F A Q
All the questions that are asked will
end up on this page.
So let me know if I am leaving any
out.
1.Measuring the length of different
types of whip "How do you know what length to buy"?
The Stock whip or Handle whip is measured from the handle
keeper loop to the end of the plaited thong only.
EG: 6' Stock whip- 6 foot of thong
+ 1 1/2 foot of handle plus 3 foot of fall = 10 1/2 feet long
without the cracker/popper.
The bull whip is measured
from the butt of the handle to the fall knot.
EG: 6' Bull whip- 6
foot of plaited thong about 3 foot of fall = 9 feet long without the cracker/popper.
The Snake whip is measured the same
as a Bull whip.
The signal whip is
measured from the butt of the handle to the braid in cracker/popper.
EG: 6' Signal whip-
6 foot of plaited thong about 1 foot of braid in popper/cracker
= 7 feet long.
2.Leather or Nylon "What is
the best for starting out"?
Those who make nylon
whips will say nylon and those who make leather would say leather.
I have made both and repaired many of both.
It depends on what
you want out of whip cracking and what you will be doing with
the whip.
FACT. Nylon whips still load with water and get real heavy
just like leather.
FACT. Nylon whips still ware out and blow apart.
FACT. Nylon whips still need to be maintained.
You are either one
or the other but when you use or make both what one can offer
is different than another. Just like
one maker is different
than another. Just ask any of the worlds top whip crackers they'll
set you straight!
3."Why do some of my cheap
Cow hide whips with no plaited belly work just as good or better
than the high plaited Kangaroo hide
whips with plaited bellies"?
If a whip is well made
(even 4 plaited) and then well balanced it will flow well and
will crack no matter how many plaits.
I get a lot of people
coming to my work shops and trying out many whips and saying that
what suites there style might
not be the 72 plaited
5 plaited belly Kangaroo hide whip.
All the belly does
is control the whips shape over time. But the part that wares
out is the part that does the most work.
4. A shot loaded whip or none loaded
and what about the weight in the butt?
FACT. Loading a whip doesn't make it better or worse it
just allows the whip to be thinner for the weight.
FACT. Weighting a whip with shot can mean you use less
energy to crack it.
FACT. None loaded whips need to be a little thicker to get
the throw weight and if you don't have a butt weight it will put
extra stress on your arm.
FACT. The whip needs to be balanced for the job you are
wanting to do.
Web page
by; thewhipman@thewhipman.co.nz