making a whip

[Handmadewhips]

I think that jerryrwm has given you some sound advice...

if your looking to make a "quick" whip just to get the feel for whipmaking than the Hickory wood is plenty strong enough for a handle... If you leave the wood exposed just carve down one end into a point about 5inchs long, this is what you will be attaching your leather to. First 4plait about 2inches up. Second 4 or 6 plait about 4inches up then bolster and overlay braid 5 inches up, with the rest of the wood as your exposed handle.... This will make you a quick serviceable whip...

Most whips that have plaited handles have steel as a foundation. The knot on the end is used as a decorative end and functions as a grip. Some whipmakers use lead tape to give the back end of the whip some extra weight and the knot covers this... On the wood handle bulls I make I don't carve the top because "I'm the worst wood carver ever."

hope this helps.

skip

[TexasLady]

I think that jerryrwm has given you some sound advice...

if your looking to make a "quick" whip just to get the feel for whipmaking than the Hickory wood is plenty strong enough for a handle... If you leave the wood exposed just carve down one end into a point about 5inchs long, this is what you will be attaching your leather to. First 4plait about 2inches up. Second 4 or 6 plait about 4inches up then bolster and overlay braid 5 inches up, with the rest of the wood as your exposed handle.... This will make you a quick serviceable whip...

Most whips that have plaited handles have steel as a foundation. The knot on the end is used as a decorative end and functions as a grip. Some whipmakers use lead tape to give the back end of the whip some extra weight and the knot covers this... On the wood handle bulls I make I don't carve the top because "I'm the worst wood carver ever."

hope this helps.

skip

8/11/09

Dear HandMadeWhips,

You're such a helpful person. I will certainly keep that advice you've given me and those measurements for making a "quick" yet serviceable whip. Actually, I was wanting to make a really pretty, fancy whip. And I want it to be strong enough to be valued. But maybe making it 'pretty' is a little over-ambitious for my first whip. I probably just need to stop 'over-thinking' it and jump on in and start 'making' it.

Thanks,

TexasLady

[TexasLady]

8/11/09

HandMadeWhips,

One more thing,... Where do I get the Lead Tape? And, do you think that the toxicity of the lead could be endangering the health of the user? Is it a 'sticky tape' that just sticks to the wood as it is wrapped around it?

- TexasLady

[Handmadewhips]

8/11/09

HandMadeWhips,

One more thing,... Where do I get the Lead Tape? And, do you think that the toxicity of the lead could be endangering the health of the user? Is it a 'sticky tape' that just sticks to the wood as it is wrapped around it?

- TexasLady

I don't use lead tape myself so I don't know where to get it... as for its toxicity; lead (for the most part) is toxic only when it enters the blood stream.. see- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lead_poisoning -for more info about it....

skip

[TexasLady]

I don't use lead tape myself so I don't know where to get it... as for its toxicity; lead (for the most part) is toxic only when it enters the blood stream.. see- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lead_poisoning -for more info about it....

skip

8/11/09

HandmadeWhips,

That was a good link. It said that "dermal exposure" isn't considered a significant pathway into the body, but then it also said, "Lead may be taken in through direct contact with mouth, nose, and eyes (mucous membranes); and breaks in the skin." I'd like an easy way to put weight on a whip handle, as much as anybody, but I won't go this route because I'd worry about it later. Thanks for answering.

-TexasLady

[jerryrwm]

8/11/09

HandmadeWhips,

That was a good link. It said that "dermal exposure" isn't considered a significant pathway into the body, but then it also said, "Lead may be taken in through direct contact with mouth, nose, and eyes (mucous membranes); and breaks in the skin." I'd like an easy way to put weight on a whip handle, as much as anybody, but I won't go this route because I'd worry about it later. Thanks for answering.

-TexasLady

You can use the silver duct tape - the metallic duct tape, not the grey duck tape. It won't add much weight, but then again you don't usually need much to help balance a whip. If you are using the wooden handle, drill a pilot hole and you can secure a piece of steel sprike in place. Cut it off flush with your handle and then tie a pineapple knot on the butt end to cover it.

[TexasLady]

8/13/09

Jerry,

When you drill that pilot hole, you put the wooden handle in a vise first, right?

I just picked up Dan Edwards 'Whips and Whipmaking' from my local library. A couple of weeks ago, I filled out a paper form, gave them my library card number, and the librarians sent it off to find a library that would loan me a copy of this book. I got a message on my phone yesterday that said it had come in and to come pick it up. Voila! And I'm so excited. On page 87 of his book is exactly what I was looking for. This is the shape into which I'd carved my Hickory hammer handle! It's just what I was wanting to make. I couldn't believe my eyes when I opened the book and that was the first thing that I saw!

TexasLady

Edited August 13, 2009 by TexasLady

[TexasLady]

8/14/09

Oops! That book, Whips and Whipmaking, is by Dan Morgan. (At least I'm improving,... I got half of his name right this time.)

TexasLady

[jerryrwm]

8/14/09

Oops! That book, Whips and Whipmaking, is by Dan Morgan. (At least I'm improving,... I got half of his name right this time.)

TexasLady

Well you are getting closer. His name is David Morgan. The other guy's name is Ron Edwards who wrote "How To Make Whips". Also check out David's other book Braiding Fine Leather.

Jerry

[TexasLady]

8/15/09

ROFL

TexasLady