Club Obi Wan

OK....All you whipmakers out there . If you could have only one book in your library for whipmaking , which would it be and why ?

I'm not really a whipmaker, but i dabble.
If it had to be one book - I think I'd keep "Braiding Fine Leather" by David Morgan because it has good info on tools, techniques, how to use the hide - and also clear photos and braiding instructions. Also includes some starter projects. There's not as much about whip construction - but there isn't really One book that covers that particular subject the best. Morgan's other book and Edwards' "How to make whips" each have useful info.
If you want to get into whipmaking - read ALL the books you can get your hands on - and if you have specific questions and problems, you'll find all the major whipmakers to be a very friendly and helpful bunch.

I'd go for a copy of the bound quarterly journals of the Australian Plaiters and Whipmakers Association. Maybe a book of ALL the copies of the journals bound together.

Other than that, of all the books I have and have had, each one had something important that the others did not, and not one book edged out the others in terms of amount of what I felt to be important/useful content.

My collection of books:

'Braiding Fine Leather' (Hey Paul Nolan, did you ever take note that it's called 'Braiding Fine Leather' and not 'Fine Leather Braiding'?)
'Whips and Whipmaking' by Morgan
'How to Make Whips' by Ron Edwards
'Whips and Whipmaking' by Dennis Rush
'Encyclopedia of Rawhide and Leather Braiding' by Grant


-Adam

Hi Adam
I'll agree with you on a copy of the bound journals of the APWA the most comprehensive text on the art of whipmaking that you can get...
cheers
Chris Barr

In all of the post that I have researched on COW it seems that Ron Edwards book is spoken of most frequently

It's a very good book - but his ideas on bullwhip construction don't fit with our idea of an Indy whip.

I just got my copy of Ron Edwards book........Thanks for the input

I have the Edwards book and as I am sure you well know seeing as you just bought it, it is the bible on whipmaking. I am actually in the middle of plaiting my whip now and I am surprised I ever made it to this point. I would never have gotten this far without it. The information is easy to understand and the drawings (all hand done by the other) are perfect. It was informative and very accesible to someone with no experience in the hobby. I also have read the David Morgan book. It is an interesting read because it is from the perspective of a legend, but it was more of an instruction and guide to the history of whips and whipmaking, not just about whip-making which is where my interest lies.