I just got an email Dube Juggling that a bullwhip video I made is currently featured on their youtube channel:
http://www.youtube.com/user/dubejuggling
Dube is a maker and retailer of top of the line juggling and skill based props. So they sell juggling balls and clubs, but they also sell thing like balance boards, lassos and bullwhips.
Louie
http://bullwhips.org
Here’s the finished five foot 8 plait bullwhip:
This bullwhip ends in a 8 plait point. I chose to go with an 8 plait dropping to 6 plait at the point for a couple of reasons.
My goal for this whip was to make an 8 foot kangaroo bullwhip that will sell for under $200. So it’d be a good entry level kangaroo bullwhip. So by having a whip that I could make a bit faster by ending in a six plait point kept the cost down and having wider strands at the point is good for a beginner who will beat up this bullwhip.
Of course this whip isn’t just for beginners, internally it’s how I would make pretty much any other five foot bullwhip out of kangaroo. So it’s a good solid bullwhip!
I listed this bullwhip for sale on my IN STOCK whips page.
Louie
http://bullwhips.org
Yesterday I completed the overlay for a 5 foot 8 plait bullwhip. Here’s the skin that I used:
I cut out the 8 plait set and plaited the overlay and got the fall attached:
I’m thinking I might do the knots with an interweave of a second color. We’ll see what happens when I start work on the knots.
Louie
http://bullwhips.org
Here’s a video I found online where Christopher Coldwell teaches how to crack a bullwhip:
There’s some good basics in the video, like not over powering the whip…but it looks like he does a lot of cracking into the ground which isn’t always a desirable thing.
However that instruction is better than what most people do when they first try to crack a whip…pick it up and try to crack it like John Belushi in the Blue’s Brothers (which will put your eye out).
Louie
http://bullwhips.org
Here’s the finished signal whip:
It’s a four foot 8 plait signal whip in kangaroo. It’s got a nice crack to it!
This signal whip is available on the IN STOCK whips page and ready to ship out!
For my money this is the best whip show:
You can visit Chris Camp at www.thewhipguy.com. Besides being a great guy, he’s a top notch whip cracker!
Louie
The overlay and cracker of the 4 foot 8 plait signal whip is finished:
It still needs to be rolled and have the knot tied. Today is Easter, so I probably won’t get too much work in today (due to crapulence).
Louie
Yesterday I made some progress on the 8 plait signal whip.
The overlay is basically finished. I’m at the part where I need to start adding in the plaited cracker. That’s probably my least favorite part of making signal whips. Braiding the cracker really makes my hands sore. However I’m pretty sure this signal whip will get finished today, then I can get back to work on the five foot bullwhip!
Louie
http://bullwhips.org
Last night I started the signal whip that I’m making out of the same skin as the 5 foot bullwhip. I’ve got the shotbag made and the overlay cut out:
Today I will have time to at least do the strand prep and probably find time to get the overlay plaited.
Louie
http://bullwhips.org
This morning I started work on a 5 foot bullwhip. I haven’t really decided if it’s going to be 8 or 12 plait.
The kangaroo skin that I’m using is 62dm, which is almost the size of skin needed for an 8 foot bullwhip. This kangaroo skin will also make a 3 1/2 or 4 foot signal whip. The next step for this kangaroo skin will be to cut out the lace for the signal whip, saving the best part of the skin for the bullwhip which will have finer strands.
Louie
http://bullwhips.org