Club Obi Wan

I bought How to make whips by ron edwards a while ago and just started experimenting with some nylon chord (cheaper than lace) and finally realized how hard this hobby is. Now i respect all of the whip makers out there even more than i did before because i know realize how difficult it is to create a master peice, like Kyle S., Paul S. and Ec Whips and of corse DM do. I never realized how hard it was, i did not know a thing about braiding untill i started tring my skills with this book. So i am here to say i will try to make a whip soon, not a masterpiece because it'll be my first. But i want to thank what Kyle S., Paul S., and Ec Whips what they bring to us because they really make works of great art!
Kindest Regards
Molorom

I agree with your sentiments, Molorom. I bought the same book. I have read it cover to cover about 4 times and just mesmerized by the skill someone must possess to make a whip. It's part being an artist and part being an engineer. The people that I see do quite well, possess those 2 attributes. Anyway, good luck!!

-Sergei

I wish you the best of luck Molorom! I suggest you get David Morgan's new book. It won't teach you how to make a whip but it will help with your braiding. Give David a call and ask him to autograph it for you.

is his new book Braiding Fine Leather? i was not sure if it was Braiding Fine Leather or whips and whip making.....tell me if im right....my guess is that Braiding Fine Leather is the new book? I was not here.....i spaced out for a while and missed the release...
molorom

You must have missed the contest I ran last year, Molorom. I gave away two of David's new books last November, right when he released it. They were signed too. I believe Indy Magnoli and Michigan Smith were the winners.

The book is about braiding and has simple project to develop your skills prior to making your whip. There is plenty of detail on cutting your laces from the kangaroo hide, where he walks you through the tricky parts of the hide.



-Sergei

Is there a site where i can buy precut leather for making whips with?

Well you can buy precut laces. David Morgan sells them. But, the issue with precut laces is that they are not tapered. Molorom, since you have Edwards book he has a chapter on how to make a whip out of precut laces (which are not tapered). In fact, he recommends not making a whip this method. The reason is simply that the secret to making a well made whip is to have the thong of the whip gradually taper from the handle to the tip. Part of making a taper is to have the laces also cut into a taper as well. So you can NOT buy precut laces that are tapered, because it depends on so many factors of diameter and length of your whip. But if you want to practice anyway braiding, then follow the instructions in Edwards book.

-Sergei

Well i guess for now i will just play around with my skills on nylon.....still need to improve my tightness a bit.....and after i purchace my nylon whip i will start saving for a whip kit

The biggest draw back of pre-cut lace is that it is expensive and while pre-cut lace isn't the best way to go when learning to braid roo hide it does work for the beginner. If you learn how to skive the strands you can achieve a taper on them this way. You want a beveled edge on your strands anyway so just taper the strands down as you pare them. Learning to skive is another difficult thing to learn on top of braiding but it is necessary if you want to achieve smooth braiding. I think DM's new book covers this technique. When I cut out my sets I try to cut them to a taper as best but I really refine and control the taper during the skiving process.

I'd also like to add that I don't think any of the projects in DM's book require any tapering. Tapering is important in whip making but not in most braiding projects. You should be able to buy pre-cut lace and work on the projects in the book easily.