August 13

The Nursery Is Growing…

Well, not in human population, but in whip births. In addition to the Baby Stockwhip & The Lumberjack, another whip model has been born into the Noreast Whips family. This whip is called The Showman. Recently, several whipmakers have released versions of a ‘pipe whip’, a nylon thong attached to a pvc handle. This whip is basically a modified cowwhip. Traditional cowwhips have wooden handles, making them heavier than one with pvc material. The pipe whips have become very popular among renaissance faire performers around the globe, in that they’re lightweight, making them fast & furious in two-handed routines. The pipe whip is said to have come about by one named Chris Hall who, I believe, is no longer making whips. Since his retirement, several other whipmakers, & now myself, have unveiled copycat versions of the pipe whip.

To be honest, when I first saw this type of whip in action, I thought it performed well, yet I also thought it to be rather ugly. Because of its design, I believed that there didn’t need to be another version exactly the same. I decided not to make one unless I could improve on the design. Up till now, the pipe whip designs have been built with two pieces of pvc material:  a coupling attached to the end of a section of pipe. A hole is drilled at the point where the pipe & coupling meet, allowing a length of cord extending from the thong that’s inserted into the coupling to come out & wrap around the pipe. This is much the same way as a cowwhip, with the difference being, other than handle material, that a wooden handle is one piece & the pipe whip handle is two pieces. The Noreast Whips pipe whip version has a one piece pvc handle. The end which accepts the plaited thong, called by many as the cup, has been flared out to a larger diameter than the remainder of the pipe. A hole is drilled about two inches from the end of the pipe to attach the thong to the handle. This one piece design eliminates the need for a coupling & gluing the two pieces together. It also allows the handle to be a little lighter in weight.

Performance-wise, The Showman handles very well, & I’m happy with this whip model. It’s light & fast; paired together with another, makes for a great pair in two-handed whip performances. The butt of the handle is weighted with the insertion of a wooden dowel. The handle itself is painted with glossy black then half-plaited in 16 strands of paracord, & features two turk’s head knots:  the heel knot & one on the flared portion, which I’m calling the ‘cup knot’. The Showman, like most Noreast Whips models, is available in one or two colors. Thong lengths available are 4, 5 & 6 feet. Please note that the thong lengths are measured only. The handle is available in 12-14 inch lengths. A 6 ft whip with a 14 inch handle would measure roughly 9 1/2 feet. The point of the whip is finished with a traditional fall hitch. A ‘Straight-Pipe’ version is also available, where the pipe is not half-plaited in paracord, but simply painted all black. The Straight-Pipe is available in two different diameters, .675 & .850 of an inch. You can send an email to builder@neawhips.com for more info on the Straight-Pipe.

~Steve,

Noreast Whips.

11:57 AM GMT  |  Read comments(0)

August 11

Introducing ‘The Lumberjack’ Bullwhip

For quite some time, I’ve wanted to build a wood-handled bullwhip. I have a latigo woody bullwhip from Skip SanSoucie of Handmade Whips, which is a great whip. Since acquiring this whip, my desire was further fueled to build a nylon woody bullwhip. Besides, other whipmakers have nylon versions of the popular American wood-handled whips, including Rhett Kelley & Tony Layzell. So, I figured that Noreast Whips should have one available as well. The prototype was finished last week, a double-bellied thong plaited over a bb-loaded core, attached to an 11 inch piece of turned cherry, of which 8 1/4 inches are exposed. I’m happy with how this whip came out; it throws straight & cracks with ease. The weight is similar to that of the Standard Bullwhips, & is available in one or two colors as most of the whips I build. 

‘The Lumberjack’ will be up on the website shortly, along with the current prices. Most likely, I’ll be keeping the prototype of this whip, as the handle has a slight gouge in it. The handles are turned by the aforementioned Skip SanSoucie of Handmade Whips. Skip has a talent for woodturning, one that I don’t possess. At this time, it’s more practical for me to have someone who’s skilled in this area to produce the turned handles. The handles for The Lumberjack will be available in cherry, walnut & purpleheart, with cherry being the darkest of the colors.

~Steve,

Noreast Whips

4:34 PM GMT  |  Read comments(0)

July 28

Straight Seams

This is somewhat of a follow up to the Is Whipmaking Easy? post from several days ago. People ask about the importance of straight seams on a whip. For a whipmaker, this is something that should be basic knowledge. It’s a given:  a whip should exude tight & neat plaiting, no lumps or bumps, good balance & have straight seams. Other things could be added to that list, but those are pretty basic characteristics. The fact that it should crack I think goes without saying, & that would fall under the balance part. Straight seams are important to a whip’s construction, not only for aesthetics, but also in a whip’s functionality. I’ll touch on some points here relating to both aspects and, hopefully, make some sense.

