I was having a conversation with my dear friend Ron Lew about tweaking the fall on his whip today. I quickly snapped these pictures to help clarify some of the things and I thought this may be interesting to put on the blog as well. I have been playing with different weights of falls for quite some time now. Depending what the whip will be used for, I assign a different weight and length. I put the length that I like on the whip but I go for a lot longer than most nylon whipmakers. (double or triple what is considered "normal") So, you may find that you would like to shorten the fall after you get your whip. It is super easy! What you need- 1. scissors 2. tweezers 3. lighter 4. the fall 5. measuring tape (optional) First, snip the end of the fall off with the scissors. Cut it about a 1/4 of an inch longer than you want the fall to end up being when you are done. In this case, Ron didn't really want a shorter fall. He wanted a little more space in the void. The very tip of the fall that doesn't have the middle layer. So, we just snipped the very end. Second, Use the tweezers to grab the inside paracord and guts. The very end of the paracord may unravel a little bit. This is perfectly fine because you left that extra 1/4th inch. Third, while still holding on to the middle with the tweezers, gently slide the outside layer back as far as you want your void to be. (about an inch or two) Fourth, cut the inside cord flush with the outside cord. Fifth, slide the outside cord back down and pull it really tight. This will leave you with an inch or two of the outside cord at the very end that is "empty" void of a core. Sixth, Use the lighter to melt the end of the cord and then pinch it shut. ** please remember that fire and molten nylon are HOT. Take what ever precautions are necessary to not burn yourself. That is all there is to it! You're done! Attach a cracker and get cracking!
This probably took me a minute and half to complete. That is including finding the supplies and taking the pictures. **If you are taking a lot of length off, make sure you know exactly where you want that first cut. If you go too short you'll be replacing the whole fall. Good luck and have fun! |
Bobbi
I wear a lot of hats! I'm a homeschool Mom, Autism advocate, Jewelry maker, cosmetologist, gardener, spiritual adviser....and happy to be a Full time Whipstress whip-maker of HolyOak Whips. How to care for your whip
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June 2020
"One small crack does not mean that you are broken, It means you were put to the test and didn't fall apart."
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