AUTHOR: Louie Foxx DATE: 10:12 AM ----- BODY:

Well, I took my second stock whip out in the yard and tried to crack it again. It's still too long, so I took out another six inches and now it cracks like a champ! The thong on this whip measures five feet now.

So when I first finsihed it before I shortened it a couple of times it was probably close to 7 feet. The lesson that I have learned making this whip is that I shouldn't plait until I get to the end of the strands. I should plait to where the whip should end.

For example when I was plaiting this whip, I got to a point that is about where the whip currently ends and thought, "This looks like where the taper should end". However I had a lot of leather left, so I kept going...and going...and going, until I got to the end of the leather strands.

Also my fall keepers are looking even better that the picture I put up last night. I guess it's because I keep shortening the whip I'm getting more practice at making them. Also I'm putting more time into the fall keeper. I think the first few times I rushed them, I was so excited to have finished plaiting, I just wanted to finish the whip.

Louie

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