Whipmaking master, Bernie Wojcicki of Em Brand Whips, has recently made his whipmaking DVD footage available for everyone to see on Youtube.
Bernie works with leather, but lots of the basic plaiting and construction techniques can be used with nylon. I purchased his DVDs a number of years ago and gleaned many things that helped me improve my nylon bullwhips.
Here is the first of the 3 videos on bullwhip making that Bernie has now made available:
A few weeks ago I was working on my truck. I picked up a Craftsman screwdriver and got to looking at it’s classic, almost iconic grip. All of a sudden the idea hit me: This would be an interesting grip for a bullwhip. That is, in a “novelty” sort of way. I had never seen anything like it before. This prototype is built to the same standard as all of my 16 plait woody bullwhips, but with a Craftsman handle.
I have no clue what they’re saying, but I like the sound they’re making!
Sure, the cracks aren’t as elaborate as in Australian style whip cracking, but I enjoyed it nonetheless. I think the differences in whip cracking between cultures are something that ought to be recognized and celebrated even though one style may be more elaborate than others.
[Edit: One of my Facebook page members posted this link for some background on what this is: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aperschnalzen]
I would love to get a line up of guys like this using 12ft cow whips. The sound would be deafening!
Thanks goes out to Pete Gamble of Pic-N-Mix Circus for finding this.
-Rhett Kelley
Rhett Kelley Whips, LLC.
Browsing a nylon paracord supplier’s website recently I saw something that intrigued me: Paracord with 2 small reflective strips running thought it. Though expensive compared to normal paracord, I thought there might be a possibility of incorporating this cord into my existing products and making some unique products:
Introducing “Kelley Lightning Whips.”
These whips are are neon yellow and neon orange with the reflective trace and available not only as cow whips, but as bullwhips, snakewhips, and stockwhips as well. This makes them both black light reactive and they will reflect brilliantly when light shined upon them. The result looks almost like you’ve harnessed lightning.
These whips are not waxed because the wax dampens the reflective quality of the neon orange cord. This particular cow whip weighs in at just 11.4 ounces and the 16″ ash handle weights a mere 4.5 ounces, making this whip a very light weight cow whip.
This prototype Lightning Whip will be auctioned on eBay later today. Be sure to like us on Facebook or Follow us on Twitter to get the link when it is posted.
(Edit: Here’s the link to the eBay auction!)
Safety Bracelets
Applying this new reflective paracord to our line of survival bracelets gives us a new twist on a popular product. When applied to our bracelets, you have a high visibility bracelet that does everything regular paracord bracelets are made to do with the added benefit that whenever you’re in the dark and light shines upon this bracelet really shines!
The color and reflective quality make these bracelets great for hunters. But also for people who jog, cycle, or walk near streets or roads, these bracelets could alert oncoming motorists to your presence and help you avoid being stuck by a motorist. Look carefully at the photos of my son above to see how well the bracelet reflects.
This first safety strap will be given away in a drawing from those who joined my email newsletter. Prices start at $20.00 for the larger sized bracelet seen here. They can be ordered by contacting us by one of the options seen on the contact/order page.
Rhett Kelley
The name “Kelley Lightning Whips” is copyright 2012 by Rhett Kelley Whips, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Cowwhips.com has a new look, new products, and a new way to order!
The first new tab you’ll notice on the navigation tab is the new online store. There you will find all of the nylon whips and other products that are available. Under the store tab you will find a FAQ page where I have attempted to post most of the common questions people ask me as well as a few hypothetical questions I think may arise from time to time.
As far as products, we have a few new additions to the site:
The 2nd tab is all “About,” there you will find a drop down that contains lots of information about myself and the business.
The 3rd tab is the Gallery. There you can find lots if pictures of whips I’ve made. I intend to keep this updated with new pictures on a regular basis.
The 4th is the Contact page. Please note the new business hours and email address.
The final tab is a link back to this blog.
And that’s about it for the tour. I hope it helps.
Rhett Kelley
Rhett Kelley Whips, LLC
Stop by and see the newly remodeled Cowwhips.com!
New look, new products, and new lower prices on standard 16 plait bullwhips!
Rhett
I’m very happy to introduce my newest line of nylon whips. It is the very affordable “FCE stockwhip.” FCE stands for “fast, cheap, and easy,” a name coined by my wife and I while out for lunch recently. The FCE was developed out of a desire to offer a simple, high quality, nylon whip at price low enough that even those on a very tight budget could afford it.
Why the name “Fast, Cheap, and Easy?”
FAST: With its 4ft thong and 20″ fiberglass handle, these whips are fast. Not only that, the FCE whips are fast to make. By using a fiberglass handle with a non-slip rubber grip, it reduces the amount of time it takes for me to make the whip and enables me to get them out more quickly.
CHEAP: At a base price of just $87.00, these whips are among the cheapest professionally made nylon stockwhips on the market. And although the FCE is priced cheap, it’s not cheaply made. Unlike a certain popular line of low priced whips from New Zealand, the thong of the FCE are handmade [by yours truly] to the same standards as my regular stockwhips -and cost less than the competition to boot. No machine woven nylon rope here!
EASY: Easy to crack, easy to make! These little whips really crack nicely. It takes little effort to get a very nice crack out of them. With the 2 major customization options being the handle colors and the length, the whips are easier for me to make than some of my other more customized whip designs.
Options:
The basic $87.00 FCE whip is 4ft long with choice of handle and the keeper and thong in solid black. The main option for customizing the FCE is handle color. Handles are available in orange, blue, purple, pink, and green. Add $10/ft for thongs longer than 4ft. Other customizations will be handled on an individual basis with prices to be determined during the ordering process.
To order, visit my contact page.
A short video on my heritage and the culture that inspired me to make cow whips in the first place.
Long live the Florida Cracker!
On the heels of my last post about why my DVDs cost so much, I’m now announcing that from now until 20 March 2011, my whipmaking DVDs are on sale for $67.00!
That’s a savings of $18.00 off my normal price.
This price includes shipping to U.S. addresses.
If you’ve been sitting back waiting to order, now is the time to order and save money!
To order, email me at Rhettswhips@ yahoo.com.
All DVDs will come with a 3.5ft piece of the 3/8″ inch “sinker cord” that is used for weighting the whips. This cord is the one thing I use in the video that isn’t commonly sold by all paracord suppliers.
People from all over the world have used my DVDs to get started making their own nylon whips. Don’t miss out!
Of all the whips I’ve sold, you won’t find any bullwhips out there that aren’t 16 plait. Until now… This week I finished a prototype version of my own line of 12 plait bullwhips. It’s made in the same manner as all my other bullwhips, but without the additional 16 plait overlay. I have posted this first-of-a-kind whip on eBay. If you would like to own it, please log on to eBay and place your bids!
http://www.ebay.com/itm/130630689823
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Synthetic and Supersonic 