Month: June 2008

10 foot Indy Bullwhip…

10 foot Indy Bullwhip…

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Here’s a picture of a 10 foot Indiana Jones (Morgan) style bullwhip that’s in the works:

10 foot bullwhip (plaited bellies)

I have almost everything for this bullwhip cut out, but it’s going to have to wait a bit before it gets finished. I have some bullwhips in front of it in line, but I was waiting on some hides to arrive, so I got to get some work on this one done early.

Here’s a picture of a Vaudeville Theater I played the other day:

Kenyon Hall

Here’s me doing a couple of whip targets:It’s one of the few remaining Vaudeville houses in the country, it was a fun show! I worked with Masonius Max who did some whip cracking in his show as well.

He uses nylon bullwhips, he’s primarily a street performer, so he really can’t use kangaroo, the concrete would destroy them. If you get a chance to see him somewhere check him out, he’s got a great act!

Louie

Two Handed Bullwhip Cracking

Two Handed Bullwhip Cracking

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Here’s a quick video of me working on my two handed bullwhip cracking:

For some wacky reason the video above isn’t working, so here’ the direct link to it: http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=509468229342459856&hl=en

I’ve been cracking two handed for about a year and I’m still getting the hang of it. I’ve noticed that my left hand has better technique than my right…which is weird since I’m right handed.

Louie

10 foot Indy Bullwhips Pictures…

10 foot Indy Bullwhips Pictures…

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I just finished a 10 foot Morgan Style Indiana Jones Bullwhip:

Bullwhips indiana jones style for sale

Bullwhips for sale

I’m really getting the hang of making my butt knots the right shape for the old school indy bullwhips.  It’s got the more “round” look to it.

This bullwhip is heading off to its new owner in South Carolina today!

Here’s a couple of pictures of me.  The first is me setting up my show in the greenroom at a club called The Fairhaven in Bellingham, WA:

Bullwhip performer

The next two were taken yesterday, I had some time between gigs, so I went to the park.

Bullwhip performer

I used to have to drive around to find a park, but my wife got me one of the Garmin GPS devices for Father’s Day and that thing tells me where the nearest parks are!!

Louie

http://bullwhips.org

10 footy Bullwhip…

10 footy Bullwhip…

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I’ve started work on a 10 foot Morgan style Indy bullwhip. Here are some picture of it being made:

Bull whip making - 10 foot

First the core and the first plaited belly are attached, then the 4 plait belly is braided.

Bull whip making - 10 foot

Next I attach a bolster:

Bull whip making - 10 foot

and then I attach a 2nd belly and plait that.

Bull whip making - 10 foot

Then lead is added to the butt:

Bull whip making - 10 foot

and another bolster is put over the thong and handle:

Bull whip making - 10 foot

The overlay is attached (you can see the 6 plait wristloop in the picture below)

Bull whip making - 10 foot

And the handle is braided:

Bull whip making - 10 foot

I’ve done about 3 feet of the thong of this bullwhip (but haven’t taken a picture of that yet). I don’t know how much work I’ll get done over the weekend, I’ve got a busy schedle.

Louie

http://bullwhips.org

8 foot Bullwhip almost finished…

8 foot Bullwhip almost finished…

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Last night I tied the butt knot of an 8 foot KotCS style bullwhip.  I’m very happy with the knot on this bullwhip, it came out with a nice shape (and the shape that I was going for!).

8 foot bullwhips

I’m focusing on how the knot is tied and how that changes the look of the knot.  I started this knot with top strands at the top of the whip and that gives a different look than when the strands start at other places on the butt.

I don’t know if I will get any of the work on the transition knot done today, I have 3 shows and it’s my birthday…but I may be able to bang out the knot between shows.

Louie

Next Bullwhips…

Next Bullwhips…

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My current project is an 8 foot KotCS bullwhip, then a 10 foot Indy bullwhip after that. Somewhere in there I’m hoping to get a bit of work done on my 12 foot Morgan Style Indy bullwhip (maybe a plait a belly?).

Below in a completed (except for shellac) 10 foot bullwhip and a 8 foot KotCS bullwhip with two bellies finished.

bullwhips 10 foot and 8 foot

Last night I was fixing a dripping faucet in my bathroom and had my plumbing toolbox out. I saw the “Pipe Sealer Tape” and thought that it might be a good thing to use to bind transitions. After some thought I think the drawbacks make it not worth using. Some of the downsides are:

  • Not as strong as artifical sinew
  • Gives waterproof seal (Might not allow dressing to the leather under it)
  • Splits easily

If it was a bit stronger and not waterproof it might be a time saver when binding bullwhip transitions.

Lead Loaded Bullwhip Butts?

Yesterday I got an email from someone asking “Why should anyone load the butt with lead?” That’s a good question and one that I thought a lot about early on (and still do a bit).  Loading the butt of a short handled (8ish inch handle) has these advantages:

  • Balances out the weight between the thong and handle
  • When thrown it adds energy early in the throw of the whip (making it easier to crack)

Bullwhips with longer handles use leverage to put energy into the whip, and with shorter handled bullwhips they use weight to put energy into the bullwhip.

That’s how I see it, but I could be wrong.

Here’s a picture of me sitting in a greenroom of the Mountlake Terrace Performing Arts Center waing to go on:

Louie - bullwhip artist

Today I’ve got one show this morning, and should be able to get some work done on the overlay of the 8 foot bullwhip that’s currently in the works.

Louie

10 foot KotCS bullwhip…

10 foot KotCS bullwhip…

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Some progress is being made on a 10 foot bullwhip (Kingdom of the Crystal Skull style).  Below is the 2nd plaited kangaroo belly:

10 foot bullwhip

The overlay has been cut out:

8 foot 12 plait bullwhip overlay

And I’ve gotten about half of the bullwhip’s overlay plaited:

bullwhips for sale

Today I’ve got three shows to do and my mom is in town visiting, but I should be able to find the time to crank out another couple of feet on this bullwhip’s overlay.

Next up in my que is an 8 foot KotCS style bullwhip.  I’ve already cut out one of this bullwhips bellies and some of it’s overlay.  I should be able to cut out the other belly sometime today in between shows.

Louie