From falls & poppers to plaiting & cracking technique, this section is dedicated in memory of Sergei, IndyGear Staff Member and Whip Guru. Always remember to keep "Celebratin' Life!"
Here's a few pics that a good friend and customer sent me of the latest whip he ordered from me: a 12 plait, 9ft Raiders made in kangaroo.
What's interesting is that the whip is only 3 weeks old, but it looks older due to his own aging techniques. I personally like the used look and color. It's very Raiders
He may have "tanned" it. Roo skin, like human skin gets darker with exposure to sunlight. It's not recommended though as it potentially damages the leather (like human skin also).
Well, obviously some suntanning is involved. It's not necessarily harmful to the leather, it all depends on how you do it. Like human skin, if you intend to be under the sun, you apply some suntanning lotion or sunblock, to keep your skin from drying out. The same aplies here. You need to keep the leather well dressed.
Even indirect sunlight will darken vegetable-tanned leather, roo, cow, goat, llama or whatever. So unless you find a way to crack your whips in a closet, a natural tan whip will darken in time anyway. The suntanning process simply shortens the time needed for the leather to get dark.
We haven't had enough sunshine here in Upstate New York to give my Bernardo whip even the slightest hint of a tan. I can't wait for summer, when I can get outside, do some cracking and let my whip get a bit of bronzing.
Since I use a steel spike of the same thickness as the ones Mr. Morgan uses and I put approx. the same lead loading on the butt, the handle feels just as heavy as a Morgan whip.
IndyFan89,
Like Whipdude said, not neccesarily. It depends on many factors like whip construction, balance, leather used, etc.
