Club Obi Wan

I have been wondering a few things... first of all, how much would it cost to make my own 10 foot whip...I don't know how many plait, and also, i have no clue about the braiding/twisting of the whip....could someone point me in the direction of a website with detailed instructions or just tell me how to make one all-together?
thanks

A sharp knife: $5
Two 'roo hides: $140
Shipping 'roo hides from Australia: $20
Steel spike: $.25
Hook to braid from: $3
Deposit money lost when your landlord discovers the hole in the wall from the hook: $20
Cow hide for bolsters: $100
Cow hide for the fall: $170
Nylon thread for the popper: $18
Cutting mat so you don't slice up the kitchen table: $40
Braiding soap ingredients: $10
Shellac: $10
A fid: $8
Synthetic Sinew: $20
Sheet Lead for knot foundation (if you can even find it): $120
Board to roll each layer of whip with: $10
Buying multiple published books on whipmaking: at least $60

Making your very own first whip: PRICELESS
(...and by priceless, I mean worth nothing... lol).




"Worth nothing" is probably an exaggeration, but the truth is most "first" whips have at least a few pretty serious structural problems, and several might not even be crackable. In all seriousness, if you want to make a good whip for yourself, be prepared to spend far more than the actual price of buying a whip brand new from a professional whipmaker. If you are prepared and excited to spend the time and money needed to learn all the skills required to make a good whip, it is an incredibly rewarding and fun challenge. However, if you're thinking that you can make one for cheaper than you can buy one, that's not very realistic. Making yourself a nice whip (even if you use a less expensive material than 'roo) is a long and usually expensive process.

If you have (or can save up) the money to take a one-on-one lesson with a professional whipmaker, that's probably the best way to learn the basic techniques if you are very interested and dedicated to the idea of making your own whip.

Good luck and have fun!

Lauren Wickline
www.midwestwhips.com

Here here!

hmmm I know cheap fall than $170

ok, if somebody want start workshop need have lots of materials and tools but if want make one whip , can buy :ready straps, fall, some leather for bolster (for example from old jacket) and and begin job

Indy1024 wrote:I have been wondering a few things... first of all, how much would it cost to make my own 10 foot whip...I don't know how many plait, and also, i have no clue about the braiding/twisting of the whip....could someone point me in the direction of a website with detailed instructions or just tell me how to make one all-together?
thanks

Buy two books: Whips and Whipmaking by David Morgan and How To Make Whips by Ron Edwards. Then you'll know what you're getting into and decide where to go from there. I purchased the ebook that Louie wrote on bullwhip making, and that was the holy grail that taught me how to do this (but I'm glad I had the base knowledge provided by the first two books). I just got starting making my own whips back in March. I've completed two bullwhips and am starting my third. It is a very expensive hobby, but very rewarding if you have the time to devote to it!

Here's my second one that I finished Memorial Day weekend (12-plait, 9-foot roo):



I learned how to make this from those two books and especially the Whipmaking ebook that Louie put together; he's been a great help.

There are a couple of really good books out there, the Morgan and Edwards ones being mentioned already....I learned from an older one that was little more than a pamphlet...

Yes it does have some capital expenditure, the initial tool-up is kinda pricey...It works if you plan on making more than one. Many have found the task to be daunting, but strangely addictive once completed.

I'd definitely recommend picking up at least one of the books and studying it thoroughly to get an understanding of what you're about to do, rather than just flipping through it. A session with an accomplished maker is priceless (and I don't mean worthless this time!!).

I've said it many times, and the sentiment is echoed by others. If you want to get into braiding quickly and on the cheap, consider starting with Nylon rather than leather. Yes, there's nothing like leather....But everyone's first few whips are going to suffer from quality issues...And at the price that Leather is going for, it can help mitigate the $$.

Another thing about Nylon Vs. Leather is the speed factor. If your primary goal is to get a usable whip together, then the use of Nylon will eliminate having to cut out laces, pare them, and grease them. The process is very quick and mess-free. Leather takes more time and work, and you can't necessarily braid it anywhere (like on the nice sofa---braiding soap doesn't agree with it.)

Once you have a solid foundation with Nylon, then maybe start with leather...

If not nylon, many have started with cowhide rather than Kangaroo. It's cheaper, and although not as durable, it'll give you a great result that will still last fairly well.

I started with cowhide, trying a few different types. My last leather whip was Redhide, but I got frustrated by how thick and heavy my whips were becoming. I took a break. When i came back to it, I started with Nylon to hone my craft---And I'm really digging it. I think I've worked out many of the issues I was having with the construction. I'm confident and ready now to try my hand at kangaroo, and I don't worry if the money will be wasted....

It's just my take, many traditionalists won't agree...And I understand. Nylon is fun and easy to work with, but there's no real replacement for a leather whip...

You could do a nylon tools and all for about $75 dollars.
Paracord is available at local Army surplus in 100 foot hanks.
Paracord-$30 Army surplus or internet
Lacing needle-$5.00 Tandy Leather or internet
Artificial sinew-$15 Tandy Leather or internet
Lamp pull chain-$7 Home depot
Steel spike- 45 cents Home depot
Edwards book (you really do need this one at least) $20 Amazon.com
$20 misc.

misc things like tape, and scissors etc you already probably have.
Paracord for your second whip and probably first decent one add another $30.

wow!
thanks you guys!
i probably won't e able to start making whip until i get a job...(as im only 15).....and i can get some money...
thank you so much though!

