Club Obi Wan

Im planning on trying to make my own whip and was wondering which size lace to get... 1/8 inch or 1/4 inch.
Thanks!

Indiana,

How many plaits do you want on the final overlay? If you go with 12 plait, using 1/4" lace, your handle and the first 15-20" of the thong will need to be no more than 1-1/2" in circumference or approx 1/2" in diameter.

If you go with 16 plait using 1/4" lace then the handle diameter will need to be approx 5/8" in diameter. When you finish plaiting over the handle, the finished diameter will be about 7/8" in diameter.

If you would buy a hide and cut your laces, you could taper them and start with the proper width lace for a 12 plait whip. Mine usually start at about 9mm wide and end up about 3.5 - 4 mm at the point.

Plus you will have plenty of hide to make the bolsters and bellies at a much cheaper price.

If you are making an 8' whip with two bellies, it will take roughly 200' of lace that has been cut on a taper. If your overlay ends up being 16 plait using 1/4" lace, you will need closer to 250'.

If you calculate that out, a 6 sq ft hide at $7.75/ sq ft will run about $50.00 give or take a little. Figure out how much lace you can get for $50.00 and I'll bet you come up short for your whip, plus you still don't have any leather for the bolsters.

Just some thoughts. Hope they make sense - they did when i was typing this.

I remain,

Jerry R

LIsten to Jerry. He gives good advice. I wanted to buy precut laces but then reread the section in Ron Edwards book about that not being a good idea. The chief reason is that laces are not tapered. And a properly tapered whip makes the effortless crack. I would say, buy the precut laces to do simple round plaiting projects just to get you used to braiding with leather. David Morgan's last book has excellent projects like that, that can be done with precut laces. You might want to check it out.

-Sergei

Say Sergei,
When are we going to see a sample of your braiding? Are we going to have a local SoCal whip maker anytime soon?
PBG

I am not an expert by no means of measure on that subject. But I have read a lot of books on braiding; Ron Edwards, Bruce Grant all the David Morgan Books, the Aussie Plaiters & WhipMakers Association Bound Volumes, etc... But it would be nice to bring in a whipmaker to sort of kick things off at one of our meetings. In fact that is the way to go.

-S

Sergei,
You knucklehead, when I asked if we are going to have a new whipmaker in SoCal I was referring to YOU!
pbg

I knew what you meant. I need more hours in the day. Or, I need to strike riches soon so that I can live a normal 8 to 5 life, or get me a shack in the desert. I think a shack in the desert, making whips would suit me fine. Besides I strongly identify more with coyotes, than most people sometimes. ) If you know what I mean.

-Sergei

Indiana,

If this is your first attempt, you might want to try making a whip out of craft lace, parachute cord, or something like that. You won't get nearly the results, but it will give you a feel for the mechanics of plaiting, droping strands, etc.

When I decided to make my first whip, I took a piece of half inch clothesline about 4 feet long and tapered it by pulling out strands along the length. Then I took heavy white string like you use to tie up chickens when you roast them, and started a 16 plait overlay. I think I was trying to discourage myself, but what I ended up with was a 4 foot snake whip. And it actually cracked!!! Best of all, it didn't cost me anything and I could make as many mistakes on it as I wanted.

Cutting the hide seems scary at first, but it really is alot easier than it seems and it gives you so many different options. I told myself I'd stop after one whip. I'll bet you can't stop either.

Another thing to consider possibley, is to buy a cheap 20 dallar whip or less, and take it apart, and rebraid it.

I'm not sure on the quality of the leather of some of the cheapies on ebay, but I've seen some that go for less than 9 dallars, not including shipping
you get two unbraid, then make an 8 plait whip.

But there's nothing like cutting strands from a full hide, either cowhide or roo,
parchute cord sounds fun as well.


I agree with Mike,
you can't just eat one, or rather make one I mean, its to addictive
.


Just a thought.

.


Cheer's!

Jim J.