Aesthetics (Appearance)

1. In the very least, straight seams show the experience of the plaiter. At most, it reveals the character of a whip’s construction, which I’ll touch on in a bit. The longer someone’s been plaiting, the better they should be at plaiting; meaning, straight seams, neat & tight plaits, not crowded or pinched. 
2. Straight seams look better. Honestly, a whip with straight, neat-looking seams looks better than one with migrating, inconsistent seams. Now, I’m not referring to small changes in the seams, a little bend here & there. Let’s face it, no whipmaker/plaiter is perfect, & we all make mistakes. But seams that twist & turn are flaws which should be corrected, problems that result from improper technique.
3. Simple mistakes are magnified in complex patterns. I think a lot of new whipmakers, because of their excitement with this craft, endeavor to move on to more complex patterns before giving enough practice to keeping the seams straight & neat on simpler patterns, such as the double herringbone, double diamonds, & even the most basic whipmaker’s plait or cowtail or herringbone, whichever you prefer to call it. If the seams on simple patterns aren’t straight, then more complex patterns will look worse, allowing more problems & bad techniques to develop.
4. Identify the mistakes & focus on improvement. After you’ve built a few whips, & you feel you’re progressing, don’t be embarrassed to show your work to a more experienced whipmaker. If you’re having some sticking points or troubles, share them with a veteran, be open to their critique. This isn’t easy for most of us, to have our work scrutinized; but a more seasoned whipmaker can help point out some things that you’ve missed. When you’re excited about doing something, as I know firsthand, it’s easy to miss some basic things in all the excitement. Someone who’s been at it for a while has a more developed eye for spotting things that a newer plaiter may not. I’m glad when people are excited about whipmaking, & it’s something that’s needed. The other day, Tony Layzell of Essentia Whips commented on how we need newer blood in the trade of whipmaking to help keep more experienced plaiters honest. I very much agree.
5. A whip’s appearance is just one aspect of its construction. Of course, a whip can look as good as an award-winning masterpiece by Chris Barr & yet handle poorly. The overlay of a whip, the plaiting which everyone will see, should be an indication of how well the rest of the whip is constructed. The inner structure of a whip, that which no one but the whipmaker sees, must be given the same attention as the overlay.

Functionality

1. The whip should be fluid, falling consistent & straight. Inconsistent seams throughout a whip won’t allow a whip to fall straight. One reason for twisting, migrating seams is inconsistent pressure in plaiting. If one hand pulls with more force than the other, it’s only natural that the seam will ‘pull’ toward that side.
2. Inaccuracy. With seams that ‘pull’ to one side, this means that the core or belly; that which is being plaited over; isn’t receiving the same pressure from all sides. This will impede the whip from tracking straight when thrown, as well as interrupt the energy flow throughout the whip. Perhaps this could be termed as being misaligned.
3. The whip will flex unevenly. If one side of strands is consistently pulled tighter than the opposing side, the whip won’t flex evenly when thrown or coiled.
4. Function is first. The purpose of a whip is to function, to crack, to perform consistently well over time. Many whips are judged by how they look, the straight seams, tight plaiting, neat knots, etc. We’re all fascinated with fancy patterns & intricate details, but that’s not all that goes into making a good whip. It needs to function well. What determines how a whip functions is what you don’t see when looking at a whip, the guts or inner construction. There’s an oft quoted saying, almost to the point of abuse:  “A whip with no guts is like a man with no character.”

The appearance of a whip doesn’t tell the whole story. A good-looking whip isn’t necessarily a good-functioning whip. The appearance is the final touch in its construction. Yet the same logic can be used to say that if care isn’t taken to make the appearance the best as possible, the part which is visible, then what other flaws lie inherent in the whip’s construction? I guess my point is this:  the same honest attention & detail that’s given in creating straight seams & neat plaiting must also be given to every aspect in building a whip. The overlay of a whip, the plaiting which everyone will see, should be an indication of how well the rest of the whip is constructed. How well a whipmaker tends to the smallest of details in constructing a whip shows the character of that whipmaker. Hope you’ve enjoyed reading this post & I hope also that I’ve made at least a little sense.

~Steve,

Noreast Whips.

7:47 AM GMT  |  Read comments(0)

July 25

Noreast Baby Stockwhip

9 For a number of years now the Noreast Baby Bullwhip & Baby Snakewhip models have sold very well. Paired together in a Gift Set, these whips are by far at the top of the best seller list of the Noreast Whips line. They’ve proved to be useful & functional whips. Now I’m happy to add the next mini whip to the line…the Noreast Whips Baby Stockwhip.

