I often get calls and emails about making a bullwhip tutorial. While I had hoped to produce one by now, I just haven’t had the time to work on it and I’m not sure if I ever will at this point. Still, I try to explain to folks that just because my video teaches the Florida cow whip exclusively, that doesn’t mean it is without value for making bullwhips. The fact is, I think using my videos to create a cow whip prior to starting bullwhips is wise because most of what I do in this video in regards to plaiting, tapering, and dropping strands is exactly how I do it on my bullwhips.
On such DVD customer is Jay from Virginia. Jay ordered my DVDs back in December 2010. Jay wanted to make a bullwhip and used my tutorial and Ron Edwards’ book How To Make Whips to do it. The very first whip he made was a 12ft bullwhip. He then went back and made a 6ft cow whip! Here’s the correspondence and pics he sent me to share:
Rhett,
Attached are two pics of my finished 12 foot Indy style whip. This whip was made primarily using your Florida Cowwhip Tutorial video and with Ron Edwards book, How To Make Whips. The whip measures 12 feet from the turks head knot at the end of the handle, to the end of the tapered twist. I made it out of chocolate brown p-cord, with dark brown used for the knots and a combination of the two for the wrist loop. Both of the knots have a foundation using the treated catfish cord and Elmer’s Glue like you had mentioned on one of you on-line lessons on knot foundations. The final whip got a hot bath in Gulf Wax. I was amazed at how the wax treated p-cord changed in appearance and workability. What an improvement over an untreated cord.
Anyway, feel free to have and use the photos if it helps. I really enjoyed your video and found it to be a huge help in making a nice whip. I plan on starting a 6 foot cowwhip hopefully this week.
Take care and thanks again !
Jay H.
Virginia
Rhett,
Attached are some photos of my second 6 foot whip that I just finished today, which went a lot faster and easier than the first. I went with a mix of dark brown and chocolate brown for the cord and the handle is charcoal and gray diamond wood. That stuff is amazing.
Works really easy on my lathe and polishes to a mirror finish in to time. After I got done cutting it, I switched to a 150 to 220 to 400 grit and finished it with tripoli and a soft cotton cloth. Anyway the pics are yours and let your customers know that with a little reading and your DVD great whips can be created.
Hope you and your family had a great Christmas and good New Year.
Jay
Monday I ended my 16.5 year career with Walmart. I spent 16 years in the Logistics Division and the past 6 months in the Retail Division.
