Club Obi Wan

Paul was gracious enough to send me his advance copy of his tape early last month. I watched the tape several times. I can tell Paul put a lot of thought and preparation into this project. In my opinion, it really hit the "sweet" spot for what a newbie wants; how to crack, how to take care and how to repair. Excellent job. I even learned something. Although I ventured into repairing a few half hitches, I was scared to death to unravel ALL of the hitches to the thong. Paul's little lesson gave me the confidence to repair some of those gaps I'm seeing right before the hitches.

Paul, takes the novice through the basic cracks: circus crack, horizontal, volley's, and the more complicated arrow head.

Above is a previous picture session with Paul, that did not make the cut into the tutorial tape. I wonder why?

I liked the way Paul does the "set up", the taking of the "little steps" in developing an "arrow head" crack. It's a good way to teach that crack. In fact Paul made that crack better for me .

Paul also goes into great detail on making several types of crackers or poppers. From the different kinds of material to the simple equipment like the simple 2lb. lead weight used for SCUBA diving. Very, very clear and concise instructions to completely divorce the need to buy from any vendor.

As was mentioned above, Paul walks through every detail on replacing the fall on the whip. Very clear steps were identified in the steps required to replacing the fall. Paul, also gets into the more complicated area of showing how to fix the hitches and as well as tightening the gaps in the plaiting towards the hitches that may arise.

I'd say, Paul has it a home run on this one. I'd say, that this is probably a one stop shopping tape that addresses the basic cracks and basic whip repair. Operators are standing by to take your order. Seriously, I would get it.

Thanks Paul, you have provided a valuable service to our community.

-Sergei
p.s. Paul makes a dramatic appearance on the opening shot. Warning! He is wearing FULL GEAR. Quite impressive.

Knowing my DVD is in transit, reading your review is not making the wait any easier. Thanks for the play by play Sergei!

Mike

Dear Sergei,

Thanks for the glowing review. While I was reading that, I realized something that I thought was interesting about why I made this tape and I chuckled to myself. The main reason is because I am so lazy! I don't want to repair anything because of that

Seriously though, one of the reasons I made this is because everyone should be self sufficient. I mean that sincerely. Imagine your disappointment when you go somewhere to crack your whip, either near or far from home, and something goes wrong with it. I realized shortly after I had my first whip that some parts of it are going to wear out, without question. I scratched my balding head and wondered how do I go about fixing the problem. "Uhh, well, geez, I don't know" was about all I could come up with. I decided then and there that I would learn how to fix whatever went wrong (within reason of course, since this was before I learned how to make whips from David Morgan). I've also received questions from folks who own whips, mine or someone else's, about how to fix this or that. From out of that, the video idea was born.

So, I'm glad that you enjoyed it. Having someone around to show you all these things would, of course, be best. Short of having someone present to teach you all these things, the video will fill in nicely. You really should be self sufficient with your whip and not just in the whip-cracking department. Even if you know how to crack whips, but don't know repair work, this will really help you out. I firmly believe there is no good reason to send a whip back to the maker for fall replacement, popper replacement, nor should you ever have to order more poppers ever again.

The beginning was sort of a spoof that I thought would be humorous

Best Regards,

Paul Stenhouse

Dear Mike,

The post office told me Friday or Saturday for delivery. Does that help or make it worse?

Best Regards,

Paul Stenhouse

the long peace of leather at end of me very film acurate swivel whip is broked and i is going to send whole whip back to maker for repare. i is thinking that this video by mr. stonehouse help me do it myself tho. am ordering coppy soon. This place is great ifomation. thanks.

Paul_Stenhouse wrote:The post office told me Friday or Saturday for delivery. Does that help or make it worse?

I guess it helps in that I won't be too expectant today, but come Friday and Saturday, I'm going to be running to the mailbox!

... and if its' a message that says "don't forget to drink your ovaltine", I'm sending it back!

Mike

Is it me or is did someone hijack Kyles account? Or is it that he is just plain delirious from the lack of sleep that comes from having new little rugrats around the house?

Dalexs

Good question Regards. Michaelson

Dalexs wrote:Is it me or is did someone hijack Kyles account? Or is it that he is just plain delirious from the lack of sleep that comes from having new little rugrats around the house?

