Nylon Bullwhip tutorial-pic intense

[Darkknight0667]

I finished plaiting my 6-footer yesterday, with the exception of the turk's head knots that is, and have a couple of questions.

First, where would I find a lacing needle like is shown in the tutorial?

Second, could you throw in a little detail about making the cracker? I picked up a spool of mason's line, but haven't figured out how to attach it yet. The picture shows a small loop at the end that is attached to the fall, but doesn't show how that loop gets there.

Lastly, when you begin the 12-plait, how do you keep the lines of cording from slipping out of place and bunching up? It's not a problem once you get a few plaits in, but I had a hell of a time getting them to hold still and had to resort to a few drops of super glue to get them to stay in place. It'll be hidden by the leather wrap and turk's head know, so I'm not worried about it showing, but it's not the ideal solution.

BTW, bullwhipcracker, thanks for putting this together. It's a relatively inexpensive project that's a lot of fun to do (though people look at you funny when you tell them what you're doing).

 

[bullwhipcracker]

1. Tandy Leather Factory. Get the Jumbo size.
2. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rrvJ54ZvzM0
3. Go ahead and let them be loose untill one complete set. Then go back and straighten/tighten them from top to bottom.

I finished plaiting my 6-footer yesterday, with the exception of the turk's head knots that is, and have a couple of questions.

First, where would I find a lacing needle like is shown in the tutorial?

Second, could you throw in a little detail about making the cracker? I picked up a spool of mason's line, but haven't figured out how to attach it yet. The picture shows a small loop at the end that is attached to the fall, but doesn't show how that loop gets there.

Lastly, when you begin the 12-plait, how do you keep the lines of cording from slipping out of place and bunching up? It's not a problem once you get a few plaits in, but I had a hell of a time getting them to hold still and had to resort to a few drops of super glue to get them to stay in place. It'll be hidden by the leather wrap and turk's head know, so I'm not worried about it showing, but it's not the ideal solution.

BTW, bullwhipcracker, thanks for putting this together. It's a relatively inexpensive project that's a lot of fun to do (though people look at you funny when you tell them what you're doing).

 

[bullwhipcracker]

A little bump to check in with my "students"

1. Tandy Leather Factory. Get the Jumbo size.
2. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rrvJ54ZvzM0
3. Go ahead and let them be loose untill one complete set. Then go back and straighten/tighten them from top to bottom.

 

[Ramsey]

I was wondering about spray-on shellac...I've seen bullwhips made of leather that have been covered with shellac, but how would it effect one made of paracord?

 

[bullwhipcracker]

I'd be interested to know that myself!
An experiment perhaps?
Ron

 

[Nexus6]

Is there an optimal way to get the interior strands out of the main ones? I just got finished "coring" the strands for the first belly, second belly, & overlay of my next whip, & it took me like 3-4 hours to do it all. My hands are toast. :eek

I'm gonna have to wait a few days to start plaiting, which is good because I've got some blisters already. :confused

So, any tips/tricks that could be helpful for next time?

 

[bullwhipcracker]

I start the inner strands and tie them to a chair. Use both hands to pull the outer layer. I can core a whip in minutes.
Ron

Is there an optimal way to get the interior strands out of the main ones? I just got finished "coring" the strands for the first belly, second belly, & overlay of my next whip, & it took me like 3-4 hours to do it all. My hands are toast. :eek

I'm gonna have to wait a few days to start plaiting, which is good because I've got some blisters already. :confused

So, any tips/tricks that could be helpful for next time?

 

[Nexus6]

I start the inner strands and tie them to a chair. Use both hands to pull the outer layer. I can core a whip in minutes.
Ron

:angry Holy crap.

I would've loved to have had that info a few days ago. Although I guess a smart man would have figured something like that out... :lol :redface

 

[Darkknight0667]

:angry Holy crap.

I would've loved to have had that info a few days ago. Although I guess a smart man would have figured something like that out... :lol :redface

Yup, That's how I did mine. Although, only doing the strands you're going to be using for that particular layer would also give your hands enough of a break to avoid any blisters, too.

 

[Ramsey]

HELP!!!!
I'm am having SO MUCH TROUBLE trying to figure out the knot at the butt of the handle...HOW do you guys get it to wrap around like that? What IS the secret? What have I been doing wrong????

Anyone recommend an easy-to-follow pictorial of how to make that knot?

 

[Darkknight0667]

I found the tutorial here to be massively helpful.

I finished tying that knot last night. I have to go through and make sure it's all straight and tight before tucking the ends in and I'll be all finished with mine.

