My first "whips"

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!"

Moderator: BullWhipBorton

Post Reply
User avatar
bearbeast
Legendary Adventurer
Legendary Adventurer
Posts: 2555
Joined: Wed Jun 21, 2017 11:31 am
Location: Lost in the search for gear...

My first "whips"

Post by bearbeast »

I am not sure if I shared this before, but I think not. Thought it would be fun to show this... Before I had proper access to the internet, whip making info and whip making materials I had discovered how to make a four-plait braid. I knew nothing about how wide to make the strands, how long I needed them to be, how to attach a fall.

These were my first attempts at making a whip. Surprisingly they actually cracked a little:

Image

The white one a the bottom is just a jumping rope cord attached to a piece of wood as a handle.

The black one is just a four plait made with braided half inch wide nylon webbing, empty on the inside.

The brown ones, now they are made from leather and if I remember right they had more layers of leather underneath. They are made from an old chrome tanned leather long coat. I had no idea at the time about cutting strands, so the strips were around 3 feet long, sewn together to achieve the length I wanted. It was a huge effort, harder than making an actual whip, once you have a bit of knowledge.

Hope you enjoyed!

Cheers,
Bear
User avatar
tomek9210
Professor of Archaeology
Professor of Archaeology
Posts: 1163
Joined: Mon Jun 23, 2008 4:13 pm
Location: Warsaw, Poland
Contact:

Re: My first "whips"

Post by tomek9210 »

Nice! Everybody starts somewhere :whip:

What year did you start your adventure with whipmaking? I started around 2008 when I was still in high school.
User avatar
bearbeast
Legendary Adventurer
Legendary Adventurer
Posts: 2555
Joined: Wed Jun 21, 2017 11:31 am
Location: Lost in the search for gear...

Re: My first "whips"

Post by bearbeast »

Well, I have always tried to recreate whips in some way, ever since I was five years old :rolling: but at that time it was just a piece of string.

The first try at a four plait whip I made was maybe 1-2 years before this pic was taken, if I remember right, maybe 2005, made of a kind of linoleum material. But it did not really work... I was in high-school too at the time.

In college, years later, I made my first paracord whip, which already had all the right knots and finishing touches. After that I had a break until around 9 years ago when I started again with paracord, then cowhide and finally roohide.

It was a fun, exhilarating journey. :-k

Cheers,
Bear
User avatar
Indiana Jon
Archaeologist
Archaeologist
Posts: 256
Joined: Sat Jun 24, 2023 8:15 am
Location: New Jersey, USA
Contact:

Re: My first "whips"

Post by Indiana Jon »

Ah, so you've always been this way. :P

Always cool to see a gearhead's early work. Thanks for sharing!
User avatar
bearbeast
Legendary Adventurer
Legendary Adventurer
Posts: 2555
Joined: Wed Jun 21, 2017 11:31 am
Location: Lost in the search for gear...

Re: My first "whips"

Post by bearbeast »

Indiana Jon wrote: Mon Jun 17, 2024 12:05 pm Ah, so you've always been this way. :P

Always cool to see a gearhead's early work. Thanks for sharing!
Yes, yes, I think I was born with the whip-obsession-bug! :rolling: whips and swords, a lifelong 'interest' for me.

By the way, I wish you a belated Happy Birthday, my friend! :TOH:

Cheers,
Bear
User avatar
Indiana Jon
Archaeologist
Archaeologist
Posts: 256
Joined: Sat Jun 24, 2023 8:15 am
Location: New Jersey, USA
Contact:

Re: My first "whips"

Post by Indiana Jon »

bearbeast wrote: Mon Jun 17, 2024 2:10 pm Yes, yes, I think I was born with the whip-obsession-bug! :rolling: whips and swords, a lifelong 'interest' for me.

By the way, I wish you a belated Happy Birthday, my friend! :TOH:

Cheers,
Bear
:lol: Hey, we all have our sub-obsessions/specialties. It's one of the interesting things about this hobby.

Thank you much for the birthday wishes, pal. :TOH: I spent the day taking photos in my new TOD gear. Couldn't have asked for better. I still have more pics I wanna take, but I'm spreading out the shoots this time. Once I'm all done this will be the first place I'll post 'em.
User avatar
bearbeast
Legendary Adventurer
Legendary Adventurer
Posts: 2555
Joined: Wed Jun 21, 2017 11:31 am
Location: Lost in the search for gear...

Re: My first "whips"

Post by bearbeast »

Indiana Jon wrote: Mon Jun 17, 2024 2:18 pm
bearbeast wrote: Mon Jun 17, 2024 2:10 pm Yes, yes, I think I was born with the whip-obsession-bug! :rolling: whips and swords, a lifelong 'interest' for me.

By the way, I wish you a belated Happy Birthday, my friend! :TOH:

Cheers,
Bear
:lol: Hey, we all have our sub-obsessions/specialties. It's one of the interesting things about this hobby.

Thank you much for the birthday wishes, pal. :TOH: I spent the day taking photos in my new TOD gear. Couldn't have asked for better. I still have more pics I wanna take, but I'm spreading out the shoots this time. Once I'm all done this will be the first place I'll post 'em.
You're definitely right, it's also part of what makes this community so great.

