New Whip Designs

I've been slowly playing with a few changes, and hopefully improvements, to my whips.  For starters I have begun loading the core with bb's and not beaded chain.  I think this adds a bit more weight to the thong and may even help the whips flow a bit more smoothly.  I like the movement I've been feeling on some of my new whips lately.

I have also begun adding the transitional turk's head knot to some of my bullwhips - at the point where the handle and thong meet.  I had not really wanted to add this knot for a couple of reasons: 1. the fear that they might come undone, and 2. I don't like tying these cursed turk's head knots and since they are merely cosmetic why bother?!?  But, they do look better nonetheless with the knot so it is now an option on my website.  The whip pictured below is a 6-foot, 12-plait bullwhip in black nylon paracord.

The other thing that I tried for the first time was adding a second color to the butt knot.  I made this 3.5 foot snakewhip (Pocket Rattler) in black and colonial blue for my daughter.

Let me know if I can custom make you a nylon whip.  Have fun and happy cracking!

~ Ryan

http://www.happycracking.com/

Pair of Mini Bullwhips

One of the types of nylon whips I make are what I call "Snapdragons."  These are very tiny whips, and usually they are snakewhips.  The pair of whips below were a special order.  He asked for a pair of black and white Snapdragons with 6 inch handles and extending the length of the whips to 28 inches (from butt to end of fall). 

Snapdragons are made differently than my other whips.  These whips have a loaded core followed by an eight-plait-overlay.  My other whips have a loaded core, an eight-plait-belly, and then a twelve-plait-overlay.  The lack of a plaited belly in the Snapdragons makes them quite slim in diameter.  These little guys definitely don't take up much space.

Also on these particular Snapdragons I made the falls a bit longer so that the customer could shorten the length if he so desired.  I took them out for a few test cracks and they performed quite well.

Typically, my other Snapdragons look like this:

Take care and happy cracking,

~Ryan

http://www.happycracking.com/

Why Spend That Much Money For A Whip?!?

"Are you kidding?!?  Spend sixty to one hundred dollars or more for a whip!!!  Why would anyone do that?  I can pick up an eight-foot bullwhip at my local farmer's co-op for about twenty bucks!"

Maybe you've thought this or heard someone else say something similar.  I know, because that's exactly what I thought when I first started getting into whip-cracking.  In fact I went down to my local co-op and picked up that very whip.  I worked on cracking it and was able to get a few decent noises out of it.  This is how I do most things: jump right in first and then begin doing some research.

Well I began researching and quickly realized that there is much more to a whip than I first thought.  Like most people I immediately thought of leather whips and not nylon ones.  I began wanting to get a good quality leather one - you know, like the ones that Indiana Jones used.  I mean, how much could they really be?

Well... how about this one from the original crafter of the Indiana Jones whips, the whipmaker himself - David Morgan.  I mean this is a beauty - it's an eight-foot, twelve-plait, natural tan bullwhip.  How much money could it really be?  Try $770 ($910 for the ten-footer).  Wowzers.  This baby was a bit out of my price range.  What makes it so expensive?

The first thing is the name "David Morgan."  LOTS of folks want a whip made by the man who made the original Indy whips (even though he doesn't make them himself any more).  This jacks up the price a couple of hundred dollars or so.  The name aside, it is a quality whip.  This means it is made from quality materials by experienced whipmakers.

A quality whip is quite an investment in time and materials.  A well made whip will have a weighted, tapered core that is covered by a bolster.  Following this there are usually one or two plaited (braided) bellies that cover the core.  At some point there there is some reinforcement in the handle area to keep it from getting too floppy.  And lastly there is the outer overlay (usually anywhere from eight to sixteen plait).  All of this should be made using quality materials or else the whip will simply fall apart with use.

Well, believe it or not, my farmer's co-op whip was not made with this kind of quality.  I've been tempted to take it apart and see what really in there but haven't had the heart to do it yet.  I can tell there is some kind of hemp rope or something on the inside because it is broken by the fall knot and sticking out of the plaiting.  It doesn't crack all that well any more (not that it ever really did in the first place).

Now, I say all that to say this, "You get what you pay for."  If you want a quality whip you have to pay for that quality.  One of the great advantages of nylon over leather is the cost.  You can purchase a quality nylon paracord whip for a fraction of the cost of a comparable leather one.  And, in my humble opinion, the nylon whips are going to truly be comparable in quality, function, and durability.  A well-made nylon whip will still not be cheap but it will be well worth the investment.

~Ryan

P.s. don't try getting that "too good to be true" leather whip on ebay.  "I mean look at all of the positive ratings that the guy has recieved!!!"  Yes, I tried it too.  The only good thing I can say about it is that I was able to resell it at a loss, making sure I told the guy it was for ornamental purposes only - it was junk for actual cracking.  Oh well, live and learn.  http://www.happycracking.com/

A True Whip Master

Introducing Anthony De Longis...



This second video also features Anthony De Longis and gives some incredible education on whips and whipcracking.


Keep a cracking!            http://www.happycracking.com/

Three-Footer in Progress, part 3 - The End!

