Today I’ve finished the overlay and knots on this bullwhip:
Here’s a close up of the knots:
I still need to shellac it and roll it a couple more times before I ship it out to its new owner.
Louie
http://bullwhips.org
Tag: 12 plait
Short Bullwhip
My current project is working on a 4 1/2 foot bullwhip with a 12 inch handle. I’m using a 57 dm veg tanned drum stuffed kangaroo skin that I got from David Morgan:
This bullwhip will have a core, plaited belly, two bolsters and a 12 plait overlay. Here’s the first bolster sitting on the plaited belly:
And here’s the bolster after it has been tied onto the belly:
I then attached the 2nd bolster (not pictured) and cut out the 12 plait overlay:
Tomorrow I’ll get onto plaiting the overlay.
Louie
http://bullwhips.org
4 Foot Signal Whip
Here’s another signal whip that I made the other day:
This one has a loop on the end to make the cracker easily replaceable.
This signal whip is available on my IN STOCK whips page. I think I may pick up some more black kangaroo and make some more of these signal whips.
Louie
http://bullwhips.org
Signal Whip / Single Tail Whip
For fun I made a 3 1/2 foot signal whip (aka single tail whip).
This is made from 12 plait kangaroo with a shot loaded core. I put a loop at the end so that the cracker is easy to change.
This is my first signal whip that I’ve made with a loop for the cracker to attach to, instead of a cracker that’s braided to the whip. The advantage of the loop is that it makes changing a cracker easier for the user.
This whip is currently listed for sale on my IN STOCK whips page.
Louie
http://bullwhips.org
Making a Six Foot Bullwhip
Right now I’m working on a six foot 12 plait bullwhip in natural tan kangaroo. I had some natural tan in stock, so I didn’t need to drive up to David Morgan to pick up a kangaroo skin. I’m using a 57dm skin, however I also found a belly that I had cut out a while ago for something else, but for whatever reason didn’t use in black kangaroo. Since this will be in the inside of the whip you won’t see it.
Currently I have both bellies and bolsters finished.
Next up is to put some lead on for the knot foundation on get to work on the overlay.
People always ask how I can cut out the overlay before I’ve got the inner layers finished. It’s pretty simple, I know about what the strand widths should be and cut them a smidge wider than that. I then will resize them once the inner layers are finished.
On the surface it sounds like it’s more work than cutting it later, however it actually saves me time. By doing all of one task at the same time (i.e. strand cutting) it saves time in set up and clean up. Regardless of what point I cut the strands they still need to pared which also accomplishes the resizing.
The more I make whips, the more I’m looking for ways to save time…not cut corners, but to save time by eliminating steps that are duplicate, like sweeping the floor twice or putting away the leather only to take it back out an hour later. While these are small amounts of time, when you add them all up they can add up to a decent chunk of time.
Louie
http://bullwhips.org
Cutting Leather…
Yesterday I got some braiding done and cut out some of the lace for the whips. Here’s a couple of overlays and an inner and out belly:
I’m always amazed at how fast the inner layers of the whip get made, it’s the final layer that takes all the time, especially when I already have the bolsters cut out.
Louie
http://bullwhips.org
4 Foot Bullwhip
I’m currently working on a four foot 12 plait bullwhip in black kangaroo. I went up to David Morgan and picked out this skin for it:
This skin is a lot bigger than what I need, it’s 64dm, which would almost make an 8 foot whip. The amount of skin needed to make a 4 foot whip really isn’t that much and if I bought a smaller low 50’s dm skin, the leftover wouldn’t be enough to do anything meaningful with.
While I was up there the Meagan and Will showed me a bullwhip that came in for a repair. It was a black bullwhip made in the 1990’s at David Morgan. At 20 years old this whip was in great shape, no broken strands and the braiding was still very tight. It had been used, so it wasn’t something that someone used as a “wall hanger”. When you buy a well built whip (and you take care of it) you are buying something that will last for decades!
Louie
http://bullwhips.org
6 Foot Bullwhip
Here’s the 6 foot 12 plait bullwhip that I recently finished:
It’s going out in the mail to its new owner today!
Louie
http://bullwhips.org
10 Foot Indiana Jones Style Bullwhip
I’m taking a quick break from making the final two 4 plait Beginner’s Bullwhips to work on something a bit more mentally challenging (but slightly easier on the hands). I’m working on a 10 foot Indiana Jones style bullwhip. Here’s the completed inner bellies:
And here’s the finished bullwhip (before a coat of shellac).
This bullwhip is on its way to its new owner!
Louie
http://bullwhips.org
Finished Signal Whips!
I finished the two signal whips that I’ve been working on and they are ready to head out to their new owners. The first one is 12 plait and all black:
The second one is 12 plait and black with a little bit of red:
Here are the two whips together:
Now that these two whips are finished, I’m currently all caught up on my orders, so my hook currently is empty. Now is a great time to put in an order if you would like a whip to be delivered by Christmas.
Louie
http://bullwhips.org