So...What 'other' stuff's been used for making crackers?

[PyramidBlaster]

I know in some respects this has been covered in part before, but I've seen some interesting things in the past couple of months, and done a few myself... I figured it was worth visiting the topic from another approach.

In the past, I've used masonry twine, waxed nylon shoelaces, and other things for crackers. Presently, I'm making crackers from two different types of Spectra/Dyneema braided fishing line, namely PowerPro 65# and Berkley Gorilla Braid in 80#. The PowerPro produces a nice, dense, extremely durable cracker with a sharp report... That's incredible for cutting targets. I use the Gorilla for a softer cracker, makes a little more noise which is less sharp... And it's a lot more forgiving when you 'get' yourself. I find it's 'sticky', however... It likes to wrap itself around anything you hit, including the whip itself, and tie itself in a knot...Requiring you to stop what you're doing and release it by hand.

I have a small amount of thin, thread-like stainless steel 'cable'... That it would be easy to make a cracker from. Trouble is, in effect...It seems like it would be like putting a piece of piano wire on the end of your whip. And I fancy keeping my ears/nose/fingers *attached*, as it were.... But I'm almost to the point of doing it, for 'display' only...

Today, after seeing some very colorful crackers at the summit... And after a little discussion around the web, I found myself at JoAnn Fabrics in the thread section looking at some different thread for use in crackers. Apart from the obvious nylon upholstery thread, I'm also trying some extra-heavy-duty Polyester thread, as well as some heavy (#40) Rayon. I'd like to find something that provides good durability and solid report, while giving me broad color options. The rayon's nice in that it's got loads of *SHINY* colors....

So... Has anyone else experimented with some 'non-standard' materials? I hear some things about silk, but the thread they had at JoAnn just looked too flimsy, even for silk....

[PyramidBlaster]

I'm pleased to have at least a little update to my own findings, that being heavy polyester thread and rayon. First off, the polyester wouldn't be what i'd call a desirable material---In fact, it looked like cotton thread once the cracker was done. Performance was equally disappointing, in that it seemed to help inhibit a good bit of energy... Resulting in a very weak crack, if any at all.

Rayon, on the other hand... Seems to have possibilities. Although it was thinner than I'd like, using 16 loops of it resulted in a very nice, vibrant cracker that had a notably VERY energetic crack. In fact, I found it cracked a lot easier and sharper than the PowerPro spectra. One thing I did notice, however, is that keeping it secure on the end of the whip was a challenge. None of the standard methods worked, nor did my own 'foolproof' method, based on the Sheet Bend knot. It's so slippery that I had to come up with new way of attaching it... But it seems to be working. It's still an experiment, though. Jury's still out as far as the durability.