Well I finished my black and yellow Pocket Rattler (3 foot snakewhip) last night.  Here are a few more pics of the process.  I wrap electric tape just above the diamond plait and then cut away the excess on top.

I tape two small metal discs, i.e. two pennies :), to the top of the whip for a bit of weight.  Some whipmakers wrap a lead strip for weight instead of the pennies.  This is the beginning of the foundation for the butt knot.  The tape is stapled to the whip eight times in different layers.

When I finish building the foundation I tie the dreaded turk's head knot.  When all this is accomplished, the whip is finished!  And there was much rejoicing.  Yeah.

The pistol is a Ruger P95DC 9mm and the hat is my black "Spirit" fedora made by John Penman. 

Happy cracking!

Ryan - http://www.happycracking.com/

Three-Footer in Progress, part 2

Well I've made some more progress on the black and yellow Pocket Rattler.  Here I have added the six strands for the 12 plait finish.

Pocket Rattlers begin with a short section of a diamond plait and then changes over to the regular whip plaiting.  The top section will eventually get cut away and then covered by the butt knot.

When you finish plaiting it is important to roll each section to smooth out the plaiting.  Here I use a short piece of a 2x4 and roll the whip on the floor.

When I'm finished rolling then I'm ready to attach the fall and tie the fall hitch.

To make the fall I use approximately fifty inches of de-cored paracord.  I attach one end to a small crochet needle with a bit of electric tape.

Then at about the midway point I insert the needle into the paracord and work it through.

Here's the finished fall.  It's around two feet long and is doubled back into itself.  The loop is placed over the end of the whip and then snugged up tight.

After I tie the fall hitch I use a Super Jumbo Perma-Lok Lacing needle to pull the final pass on the knot back through it self.

Here's the finished knot and fall.

More to come.  Hopefully I'll get it finished by this weekend.  Happy cracking!

Ryan

NEW WEB SITE!!!

It's still a bit of a work in progress but come check out my new website at http://www.happycracking.com/

Have fun and happy cracking,

-Ryan

Snakewhip Cracking

I just finished making a video of me cracking one of my three foot snakewhips.  I wanted to demonstrate a bit of what it can look like in action.  I hope you enjoy it, or at least find it informative.



Also, here are a couple of pics of my daughter cracking the snakewhip...

Happy cracking,

Ryan

The SnakeWhip

Snakewhips are like bullwhips except they lack the stiff handle. In other words, they are flexible all the way to the butt knot. A snakewhip is measured from the butt to the end of the plaited (braided) portion.

I specialize in 12-plait, three-foot snakewhips made from nylon paracord - The Pocket Rattler.  Generally this whip's total length is around five and a half feet long when you include the fall and the cracker.

These are real, true working whips.  They crack loudly and easily (that is once you learn how to crack a whip).  Below is a customer of mine using a Pocket Rattler when he was first learning how to crack a whip.

 

The Pocket Rattler can be purchased for $61 (plus $9 shipping).  You can choose either one or two colors in the pattern shown.  I currently have black, blue, orange, red, brown, and tan.  Contact me for more information or to order a whip.

I also make mini snakewhips, The Snapdragon.  These little guys are great to stick in a pocket and tote around with you.  They are constructed differently from the Pocket Rattlers in that they have only the core, the bolster, and the eight plait overlay.  They do not have a middle plaited layer.  This is due to their small size; around twenty-two inches for the thong and an overall length of thirty-nine inches with the fall and cracker.

I sell the Snapdragons for $44.  I have been asked if they crack and they do, although with a bit more of a flick of the wrist than the Pocket Rattlers.

Frequently Asked Questions (about the Pocket Rattler):

What are the parts of your whips?  The Pocket Rattler has a turk's head butt knot, around a three foot thong, around a two foot fall, and a cracker.

How are your whips constructed?  Each whip starts with a weighted paracord core which is then covered by a vinyl bolster.  The core and bolster are then covered by an eight plait paracord belly.  The belly is then reinforced in the "handle" area with a bit of artificial sinew.  Finally the whip is finished with a twelve plait paracord overlay.

How long does it take to get a whip?  Most whip are made by special order.  When I pre-make them I list them on ebay (just do a search for nylon snakewhip).  Depending on how many orders I presently have I should be able to get your whip out within three weeks.

How do I pay for a whip?  I prefer Paypal.  This makes it safer for both you and me.  Simply email me with your order and I'll send you an invoice.

Why nylon?  Paracord is a very sturdy material and unlike leather it does not mildew or rot which allows nylon whips to be used in all types of weather.  Nylon whips are very low maintenance.

Can you make ...?  Maybe.  Just ask, and we'll see what we can do.

Can you ship to...?  If you can receive mail I should be able to ship there.  I have shipped all over the U.S. and to many other countries.

PLEASE NOTE: I have just begun working on this blog site.  It is still under construction and will have more information soon.

(Black Pocket Rattler)

(Three Snapdragons)

**WHIP CRACKING CAN BE DANGEROUS - WEARING SAFETY GLASSES AND A WIDE BRIMMED HAT IS RECOMMENDED WHEN USING ANY WHIP**