Dalexs

No. No hijacking. It's just a weird day.

The_Edge wrote:No. No hijacking. It's just a weird day.

That's good to hear. You had a few of us worried.

Mike

Heck, we're STILL worried! Hang in there, buddy. Regards. Michaelson

I didn't realize THAT picture was going to be public.

I guess there are pictures of me floating around where I look somewhat goofy

What is so goofy about this one?



Just because it was submitted to the "Art Bell" show, doesn't make it goofy. )

-Sergei

Dear Sergei,

That's awesome!!! Thanks for the good chuckle. =D> Where are the little green men?

Best Regards,

Paul Stenhouse

Paul_Stenhouse wrote:Dear Sergei,

That's awesome!!! Thanks for the good chuckle. =D> Where are the little green men?

Best Regards,

Paul Stenhouse

Don't you remember? They came, they saw, and they knew they couldn't conquer the 3 whip crackers on that soccer field in Bothell, Washington. )

-S

Well, I thought I'd piggy-back Sergei's post here and review the DVD version of Paul's tutorial.

It's awesome!

It's very helpful. I was amazed that after watching it, I was able to do the side crack (a crack that elluded us at the PA Summit) after just 3 tries! I was also able to get the underhand crack, something I'd never attempted, then combine it with a forward crack.

Paul is very informative, and at times comical in his presentation of cracks. I also know that I'll never have to order a popper! I can't believe how simple they are to make! I don't know if I'll ever feel comfortable if I ever have to repair the end of the whip where the fall slides through, but I do know that after watching this DVD, I could if I had too.

As a comical side note, my wife came in and noticed the "spray" as Paul performed his cracks and stated that I couldn't do that with mine, and asked if he use talc, or something on his to get this effect. I told her... and was correct as learned later in the video... that the grass was probably wet during the shoot.

The only thing I would've like to have seen on the DVD version of this tutorial would be to have utilized the DVD technology and have Chapters at each new lesson. There are a few chapters you can skip through, but they don't land anywhere specifically and are probably just due to the video filling up the DVD tracks. This is a minor problem, however and not that inconvienient.

Lastly, I also found an important whip care lesson not included in this video. Paul should've warned that unless I wanted to purposely get an "irish themed" fall, I shouldn't practice his techniques on a newly mowed lawn! Actually, a quick wipe down and a dose of pecards, she was as good as new.

Great job, Paul, and thank you for my newly learned skills.

Mike

Dear Mike,

You're right, the grass was wet. I tell some people about the physics of a sonic boom, and how moisture in the air will condense rapidly under greatly increased pressure and form visible water vapor, like the contrails on a plane's wing, and they sometimes fall for it.

I struggled with the chapter issue. Unfortunately, for the general public to have this done (me) it is amazingly cost prohibitive. Trust me on this issue, otherwise I would have done it in a second. In other words, the break even cost for each DVD would have been $68, which I think is ridiculous, so I didn't bother with it. I wouldn't pay that much!

Sergei, you didn't mention the snake killer crack, or as I refer to it, "The Lawn Thatcher!"

Thanks again, Mike, and you're welcome. Having feedback about people who have learned from this video just reinforces my view that we should all be able to fix our own whip and not have to quit cracking because of minor problems.

Best Regards,

Paul Stenhouse

I've watched the DVD about 4 or 5 times now,
Great job!

Tieing on fallhitch's and thatching the lawn has never been more fun.

Thanks Paul.


Jim J.

Dear Jim,

Thanks, I got a kick out of doing that, too!

Best Regards,

Paul Stenhouse

Here is another rave review of Paul's Maintenance DVD. I watched it last night and picked up a few new ways of doing things. Sometimes it's something so simple that makes makes a difficult thing easy. Like using the fishing weight to make crackers. I knew how to make one, but the trick with the weight makes it so much easier.

The only thing better that watching Paul explain it in the DVD is meeting with him in person. Thanks, Paul, for your advice and hospitality. "Toujours Pret"

Mike

Dear Mike,

Thanks a lot. I'm glad that you were able to come up on such short notice and let me see your work. I had a great time looking at your work and hearing your trials and tribulations as well. I definitely believe your engineering background helps! Keep it up. We'll get together again and do some more whipcracking.

