Care of Whips
Good whips, properly used and maintained, should give long service. Physical damage such as hitting on sharp objects, gravel, concrete etc., being jammed in doors or truck tailgates, or chewed by dogs or poddy calves, obviously will destroy a whip quickly. Care in three other aspects will help you gain the most from your braided leather whip.
1. Dirt and sand embedded in the whip will cause internal wear. Dirt can be washed out with warm soapy water, the whip dried (without heat) and then given a heavy coat of leather dressing.
2. Using the whip with excessive force, as in seeking the loudest possible crack, will cause early breakage of falls and stretch the thong, so altering the taper. The usual and preferred crack is that attained with minimum force. A strong wrist action will over-stress the keeper on a stock whip or the junction of thong to butt section on a bullwhip, and will cause early failure. Normal use of these whips should employ very little wrist force.
3. Leather dressing is important. A dry whip loses its strength, and one with the wrong dressing may lose strength and/or stretch out of shape. Do not dress a whip with tallow, neatsfoot oil, or any light oils. We recommend Pecard Leather Dressing. Whips to be stored should be kept in light cool conditions, and given a thin coat of Pecard Dressing every six months. Whips in use may be dressed somewhat more often. Whips used in hot, dry, or dusty conditions, and whips used in the wet, may need frequent dressing. Falls on whips last better if kept well dressed at all times.
Bullwhip and Stock Whip Falls and Crackers
Falls and crackers take the brunt of the wear when a whip is used, and require replacement as needed. The end of the fall wears off, shortening the fall. Depending upon use, a fall worn down to under 12 – 18 inches needs replacing. Falls also stretch and thin down, and should be replaced when they have become noticeably thinner than the end of the thong. Red hide falls tend more to hold their thickness but to break off, white hide falls tend to stretch more but break off more slowly, and need watching for getting too thin. In addition, the kangaroo strands adjacent to the fall will in time break because of the sharp flexing at this point. The fall should be replaced as soon as the first strand breaks. You may easily replace falls yourself, following the directions linked below for our leather whips.
Attaching a New Whip Cracker
Replacement of Falls
Replacement Falls and Crackers
You may return the whip to our leather workshop for such replacement. This service is limited to whips in good condition purchased from David Morgan. [See Whip Repair Services.]
Care of Old Whips
If you come upon an old whip, treat it with understanding. If a whip has been stored it is probably dried out, and the leather may have deteriorated to the point of fragility. The general rule is that if a whip has value as a collectable, trying it out, cracking or using it may radically reduce its value.
Whips which are very old and dry should be treated as wall hangers. If you have such a whip, do not attempt to crack it ever, and do not unroll, bend or flex it until you have greased it heavily with Pecard Dressing and allowed a couple of weeks for the dressing to soak in. It may be then uncoiled or flexed gently, and if appropriate, excess Pecard removed with a soft cloth and the whip polished gently. If you feel the need to try out the whip, make a copy and try out the copy. Many old whips, worthy of preservation in a collection, are ruined by just one ill advised attempt to try them out when the leather had been weakened by the inevitable oxidation occurring in a dry whip.
Whips which are old but have been kept greased may or may not have lost their strength. If the whip is of no value as a collectable it may be given an extra coat of Pecard Dressing and, after allowing time for the dressing to penetrate well, it may be used. If weak it will fall apart, if strong it should hold together.
If it is desirable to maintain the integrity of the whip, it should be treated more gently in dressing it, more time allowed for penetration of the dressing. Before the whip is tried out a small section of a strand, as at the point where the fall is tied on, should be tested for strength. If this strand is weak, assume the entire whip is too weak to try out. If this strand is strong it is probably safe to try out the whip gently, noting that the whip may still be damaged. The general rule is that if a whip has value as a collectable, trying it out, cracking or using it may radically reduce its value.
Care of Synthetic Whips
Synthetic whips are maintenance free. They can be washed with water and used while wet. They can be used in wet, muddy or in snowy conditions. The thong is totally synthetic, so there is no potential for rot and it cannot be cut or broken easily.
For more information …
Please follow the links below for more information concerning our whips, braided goods and related information.
Selecting Your First Whip for Sport Cracking
The Art of Whip Cracking
Whip Repair Services
Care of Fine Leather
Attaching a New Whip Cracker, Replacement of Falls
Whip Frequently Asked Questions
Braided Goods
Bullwhips
Pocket Snakes
Stock Whips
Quirts
Whips and Whipmaking
Braiding Supplies