If you want to make your own whip because you don't want to pay for a whip made by a professional, then you will definitely spend more money in the long run. But, if you are curious about whips and want to try your hand at whipmaking, then it won't be cheap, but you'll have great fun and a constant challenge to improve your work.

Even then it would be a good idea to invest your money in a good whip, so you can learn to crack it, and also learn what a real whip is supossed to feel like. What the weight, balance, general appearance, etc. is.

The first step is to get all the books you can. None will tell you specifically how to make a 10 foot bullwhip, but they will give you at least some clues of what's involved.

Here's a tutorial on making a bulwhip by Bernie of EM Brand whips in Australia:

http://www.em-brand-whips.com/bulltutorial.htm

Enjoy!

Bernardo

LemonLauren wrote:A sharp knife: $5
Two 'roo hides: $140
Shipping 'roo hides from Australia: $20
Steel spike: $.25
Hook to braid from: $3
Deposit money lost when your landlord discovers the hole in the wall from the hook: $20
Cow hide for bolsters: $100
Cow hide for the fall: $170
Nylon thread for the popper: $18
Cutting mat so you don't slice up the kitchen table: $40
Braiding soap ingredients: $10
Shellac: $10
A fid: $8
Synthetic Sinew: $20
Sheet Lead for knot foundation (if you can even find it): $120
Board to roll each layer of whip with: $10
Buying multiple published books on whipmaking: at least $60

Making your very own first whip: PRICELESS
(...and by priceless, I mean worth nothing... lol).




"Worth nothing" is probably an exaggeration, but the truth is most "first" whips have at least a few pretty serious structural problems, and several might not even be crackable. In all seriousness, if you want to make a good whip for yourself, be prepared to spend far more than the actual price of buying a whip brand new from a professional whipmaker. If you are prepared and excited to spend the time and money needed to learn all the skills required to make a good whip, it is an incredibly rewarding and fun challenge. However, if you're thinking that you can make one for cheaper than you can buy one, that's not very realistic. Making yourself a nice whip (even if you use a less expensive material than 'roo) is a long and usually expensive process.

If you have (or can save up) the money to take a one-on-one lesson with a professional whipmaker, that's probably the best way to learn the basic techniques if you are very interested and dedicated to the idea of making your own whip.

Good luck and have fun!

Lauren Wickline
www.midwestwhips.com

hahahahha

You crack me up!!! (Pun intended)

very, very sound advice by bernarodc.

Making your own anything for the sake of saving money is not the way to go. I also agree that you need to own a really good whip before you start making your own. Seeing a bunch of different whips ( made by different makers ) would be very smart as well.

I couldn't agree more with Lauren and Bernardo.

Making a whip because you don't want to pay a professional whipmaker to make you a propper one is a bit silly. On the other hand, if you feel that whipmaking might be something you'd be interested in, on whatever level, then by all means go for it. Start small and work your way up at your own pace.

The only reason I got into it is because when I was a kid there were no place that sold whips around where I lived and the internet did not exist so getting information on such a peculiar topic of interest as whips, was not an easy thing to come by at the time. My first few whips were horrible leather sausages that were the furthest thing from a whip you can get. You may not fully appreciate just how easy it is for you right now to find a whip, let alone a whole bunch of people who make them, but I can tell you this is a gold mine and is severely undersappreciated. But getting back to the topic here, if all you want is a whip to crack, then just buy one that's in your budget and have fun. Whipmaking can be very rewarding, but it is very addictive and very expenssive...

yea....i mainly wanted it for fun....so i can crack it as much as want...
thanks all you guys, youre a lot of help!
making whips sounds really really interesting and fun, but i have no money, sooooo, ill have t hold off till later....again, thanks guys!

Hi Indy1024, I'm a pretty handy guy; built street race engines, two homes (they're still standing) self taught gun smithing, you name it. I thought it would be a piece of cake to make a quality whip on the first try. WRONG! There is an inherent art to it that just escaped me. It was a humbling and expensive experiment. I just went and bought a high quality whip from a seasoned pro, and I'm happy. Think about it.

P.S. What really killed me was all the electrical cord and newspaper filler I wasted. Lol. Just kidding.

lauren is 100% right, I've been making bullwhips for about two years now and the money I've spent on materials learning to make them far exceeds what it would have cost for a matched pair fancy bullwhips.

Also Lauren's price is correct for the $170 for falls. Sure you could buy premade fall...but then you aren't making the whole whip, so that's cheating (in my opinion). Also I don't think I've ever seen a strip of whitehide for sale outside of Mike Murphy's site...maybe it'd be easier for latigo.

It probably took me about a year and a half to get the internal weight to where I like it...but I still have a long way to go.

Stealthboy mentioned my little ebook as the "holy grail" and the reason I put that together is that when I was making my first few bullwhips there was a lot of things that weren't in books. So I put together the ebook for people that already had Edwards book, but wanted to make a more "modern" bullwhip than what's in Edwards book, but my little ebook assumes you already have Edwards book. You can get more info about it at http://bullwhips.org.

David Morgan tells me that he's still learning...and he's the man! So making a bullwhip is by no means an easy thing...but it's a lot of fun when you get your first bullwhip to crack or not crack as my first one did (I had to shorten it to get it to crack)

xoxo

Louie