Anatomy of Our Whips
A whip truly is a work of art with many different parts that must work together. Like the human body, I like to discuss the whip's anatomy with each of my customers.
The Core
The core is the skeleton of the whip. It establishes the foundation on which all the other materials are built upon. All cores are made of nylon cord with metal BB shot inside. Traditional bull whips also include the handle in the core.
Bellies
The "belly" is a layer of nylon cord that is braided or plaited over the core. The belly helps establish the essential taper that allows the transfer of energy from the larger diameter to increase towards the narrower diameter at the fall, resulting in the supersonic "crack" that is so addicting.
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Unless otherwise specified, all Es Whip Shop whips contain two fully plaited bellies.
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All bolster material is selected for its longevity over time and ability to allow for the penetration of the protective wax treatment received at the end.
The Overlay
The overlay is the plaited layer you see on the whip. This is where the creativity of the customer and the whip maker can be seen. There are numerous different color combinations and patterns that can be plaited on a whip.
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Unless otherwise state, all Es Whip Shop whips start with a 16-plait overlay (eight strands on each half of the whip) and slowly reduce the number of strands to a 4-plait. This reduction of strands again helps the whip taper.
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Before the whip is shipped to you, it is submerged in a melted paraffin wax bath. This provides a number of benefits to the whip. The most important being to protect it from the elements and improve performance.