The Baby Stocky is a very quick little whip. It features a 2 1/2 ft 12 plait thong over a lead-weighted core, 8 plait belly & double plaited keepers. The half-plaited fibreglass handle is 14 inches & sports a roohide keeper. Put a couple of these whips together & you can be rattling off a set of volleys & cutbacks in machine gun style. A 3 ft stockwhip is also available, but the Baby Stocky will have a 2 1/2 ft thong. As always, the thong can be constructed with 1 or 2 colors. A 5/8 inch concho is mounted on the base of the handle.

In the coming weeks, as Noreast Whips receives a new makeover, the Baby Stockys will also be available as a pair at a discounted price. Also lookout for some other whip models coming out soon; The Showman, The Straight Pipe, The Dually & The Lumberjack.

~Steve,

Noreast Whips.

4:36 PM GMT  |  Read comments(0)

July 23

Is Whipmaking Easy?

From time time, when someone I’m speaking with learns that I make whips for a living, this question is raised:  “Have you ever made a whip that didn’t crack?” The answer is always “no”. With the exception of the first ‘whip’ I made when I was a boy, which really wasn’t a whip, but rather a length of rope with a knot in one end to serve as the heel knot, every whip I’ve made has been able to produce a crack. The rope-whip was used more as a rope than a whip, swinging from tree branches & the garage roof. Looking back, those times hold fond memories for me, a precursor to the niche which now serves as my full-time job. The truth is, anyone can make a whip. Yet to produce a consistent product time after time, in both looks & functionality…this isn’t something that everyone can do. To illustrate:  if you’ve ever seen a picture of the longest whip ever made, one by Guinness World Record Holder Adam Winrich, then you know what I mean. Adam’s ‘whip’ was simply a bunch of rope of varying thicknesses taped together, exceeding 200 ft in length. Yep, it cracked.

Can anyone make a whip? The answer is yes & no. If you have two functional hands, patience, determination & the ability to follow a set of instructions, then you can build a functional whip. If you don’t have much patience or like to work with your hands, if you aren’t attentive to details, then you probably cannot make a whip. The first functional whip I made, as crude as it was, still cracked. The seams weren’t straight, the plaiting wasn’t consistently tight throughout its length, the lumps & bumps that appeared probably resembled that of a dog’s hind leg more than a whip. Still, it cracked! I was thrilled that I was able to build something on my own that worked. I didn’t have any books, videos, emails or advice from any well-known whipmakers to help me in my quest. Some of those things were available, though I didn’t know it then, but mostly I just winged it!

Today, I’m still thrilled about making whips, experimenting with methods & modifying construction techniques. I also receive a lot of enjoyment & satisfaction from helping others in their whipmaking goals. The Make A Real Nylon Whip Ebook has achieved some success, & emails from newbie-whipmakers find their way to my inbox week to week. I’m happy to answer questions regarding nylon whipmaking. Many people are genuinely excited about taking up a new hobby such as whipmaking, & it’s nice when some of them achieve a level where they can even earn some extra money from selling their whips. Now, I don’t want to dowse anyone’s fire with what I’m about to say. Anyone can make a whip. Yet to produce something that’s consistent time after time, as well as improving in both aesthetics & functionality, isn’t something that everyone can do. Lately, some statements that I’ve heard & read online are giving people the impression that whipmaking is easy; that braiding/plaiting is a simple & easy activity that anyone can do. These statements I feel minimize the skill & craftmanship that’s required in whipmaking.

To learn the simple mechanics of braiding/plaiting is something most people can do. That’s attainable knowledge. Most people can understand how to do the simple under 1 over 1 sequence of the chessplait pattern. Yet to take that knowledge & actually perform the techniques properly, keeping the seams straight, attaining consistent tension throughout the length being plaited, dropping strands, eliminating any lumps or bumps throughout the work…these aren’t easy things to do. Every week I receive whipmaking questions, such as how to weight the core properly, cutting strand lengths for a particular whip length, knot-tying, dropping strands, etc. Some people who ask these questions are simply looking for a recipe to follow, a step by step guide to get from point A to point B, allowing them to build a functional whip. Yet there is so much to learn about whipmaking from the actual process itself. I can truthfully say that I’ve learned as much, if not more, about whipmaking from my own personal experience, from that actual process of whipmaking, than I have from any book, video, email or discussion from any other whipmaker. Anyone can bake a cake, but not everyone can make a cake like The Cake Boss!

Whipmaking involves both science & art. Science deals with physics, rules, equations & givens. It can be taught by another & gleaned from verbal & written word. The art of whipmaking is what lies betweens the steps in the building process, what isn’t spoken or written. It’s what is learned on one’s own. Could you build a whip? Maybe yes, maybe no.

~Steve,

Noreast Whips.

7:37 PM GMT  |  Read comments(0)