenhouse

How about a wrap/dragging behind a moving vehicle?

Best Regards,

Paul

Paul_Stenhouse

That's a good point, Rick. Have him knock someone with the handle. Hadn't thought of that.

It would be gross, but how about putting someone's eye out? Definitely a real possibility, as many know. Sergei sure knows!

Regards,

Paul

Paul_Stenhouse

All, I seem to recall a thread years ago that was along the lines of being able to make recommendations to movie-making folk about what we'd like to see done in a movie with whips. With the new movie coming up, does anyone have any ideas as to what they'd expect/like to see? Personally, I'd like to ...

Paul_Stenhouse

Well written, Dan. Satipo, my lazy brain's way of remembering is this: Bullwhip-use more arm motion and less wrist. Stockwhip-use more wrist and less arm. I tend to think of elbow as the deciding point on the arm. With a stockwhip, use your elbow and wrist. With a bullwhip, use your shoulder and elb...

Paul_Stenhouse

Hi Dan,

Yep, I'm moving back. NZ didn't quite turn out to be the mecca I thought it would be. But, it's been a great adventure.

Bernardo, nice pictures, and very nice looking plaiting. Makes me wish I was plaiting right now!

Best Regards,

Paul Stenhouse

Paul_Stenhouse

Scrap or cheap leather will braid, too, so don't knock that off the list. As a learning tool, it's worth it. I use hobby knives that have the snap off blades, with something like 13 different places on the blades to snap off and start with a fresh portion. I don't hate sharpening knives, but don't w...

Paul_Stenhouse

C'mon, people. :!: Shane has questions. It's not like whipmaking is an esoteric art.

Waiting.....
Paul

Paul_Stenhouse

Hi Shane, I wanted to learn because after tearing up the end, I looked at the whip and decided I could make it if I knew how. I learned over the course of 2 years and several thousand $$ in roo skins from David. I'd go back to his shop, show him what I did, we'd talk for an hour, he might show me a ...

Paul_Stenhouse

Paul,

Thanks for the heads up. I'll pick up my copy next week and drop in on David at the same time.

Best Regards,

Paul Stenhouse

Paul_Stenhouse

I'm still here in the 'other' down under.

It's amazing how much @#$% there is to do when building a house!

1)power to garage
2)sort out leather supply in Christchurch
3)get on with it!

Best Regards,

Paul

PS. Looking good. Where's the swinging video?

Paul_Stenhouse

Another item of mention is that when using plaiting soap, which contains water, it helps to loosen up the leather. Thus, when it dries, it makes the leather shrink just ever so slightly. I think this assists in temporarily making the whip feel tighter when it first arrives to the owner. Just my opin...

Search found 349 matches

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Re: Considering a whip on my walks - almost dog attacked 3x

Re: Whipmaking instructions according to me!

Re: Whipmaking instructions according to me!

Re: Question (ever had to defend yourself with a whip?)

Re: My first whip (BOLSTERS V. PLAITED BELLIES, GEN. DESIGN)

Re: Whipmaking instructions according to me!

Re: Whipmaking instructions according to me!

Re: My hybrid popper

Re: Whipmaking instructions according to me!

Re: Whipmaking instructions according to me!

Last, but not Least

Making the Cracker

Finishing the whip (almost)

Cracker Attachment

Final Overlay

3rd Bolster

2nd Bolster and Belly

1st Bolster and Belly

The Handle

The materials

Re: Whipmaking instructions according to me!

Whipmaking instructions according to me!

Re: New Video clip

Re: Comprehensive Indy whip price list and comparison (11/20/08)

Re: Sergei (funeral service held 1/17)

Movie whip action