Best Regards,

Paul Stenhouse
"Always Ready"

Well, I "just" watched the DVD for the first time. I have NEVER cracked a whip, and he makes it look SO easy!
My whip is in the mail now (from EC) and I can honestly say that after watching the video, I am no longer afraid of cutting off my own head
I was just going to display the whip, but the video has built my confidence and the "moves" are broken down so that anyone can follow them. I WILL be cracking the whip the day it arrives.
Thanks for doing this project Paul and I advise anyone who doesn't have the video to get it.

Janice

Indiana Janice wrote: I was just going to display the whip, but the video has built my confidence and the "moves" are broken down so that anyone can follow them. I WILL be cracking the whip the day it arrives.

Be careful...crack(ing) is addictive. I started cracking in October, and I now have 5 whips.

Dear Janice,

You're very welcome. I'm glad that you like it. And, you should crack your whip!

Best Regards,

Paul Stenhouse

Indiana Texas-girl wrote: Be careful...crack(ing) is addictive. I started cracking in October, and I now have 5 whips.

Oh no!
Do you have any idea how much gear I bought this year!
My bank account won't support more whips

I bought the whip, Aldens, 3 westeds (yes 3, 2 leather and a cotton), fedora, gun, holster, bag, diary, grail, cross of coronado, monkey head, pants, TOD diamond, sankara manuscript, sankara stone, wanted flyer, autographed Connery/Ford production pic, and now I am buying an Indy bust for a full size display!:D
I have more but can't think off hand .

This is all in 8 months!

Some are my own work, or I completed them. Most cost me an arm and leg, but more whips? Please tell me I can live with only one!

I may need a second mortage soon!

Janice

Sorry Janice, but you sure have been bitten by the gear bug and I guarantee you will soon be bitten by the whip bug as well. I swore I'd be fine with one, then I got 2 more (better ones) and now look! I hope to start double cracking within the next 6 months (one whip in each hand) and try my hand at stockwhips. I actually prefer now cracking stockwhips over bullwhips (although I don't own a stockwhip).

I want to put another word in for this video. With it, I was able to successfully re-tie my fall hitch without a problem.

I couldn't have done it without the video. I highly recommend it for anybody that is going to own a whip, as doing repairs yourself is definitely the way to go.

Looks like I'm going to have order up this DVD soon! I just need a few weeks to let my bank account breathe after buying a whip. (Again, I plead the "poor grad student" excuse.)

Wow, 5 whips since October, ITG? Boy, I'm in for it now!
Regards--Maryon

Well, I can't let this thread go by again without putting in my two cents. I have to express my EXTREME disappointment regarding this DVD.

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I'm disappointed that I didn't purchase it sooner. I've been working on my cracks since I got my Joe Strain 8-footer back in February, and I was getting no where fast, even though I was using a couple of other whipcracking videos that are widely popular for beginners. However, after receiving Paul's DVD a couple of weeks ago and popping it into the player and watching his demonstrations, I was able to not only finally do the circus crack correctly and consistently, but have been able to become quite comfortable and consistent with all of the four basic cracks in just over two weeks!! And that's only practicing for a few minutes per session and only two or three sessions each week! (I have three small children, so practice time is very limited!)

And then there's the whole whip maintenance section, which shows fall replacement and fall hitch repair better than any book or other video I have seen to date!!

Paul, you've really outdone yourself on this DVD. Any Indy fan worth his fedora will have this DVD or video stowed away in his Mark VII (or VI ).

Ah....I guess I might as well bite the bullet now....as soon as my Joe Strain arrives I'll wish I had if I don't do it now.
Regards--Maryon

PropReplicator wrote:Well, I can't let this thread go by again without putting in my two cents. I have to express my EXTREME disappointment regarding this DVD.

PR, way to stop my heart with this intro! I'm glad that Paul's DVD worked as well for you as it did for me. It's a really fine tutorial. I got the side arm crack down in just three tries after watching.

Maryon, you can't go wrong with this DVD, I'd say it's a must have for any new whip owner who actually wants one for more than just a costume accessory.

