Diamond plaiting - how to???

[Ramsey]

Working on my 4th bullwhip..but this time, I'd like to make the handle of the overlay a diamond or checkerboard pattern...but no matter what, I can't seem to get it working right...especially the back. Not sure what I'm doing wrong.
Can anyone here show a diagram...or maybe direct me to a website that shows a diagram..or a video, or something..that shows how to do this pattern, front and back? It's drivin' me crezy, 'cause I sort of have a reputation around town that if it exists on the internet I'll be able to find it... :rolleyes...but I can't for the life of me find anything that helps.
Thanks in advance, gang.

 

[Nexus6]

The way I did MINE was to start out exactly like what was shown in the tutorial:

EXCEPT, for the lower 6 strands ^there^ (which would be 8 for a 16-plait whip), I plaited them using the technique shown in THIS VIDEO by Bernie Wojcicki. You only need to watch the first 1:10 of the video to see the process. Just by watching that vid, I was able to do the diamond-plaiting with NO mistakes (whereas I made SEVERAL on the herring bone plaiting for the thong). Hope that helps. :thumbsdown :thumbsup

 

[Ramsey]

The way I did MINE was to start out exactly like what was shown in the tutorial:

EXCEPT, for the lower 6 strands ^there^ (which would be 8 for a 16-plait whip), I plaited them using the technique shown in THIS VIDEO by Bernie Wojcicki. You only need to watch the first 1:10 of the video to see the process. Just by watching that vid, I was able to do the diamond-plaiting with NO mistakes (whereas I made SEVERAL on the herring bone plaiting for the thong). Hope that helps. :thumbsdown :thumbsup

Ok, I followed along with that video, but I'm still lost on how to do the other side of the handle....when I was doing it, the front looked great! But the back just looked like the cords were crossing over like X's...not getting that checkerboard pattern on both sides. What am I missing??

 

[Nexus6]

Ok, I followed along with that video, but I'm still lost on how to do the other side of the handle....when I was doing it, the front looked great! But the back just looked like the cords were crossing over like X's...not getting that checkerboard pattern on both sides. What am I missing??

The back should take care of itself while you plait the front. How many strands are you using (i.e., 12-plait, 16-plait, etc)? Cuz, imo (& maybe bwc can confirm this), if you use less than 16-plait for the overlay, the diamond-plait pattern won't look right due to the strands not being wide enough to provide coverage (leaving an odd pattern in the back).

So how many strands in your overlay?

 

[Ramsey]

The back should take care of itself while you plait the front. How many strands are you using (i.e., 12-plait, 16-plait, etc)? Cuz, imo (& maybe bwc can confirm this), if you use less than 16-plait for the overlay, the diamond-plait pattern won't look right due to the strands not being wide enough to provide coverage (leaving an odd pattern in the back).

So how many strands in your overlay?

Well, I haven't gotten to it yet..still plaiting the belly...but I'm planning on either an 8 or 12 plait.

 

[Nexus6]

Well, I haven't gotten to it yet..still plaiting the belly...but I'm planning on either an 8 or 12 plait.

So are you trying the diamond-plaiting on the belly, or just trying to get the pattern right on something other than the whip? Cuz I wouldn't bother with diamond-plaiting the belly since it isn't seen anyway.

At any rate, I doubt that the para-cord strands are wide enough to make an 8- or 12-plait that looks correct in a diamond-plait, since it all depends on the diameter/circumference of the handle. *shrugs*

bwc will need to chime in on that one I think.

 

[Ramsey]

So are you trying the diamond-plaiting on the belly, or just trying to get the pattern right on something other than the whip? Cuz I wouldn't bother with diamond-plaiting the belly since it isn't seen anyway.

At any rate, I doubt that the para-cord strands are wide enough to make an 8- or 12-plait that looks correct in a diamond-plait, since it all depends on the diameter/circumference of the handle. *shrugs*

bwc will need to chime in on that one I think.

No, the diamond plaiting will just be for the overlay, but I want to get in some practice on the diamond plaiting before I get finished with the belly. (I made myself a "practice handle" to practice plating, turk's head and transition knots). I've made 3 other whips, but I thought it would be nice to make THIS one have the diamond pattern plaiting on the handle.

 

[bullwhipcracker]

I missed this thread, but Nexus6 is correct the strands are not wide enough to do a diamond plait. To do it the srands have to meet at the back. It will cover anyway, but as you have dicovered they cross instead of making a nice checkerboard pattern. You can do one of two things to make it work...a 16 plait overlay, or use a smaller diameter piece of steel or aluminum for the handle.
Feel free to pm me to wake me up from time to time.
Ron

 

[Ramsey]

Thanks so much for the input, guys...you nailed it on the head about the strands crossing over on the back but not doing the checkerboard pattern. My wife just bought me a copy of "How To Make Whips" by Ron Edwards (she works at a bookstore, so she got it at a bit of a discount to boot)...there is a layout for the checkerboard pattern using 8 strands on each side that I think I'll give a try. In the book, the checkerboard pattern (or chessboard pattern as they call it in the book) is started off of the handle at first, then wrapped around it and continued in the u1,o1,u1,o1 pattern. I THINK I can pull this off, so I'm gonna try it.
Again, thanks alot for the help...I can be a bit dense when it comes to this stuff. :wacko