Club Obi Wan

Yes, I have the same condition that is cronic around here: I'm already planning my next whip. Unfortunately, I don't seem to have the same level of income to allow me to keep up with, well, the Joneses.

I love my 8 foot Strain, and will likely go back to Joe for my next one, which will be a 10 footer in black. I've been a Zorro fan for longer than an Indy fan, so this seemed like the logical next step, likely followed closely by an Aussie stock whip.

One thing I've been wondering: what is the difference (besides the obvious cosmetic) between a 12 and 16 plait whip? Does the roll out differently/smoother or is it just the sleeker appearance?

Hey myrddn,

The experts can tell you about handling, but one difference is resistence to abuse/day to day wear and tear. A 12 plait has wider strands than a 16 plait does, so it takes less to cut, wear, and abrade a 16 plait strand than the wider 12 plait. Having said that, I managed to cut a strand on my 8' stock whip and it was 12 plait. Oh well.

Dan S

i think the 16plait over a 12 plait is really an aesthetic one.
Paul and I were discussing this as i have a 16 plaiter coming from him, and they are just as durable..... i mean to a point....
NOTHING is indestructable, but if you are using a whip for what a whip is meant to be used for then you shouldnt have any problems.

Most of the abuse in the whip comes at the tail end, and either a 12 or 16 plait will taper down to about the same at the tail. I like the look of the 16 plait, and if you are doing two-tone, there are some more options you can go with.

I don't think the number of plaits really has much to do with how they roll out, since the inside is usually made of 4 plait bellies. Quality construction and an even taper would have more effect on performance than number of strands.

I get asked this question a lot and it's not what's on the outside of a whip that counts it's what is on the inside that makes the difference between a good whip and a not so good one. I can only speak for myself on this, all my bull whips, be they 8 plait or 64 plait, have four plaited bellies, the last one being the full length of the whip. I don't think that just because a whip is only 8 plait that the construction of the whip should be compromised. As for the width of the strands up to 24 plait the strands are all the same width at the end of the whip where they join the fall. There are 25 millimeters to the inch,for this topic let's say 24 millimeters ,which makes it easier to convert to inches. I end all my whips in an 8 plait diamond pattern
With an 8 plait bull whip my strands start off at 11mm, and over the length of the whip taper down to 4mm. 12 plait bull whips start at 7.5 mm and end at 4mm. 16plait start at 5.5mm and end at 4mm and 24 plait start at 4mm and end at 4mm with all of the taper being achieved by dropping strands. Photos of how I construct my whips can be found here.
http://www.em-brand-whips.com/insidebull.htm

I'd like to hear what other whip makers on this forum have to say about this.Agree or disagree?

I agree. I did good 8 plait whips and bad 16 plait - number of strands isn't most important

bernie47 wrote:I'd like to hear what other whip makers on this forum have to say about this.Agree or disagree?

Hope you weren't holding your breath waiting for answers Bernie

I have had people into targeting tell me that there is a massive difference between chucking a 12 plait after an 8, a 16 plait after a 12 etc etc etc.....

If thats what they think...hey whatever floats their boat!

I'll be chucking my hand high in the air and agreeing with Bernie it's much more important how the whips made than what plait the overlay is

Tony

Hi,

I agree with Bernie and Tony. But I think there is one thing, that could be mention. Two whips, with same core and different overlay(for ex. 12 and 16 strands) will have different motion. 16 plt will have more fluid motion then 12. It not means that 12 plt will be worst, just different(edit).

Regards,
Karol