Oh, yeah, that sounds like an awesome good time. Can't wait to see the photos! :D

Cheers,
Bear
Indiana Croft
Legendary Adventurer
Legendary Adventurer
Posts: 2983
Joined: Wed Feb 18, 2004 5:45 pm
Location: In Marakesh looking for that Idol. Or some where in N.H.

Re: My first "whips"

Post by Indiana Croft »

You are just full of surprises.

Let me know when you start making a Flux Capasitor.

Croft :mrgreen:
User avatar
Indiana Jeff
Site Admin
Site Admin
Posts: 10214
Joined: Thu Aug 07, 2008 1:59 am
Location: TX Panhandle

Re: My first "whips"

Post by Indiana Jeff »

Thanks for sharing these.

Reminds me of Adam Savage (of Mythbusters fame) who thinks all maker spaces should have iterations of projects on the walls to show the progress in design and skill.

Regards,

Indiana Jeff
User avatar
bearbeast
Legendary Adventurer
Legendary Adventurer
Posts: 2555
Joined: Wed Jun 21, 2017 11:31 am
Location: Lost in the search for gear...

Re: My first "whips"

Post by bearbeast »

Indiana Croft wrote: Mon Jun 17, 2024 7:14 pm You are just full of surprises.

Let me know when you start making a Flux Capasitor.

Croft :mrgreen:
Croft, I have just enlisted you to my first trip back in time. :TOH:

Let's see what we find there... :CR:

Cheers,
Bear
User avatar
bearbeast
Legendary Adventurer
Legendary Adventurer
Posts: 2555
Joined: Wed Jun 21, 2017 11:31 am
Location: Lost in the search for gear...

Re: My first "whips"

Post by bearbeast »

Indiana Jeff wrote: Mon Jun 17, 2024 9:11 pm Thanks for sharing these.

Reminds me of Adam Savage (of Mythbusters fame) who thinks all maker spaces should have iterations of projects on the walls to show the progress in design and skill.

Regards,

Indiana Jeff
That is along the lines of what I was thinking. I have kept sharing the 'successes' of my projects, thought it would be nice to show my lesser works. :lol:

Cheers,
Bear
Indiana Croft
Legendary Adventurer
Legendary Adventurer
Posts: 2983
Joined: Wed Feb 18, 2004 5:45 pm
Location: In Marakesh looking for that Idol. Or some where in N.H.

Re: My first "whips"

Post by Indiana Croft »

Croft, I have just enlisted you to my first trip back in time. :TOH:

Let's see what we find there... :CR:
We will find the future my young friend.
Just need to do some research on Mega bucks #'s first. ;)

Croft :mrgreen:
User avatar
bearbeast
Legendary Adventurer
Legendary Adventurer
Posts: 2555
Joined: Wed Jun 21, 2017 11:31 am
Location: Lost in the search for gear...

Re: My first "whips"

Post by bearbeast »

I am ready for a time-bending, swash-buckling, treasure-uncovering adventure! Fortune and glory, Croft! Fortune and Glory!

Cheers,
Bear
User avatar
Western New York Indy
Laboratory Technician
Laboratory Technician
Posts: 178
Joined: Mon Apr 15, 2024 1:52 pm
Location: Lost in a museum somewhere...

Re: My first "whips"

Post by Western New York Indy »

Wow, that's actually pretty impressive for first attempts! Even if they're not "proper" whips, it's impressive you could do that without the right materials or instructions. Do you have any posts showing your more recent whips? I'd love to see your work. Thanks for sharing these pictures :TOH:

-WNY Indy
User avatar
bearbeast
Legendary Adventurer
Legendary Adventurer
Posts: 2555
Joined: Wed Jun 21, 2017 11:31 am
Location: Lost in the search for gear...

Re: My first "whips"

Post by bearbeast »

Thank you WNY Indy!

Yeah, I sure do! I always post my whips around here :rolling:

Just realized I made more whips than I remembered... Here are some picks and pics :lol:

https://indygear.net/cow/viewtopic.php?p=930080#p930080

https://indygear.net/cow/viewtopic.php?p=908324#p908324

https://indygear.net/cow/viewtopic.php?p=917168#p917168

https://indygear.net/cow/viewtopic.php?p=915775#p915775

Hope you enjoy!

Cheers,
Bear
User avatar
Western New York Indy
Laboratory Technician
Laboratory Technician
Posts: 178
Joined: Mon Apr 15, 2024 1:52 pm
Location: Lost in a museum somewhere...

Re: My first "whips"

Post by Western New York Indy »

Woah :shock: Those are some GORGEOUS whips you have made!!! You have real talent- those whips look outstanding! True pieces of art!! I’m very impressed.

Thanks for sharing the pictures! and keep up the fantastic work!! :TOH:

-WNY Indy
User avatar
bearbeast
Legendary Adventurer
Legendary Adventurer
Posts: 2555
Joined: Wed Jun 21, 2017 11:31 am
Location: Lost in the search for gear...

Re: My first "whips"

Post by bearbeast »

Thank you very much, WNY Indy, you are very kind! :notworthy:

I have two new whips I haven't gotten around the posting yet, but I plan to take some pics in the coming weeks.

Cheers,
Bear
Post Reply