Club Obi Wan

Can some one tell me what the difference to a 12 plaite vs a 16 plaite. Length of whip is 8'.
Which is better and why. :
Thanks Croft

This has been a very long agument amongst whipmakers and crackers.
The theroy is the the 12 plait (12 strand) is less flexible, or harder to crack then the 16 plait because it has less points to flex at, while the 16 plait has many more points to move at, because the strands are covering less area. Ive heard ideas about this, but it all depends on the maker.
Because a 4 pait whip by one maker, may be easier to crack then say a 16 plait made by Mr.Nobody. Its all in personal prefrence. Unless you are getting 2 whips made by the same maker and each has a diffrent plait level, most likely you wont ever tell the diffrence. There are many variables involved in this theroy, and theres always a thought that someone has making it correct one way or the other. Between 12 and 16 you cant tell a diffrence. But if you crack a 4 plait and a 64 plait, theres a possiblity you might feel the diffrence, but not so much. It also depends what the inside of the whip is made up of. If the maker uses a rope for the core of a 16 plait whip, its going to feel like using a rope. So it all depends.
Adam

If I am not mistaken, a 16 plait may be easier to damage than a 12 plait as the leather is a bit thinner.

Ops,
Forgot that point.
Yes. A 16 plait whip is easier to break a strand on then a 12 plait because the strands are thinner. It also depends what its made of. A cowhide 12 plait will also be more prone to breaking then a 12 plait roo.
Adam

To clarify, when they say "thinner," they mean the strands are more narrow. The actual thickness of the strands are generally the same between 12 and 16 plait whips.

Think of it as having a sheet of paper that you cut into strips. The paper is the same thickness, but if you cut it into 12 strips, those strips are going to be wider than if you cut the paper into 16 strips.

16 pait whips are generally more fluid than 12, (but once again, this is notwithstanding differences in whipmaker ability and material,) but because you're dealing with narrower strands, those strands are more prone to being cut on rough objects like rocks and tree limbs, (depending on what you're cracking at/around.)

So, in generally accepted theory, a 12 plait kangaroo whip will be a bit more durable, but less fuid and graceful than a 16 plait whip by the same maker.

But Molo is right, it's all relative to the material and ability of the whip maker.

Thanks every one, as you can probably guess I'm thinking of purchasing my first real whip.

It'll probably be an 8' as I'm still kinda a novice. I'll probably go with the 12 plaite as this seems the whip that might take more abuse from a beginer, thanks again.
Croft

In my humble opinion, 12 plait whips are really the way to go unless you're really going for a show or display whip, (and not for Indiana Jones, as the whips Morgan made for the films were 12 plait.)

A 6' or 8' should do you well. There's some great whip-makers on this forum. Scavenge their brains before you let them scavenge your wallet ;-) Better yet, if you can, find someone local who is a whip cracker/maker, (someone from here or the WWAC,) and try out their stuff, (chances are, they have more than one whip, and like showing them off!)

See what you like, make an informed decision, and crack with pride!

Best o' luck!

-Dan