Club Obi Wan

This Saturday I finally got to finish my latest whip. A 2.5 m Indy whip, in which again I tried to put my favourite characteristics:

- short handle, with a diameter of maximum 19 mm
- thong of around 22 mm
- eight point fall hitch; not SA, but I have wanted to do one for a long time

Unfortunately I made a horrible mistake, where before the last 2 feet of the whip the taper is messed up. It was the place where one of the bolsters ends as well as too many strands from the previous belly.

Secondly, I am not too happy with the heel knot, but I have re-done it four times and I am sticking with the current look I achieved.

A third problem, which I only noticed when finishing the overlay and starting work on the handle knots: the overlay had no darkening whatsoever from the Pecards, which I use for plaiting. At first I thought I had simply used less than usual, but the edges of the strands were definitely dark... And that is when I carefully read the labels of the skins I had received:

"KANGAROO HIDE, LIGHT BEIGE"

I hurriedly checked my order, and it definitely said natural. The beige colour is completely identical to the natural colour of roo hide, before it is exposed to conditioner and sunlight. So much so that it fooled both the store when sending it out and me for over 10 days while I worked on the whip. So now I have a whip that will not darken, however the dye will wear off in time, as it has already started to do this in the main friction points.

Aside from these issues, I am quite happy with the plaiting, I left no gaps and the strand-drops are quite nice.

But enough of this, here are some pictures, plus a video of me doing a few quick cracks:











And here is the video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7BYrjRjxrQM

Cheers,
Bear

Each self made item teaches us a lesson. Now you know more than before.

As for the knot - try a bit less wide strand and try not to cover the bottom of the knot foundation. It will look better.

tomek9210 wrote: ↑Thu Oct 13, 2022 1:59 pm Each self made item teaches us a lesson. Now you know more than before.

As for the knot - try a bit less wide strand and try not to cover the bottom of the knot foundation. It will look better.

Hey, Tomek! Thanks for the advice, I'll try this next time.

In the past I've done this knot much nicer, but I realize now it was due to luck, not skill.

Cheers,
Bear

For what it is worth I think it looks great and sounds fantastic. I wish I had that skill.

Thank you, IndianaJustin! I do love the way it flows and cracks, so I have a spot in my heart for it.

I would just have loved to see the leather darken and age in time. However, I am taking this is an opportunity, I will put this one through the wringer, see how much a whip made by me can take.

Cheers,
Bear

Well, I have been using this whip every now and then and I love the way it cracks, BUT the artificial coat of paint on it has started to rub off on the handle and it started looking even worse than plain beige. So I decided to give the entire whip a coat of Fiebing's leather dye. To my surprise it came out quite nice looking:



I like it much more than before. For the first time in my whip-making journey I acquired some Shellac and gave it a thin coat. As soon as it is nice and dry I will post a picture ''after Shellacking'' too.

Bear

Wow, what a gorgeous whip!

I know I'm not a whip maker and by no means an expert, but it looks great to me!

Thank you very much, Canyon, I really appreciate the kind words!

I know dying the whip brown is not a "pure" whip making method, but given the situation, I had no other choice.

Cheers,
Bear

That bit of dye makes it look fantastic. Which colour Feibings did you use?

Herr Doktor wrote: ↑Fri Jun 02, 2023 2:49 pm That bit of dye makes it look fantastic. Which colour Feibings did you use?

Thank you, Herr Doktor! I also like it much more like this.

I used the light brown hue, from the Oil Pro dye line.

Cheers,
Bear

I look at folks being critical of their craft, and shake my head. Your worse example looks like perfection to my eye, but then I celebrate successfully tying my shoes some days.

Keep up the good work!!

Regards! Michaelson

Looks great! Nice job Bear

Michaelson wrote: ↑Sat Jun 03, 2023 9:50 am I look at folks being critical of their craft, and shake my head. Your worse example looks like perfection to my eye, but then I celebrate successfully tying my shoes some days.

Keep up the good work!!

Regards! Michaelson

Thank you very much, Michaelson, this means a lot!

Cheers,
Bear

Dr. Jones, Jr. wrote: ↑Sat Jun 03, 2023 10:04 am Looks great! Nice job Bear

Thank you so, Dr. Jones, I appreciate the kind words!

Cheers,
Bear

Today's update: the whip after a coat of Shellac:





I really love the difference the Shellac makes. It gives it a professional look somehow.

Cheers,
Bear