Polypropylene whip Poppers?

Post by **BullWhipBorton** » Wed May 16, 2007 5:30 am

Hey All, Maybe you can help me out. I’m looking for a new source for polypropylene bailing twine for making whip poppers. It’s a popular material used on many of the Australian made whips and works very well for two handed whip cracking as it doesn’t tangle like nylon.

Does any one have and suggestions on where I can buy it over the counter in the U.S.? I’d rather not order it online unless I have too. I know the Home Depot stores carries white polypropylene twine in bulk which it looks like it could the right stuff, but I couldn’t tell for sure as its in a box packaged up. Before I pick up a bundle, has any one tried using that and if so does it produce a good crack?

I’d also really like to find the twine in an assortment of different colors like red, black, orange and blue if possible, any suggestions where to look before I start hitting the different hardware and farm supply stores? Thanks.

Dan

winrichwhips · Post by **winrichwhips** » Wed May 16, 2007 10:33 am

Hey Dan,

I've tried finding poly twine in the US. A local hardware store used to carry some brown stuff that worked okay, but they stopped selling it. Most of the other poly twine I've come across in the US has been very coarse and not great for poppers.

The stuff I use now comes from Australia. Whenever I get whips from Australia, I ask the whipmaker to throw in a bunch of poly bailing twine, which is pretty inexpensive. So far I've got twine from Russell Schultz and Chris Barr.

When I order leather from Simon Martin I also order a few boxes of poly string, which is really good for poppers. He has orange, blue, yellow, and white (and maybe more colors, those are just the ones I have). The white seems to be the most durable.

That stuff might be available in the US (You'd think it would be) and I just haven't looked hard enough to find it.

-Adam

thefish · Post by **thefish** » Wed May 16, 2007 3:25 pm

I'm needing some Polypro myself, Dan.

We've got a couple horse ranches near us, and a newly opened Tractor Supply Company that carries feed, horse tack and all sorts of other stuff.

I'll go in there and ask around and check on what they've got. If it's worth it, I'll pick some up and send it to ya.

All the best,

-The Other Dan

classicbullwhips · Post by **classicbullwhips** » Wed May 16, 2007 4:48 pm

For those who live in the Michigan and Ohio area Meijer stores, did at one time carry poly string, it is a little corser but it produces a ok crack and it is fairly cheap.

Post by **BullWhipBorton** » Thu May 17, 2007 3:12 am

Thanks, you know, you wouldn’t think it would be that hard to find here in the U.S. I used to be able to get it in small bundles from a local feed store, but they switched to a different type, similar to the stuff you’ve been finding Adam. It’s too course and brittle it make a good popper. I have some left over from Mike Murphy that I got a while back, but I am just about out of that too and I’m going to need some asap.

Dan, I really appreciate that, Thanks. There are some Tractor Supply Co. stores in this area too though they are out in the boon docks. According to the website they do sell polypro twine so if you visit one of the stores, let me know what you come up with. I might try to stop at one over the weekend and see what they have too.

James, I shop at Meijers regularly, so I’ll check to see what type of Polypropylene string they sell now. I’ll post this question over on the W.E group too and see if anyone there can recommend some other places that sells Polypro twine here in the U.S. or maybe a specific brand that works well for making poppers. Hopefully we can find a good source for this stuff.

Dan

Kt Templar · Post by **Kt Templar** » Thu May 17, 2007 3:43 am

This is an interesting thread (no pun intended!), what can folks recommend in Europe or the UK as well? All the stuff I find seems too thick, also come in any colour except black!

I really like the waxy cord that Adam supplied with his IOAB but can't find anything similar here.

winrichwhips · Post by **winrichwhips** » Thu May 17, 2007 1:31 pm

http://www.crazycrow.com/Merchant2/merc ... t_Count=11

This is the waxed nylon I use. I think I usually buy the 8 oz spools.

-Adam

Kt Templar · Post by **Kt Templar** » Fri May 18, 2007 1:27 pm

winrichwhips wrote:http://www.crazycrow.com/Merchant2/merc ... t_Count=11

This is the waxed nylon I use. I think I usually buy the 8 oz spools.

-Adam

Thanks for posting that Adam, I've been looking for that for ages. (and buying lot's of the wrong stuff off eaby in the meantime!)

English Whip Maker · Post by **English Whip Maker** » Sat May 19, 2007 5:11 am

Kt Templar wrote:This is an interesting thread (no pun intended!), what can folks recommend in Europe or the UK as well? All the stuff I find seems too thick, also come in any colour except black!

I really like the waxy cord that Adam supplied with his IOAB but can't find anything similar here.

Hello Templar.

I find that the stuff you can get in supermarkets, DIY shops etc, works just fine. Give it a go. It does wear out after a while but, at a couple of pence per cracker, who cares? A roll or ball of the stuff usually costs about a pound a go and, even if you decide you don't like it for your crackers, you can never have too much string! Of course, if it has to be black.... off the top of my head, I don't know anywhere selling black polyprop string.

Dave
English Whips
www.whipstore.com