Mike

All,

Wow...I haven't seen this thread in quite awhile, but you definitely got my attention with the "extreme disappointment" part. Before I read that, I was thinking, "Why doesn't PR call me up and complain to me directly?" Feedback is what whipmaking is all about in terms of improvement. However, I am pleased again to hear that fellow whipcrackers are getting some mileage out of it. Thanks again for the kind words.

ITG, have you thought about buying a yard whip? Common term for the 4-plait white cowhide whips you can find from various Australian whipmakers? They are very tough, extremely durable, and best of all, inexpensive. I steered a fellow towards one that he bought, a 6 footer for about $50 total. Just a thought. By the way, are you in Austin? I may be visiting that neck of the woods in mid-November.

Best Regards,

Paul Stenhouse

MaryonRavenwood wrote:Wow, 5 whips since October, ITG? Boy, I'm in for it now!
Regards--Maryon

Haha, yeah, you might wanna get 2 part time jobs! Actually 2 of my whips are nylons. I paid $50 for my snakewhip and $40 for a cowwhip made by a local Whip Enthusiast member. I love bullwhips, but I'm actually starting to like stockwhips.

ITG, have you thought about buying a yard whip?

Paul, do ya have a pic of one? I'm not familar with this type of whip.

By the way, are you in Austin? I may be visiting that neck of the woods in mid-November.

I'm in Arlington, about 3 hours from Austin, but depending on what I have going on, I might be able to drive down there. Pyroxene is close to Austin and Band Director Jones is in Waco (1.5 hours away). So definitely keep us posted. Austin is a great city...I'd jump at a chance to go back down there.

ITG,

Try this out. I can't remember where this fellow got his whip, but here's an example.

http://www.aussiewhipmaker.com/images/whipa.jpg

Best Regards,

Paul Stenhouse

PS. I'll keep you informed about my plans.

Paul, that pic of the yard whip, looks alot like a stock whip. How are a stockwhip and yard whip different?

Dear Holly,

You are correct in that they are the same! It falls into one of three common categories, bullwhip, stockwhip, and snakewhip. I think the yard whip term is used for whips that are short, commonly 4-plait, and made from cowhide, used to knock around in the stockyards, where conditions are often wet, sh*tty (cow dung enhanced!), muddy, and may get stepped on by cows. I made a yard whip to kick around in a coarse sand arena, that is often filled with water in places. It has lasted for two years now and I have done no maintenance to it, except replace the popper once. And, I have gotten it filthy dirty, but have always just hung it back up on the peg when I was done working the horses. The yard whip will take a lot of abuse, with little maintenance to the thong, are typically cheaper, and last for a good while. I imagine you probably already know what a kangaroo stockwhip is like.

Best Regards,

Paul Stenhouse

Paul, given 2 whips of the same plait and length (and handle weight), would a cow or roo yard whip be heavier?

ITG,

Well, that's a tough one, but assuming that all the dimensions of the whip are equal, I'd have to guess and say that kangaroo has a greater density than cowhide. When I say density, I mean it in the classic sense of mass/volume.

That may sound a bit off, but consider that a regular baseball weighs more than a softball, at least that's what trivia has told me.

Back to whips, though, I'd go for the cowhide first as a beginner, but move towards roo skin as my skill advanced in selecting a yard whip.

Best Regards,

Paul Stenhouse

speaking of yard whip i am in the middle of a matched pair of them and will post pictures when i am done, it will take a while though since school has started and i only get about 2 hours of whip work a night.
Mola

Here's another raving endorsement for Paul's video. =D> Anyone learning how to crack a whip should own this. (Heck, anyone who owns a whip, period.) The Alex Green video is good, but I think this one is by far better. Not to mention he's wearing full gear at the beginning, which is always a plus! All in all, I was much more impressed with this one. And, the section on whip maintainence is great too. No more buying crackers for me!

Wow, can this man crack a whip!!! He makes it look like the most natural thing in the world. Many thanks, Paul.

Regards--Maryon

Dear Maryon,

You're very welcome, and thanks for the praise. Keep practicing! I'm pleased that we were able to get you a viewable copy.

Best Regards,

Paul Stenhouse

No problem Paul--I tell it like I see it. And I shall indeed keep practicing--in fact, I have a feeling that many hours of my weekend will indeed be spent at the park. (And I have a feeling I'll be watching the video a few times as well!)
Regards--Maryon