 

[Ramsey]

Thanks, Darkknight, but I pretty much have the Turk's Head knot for the transition down, though I will keep that tutorial site as a favorite, since it is a much easier one to follow. Thanks!
But what I need help with is that butt knot...the rounded one on the end of the handle. I can't seem to figure out how to wrap it around and over and through and all that to get it looking right.

I found the tutorial here to be massively helpful.

I finished tying that knot last night. I have to go through and make sure it's all straight and tight before tuckingthe ends in and I'll be all finished with mine.

 

[Darkknight0667]

Same knot, only you triple it, instead of just doubling.

Align the tops of your first pass with the end of the butt. After that, as you add your second and third passes, they will wrap up and over the end. There's lots of puttering around with the knot to ensure that it's all nice and neat (I still have to do some of that myself), but you'll get there.

 

[Nexus6]

HELP!!!!
I'm am having SO MUCH TROUBLE trying to figure out the knot at the butt of the handle...HOW do you guys get it to wrap around like that? What IS the secret? What have I been doing wrong????

Anyone recommend an easy-to-follow pictorial of how to make that knot?

Did you download the Turk's Head Knot Tutorial from page 7?

Of ALL the searching I did, this is the best (read: easiest) & only way I could find to complete the knot.

 

[wetwarez]

The trick that has worked best for me is the old Tom Sawyer method: make it look like tons of fun, and let the kids beg for the chance to do it. :lol

I start the inner strands and tie them to a chair. Use both hands to pull the outer layer. I can core a whip in minutes.
Ron

 

[wetwarez]

I have the same problem. I'm just not as wired for knots as some folks seem to be. What has worked for me is to tie the knot on my fingers, as in the tutorial, then slip the knot over the end of the handle. Then I can tighten it by drawing the cord tight, working it into the proper shape, and finishing the tightening with needlenose pliers. A bit time consuming, but at least I'm not pulling my hair out in frustration.

Thanks, Darkknight, but I pretty much have the Turk's Head knot for the transition down, though I will keep that tutorial site as a favorite, since it is a much easier one to follow. Thanks!
But what I need help with is that butt knot...the rounded one on the end of the handle. I can't seem to figure out how to wrap it around and over and through and all that to get it looking right.

 

[Nexus6]

So, I'm a little over halfway finished with my next whip (my first real one I guess, using actual paracord). It is going to be an 8', 16-plait, Aussie-style bullwhip.

I finished the core last week, the 8-plait belly a few days ago, & the 12-plait 2nd-belly today. I might try to complete the 16-plait overlay tomorrow, depending on how my hands feel by morning.

Right now, my thumbs & forefingers have a pins-&-needles feeling in them, from keeping the plaiting pulled tight over the last few hours. :wacko

Even at this point, I can already tell that this piece is going have WAY more punch; the plaiting is MUCH tighter, making the whip more springy. I'm also much happier with the way the strand-drops look on this one, as I can't even tell exactly where they are; where, on my previous attempt, the drops were plainly visible upon close inspection.

I'll post pix of the build-process when I've completed the piece. If it turns out how I'm hoping, I'll be really proud of this one. ANYWAY, I guess this update is worthless without pix, so I'm really just jibber-jabbering. :redface

EDITED: because for some reason my fingers are typing wonky. :lol

 

[Ramsey]

Here are a couple of shots of my latest whip...my wife calls it my "Calico Whip". I made it with white paracord from Wal-mart...and used three different shades of brown shoe polish, as well as a bit of black shoe polish, on the strands before plaiting.

And here's another shot of my first whip...much higher quality cord, and quite a bit shorter...but, man can it ever crack!

 

[Ramsey]

Ok, I guess I'm answering my own question here, but I found a couple of videos on YouTube that are very helpful...you can watch this guy make the knot at the end of the handle from start to finish.

Link to part 1:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2fRxZD8JfpQ&feature=related

Link to part 2:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vfrbUTnAni0

 

[bullwhipcracker]

Great looking whips.
You guys having trouble with the knots...keep at it! Dont give up. I had tons of trouble too.
Nice videos on the knots. Bear in mind Bernie's heel knot is different and more complicated than mine (why it wasn't linked), so pick one or the other and go with it.
Now get Crackin'
Ron

Ok, I guess I'm answering my own question here, but I found a couple of videos on YouTube that are very helpful...you can watch this guy make the knot at the end of the handle from start to finish.

Link to part 1:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2fRxZD8JfpQ&feature=related

Link to part 2:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vfrbUTnAni0