1. Q. I have something in
mind that I'm
interested in
purchasing,
but I don't
see that item
on your
website.
Can you make
what I'm
looking for?
A. Our website
would be
practically
impossible to
navigate if we
posted every
different type
of braided
leather
product we've
ever made for
a
customer.
Just email or
call us and we
can discuss
what you're
looking for
and how to
have it custom
made just for
you.
Thanks to our
outstanding
customer
service and
10+ years of
professional
braiding
experience,
custom work is
our specialty
and our
pleasure.
2.
Q.
Are
your
whips made
from kangaroo?
A.
Unless
otherwise very
specifically
and obviously
indicated
(like with our
nylon whip
designs), all
of our whips
are made from
the highest
quality
vegetable
tanned
kangaroo
hides.
All of our
braided
bellies are
also made from
kangaroo
hide.
For further
information,
check out the
"How
Your
Whip is Made" page or drop us a line if you have any other questions
about what
goes into
making a
MidWestWhip.
We take great
pride in our
quality of
materials,
construction,
and
craftsmanship.
3.
Q. What is the
best whip for
a beginner?
A.
There
is
no simple
answer to this
question.
If you are
mainly
interested in
fine targeting
and fast
action in
tight spaces,
a 4 or 5 foot
bullwhip,
snake whip, or
signal whip
will probably
work best for
you. If
you are
interested in
learning
wraps, or have
plenty of
space, and
like the
slower flowing
motion of a
large whip, a
6 or 8 foot
bullwhip will
work
great. A
skilled
whipcracker
can achieve
most any of
these results
with most any
length of
whip, but
these
recommendations
are for whips
that will be
easiest to
acheive
results for
the beginning
whipcracker.
If you are
comitted to
spending quite
a bit more
time to learn
some of the
fancy
Australian
routines,
you'll
probably want
a pair of 3 to
5 foot
stockwhips.
If you're
still not
sure, give us
a call or
email us and
we can discuss
what your
goals are and
which whip
will work best
for you.
4.
Q.
What is plait
number, and
what plait
number should
I get?
A.
The plait
number is the
number of
strands of
leather we
start braiding
with at the
beginning of
the
whip.
The more
strands, the
thinner we
have to cut
them, and the
more
complicated
and time
consuming it
is to
braid.
Whips with
higher plait
numbers tend
to have a
slightly
smoother
action, and
can have more
intricate and
beautiful
patterns
braided into
them.
Whips with
lower plait
numbers
generally have
more basic
patterns, and
because the
individual
strands are
wider, they'll
be less likely
to break under
heavy
use. Our
usual favorite
for an
attractive,
durable whip
is most often
12 plait.
5.
Q. Can I get a
whip just like
Indiana Jones'
whip?
A.
Yes!
One
of the most
popular styles
of whips we
sell is the
Indiana Jones
style
bullwhip.
In the
original three
movies,
Indiana Jones
most often
used an 8 or
10 foot 12
plait bullwhip
in natural
tan. The
numerous whips
used in these
films vary
somewhat in
how old they
were, so some
of them appear
darker than
others.
With age and
use, a brand
new light
natural tan
will will
transform into
a rich dark
brown.
In the newest
Indiana Jones
IV movie (May
2008), Indiana
Jones' whip is
a darker
whiskey color
with even
darker
knots.
When you
order, let us
know that
you'd like
your bullwhip
to be like
Indiana
Jones', and
we'll be happy
to make sure
you get one of
the most
screen
accurate whips
available
today.
Please see our
"Indy
Bullwhips"
page for more
details.
6.
Q. Have
your whips
ever been on
TV or in a
movie?
A.
Yes. Our
whips have
been on TV
shows, most
notably the
popular "How
It's Made"
show on the
Discovery
and/or Science
Channel,
"Andromeda,"
and a little
while back on
a syndicated
German TV show
about where to
get the best
movie prop
replicas.
Our whips have
also been used
in Hollywood
films, most
notably, "The
Rundown" and
"Prince of
Persia: The
Sands of
Time."
MidWestWhips
have also been
used by Chris
Camp (Guinness
Record holder,
multiple whip
cracking
champion, and
has cracked
whips on the
Tonight Show
with Jay
Leno), Gery
Deer (who has
performed on
the Steve
Harvey Bigtime
Challenge, and
America's got
Talent), and
Alex Green
(Personal Whip
Trainer to
Anthony
Hopkins,
Antonio
Banderas, and
Halle
Berry).
For an updated
list with
pictures and
more
information,
please visit
our "On
Screen"
page.
7.
Q. Can you
repair my
whip?
A.
Chances are if
your whip is
repairable, we
can do
it. Some
standard
repairs
include:
- Fall
replacement
($35 includes
return
shipping)
- Signal whip
braided-in
popper
replacement
($45 includes
return
shipping)
For
all other
repairs, email
us or give us
a call and/or
email us
pictures of
the part of
your whip that
needs
repaired
if you
can.
We'll give you
an estimate
before you
decide how
you'd like to
proceed, and
we can discuss
your best
options.
Please visit
our "Repairs"
page for more
information
and examples.
8.
Q. What's the
difference
between a
signal whip
and a snake
whip?
A. First,
snake whips
and signal
whips share
the unique
quality of
having a
flexible
handle (as
opposed to
having a steel
spike or cane
in the handle
like bullwhips
and
stockwhips).
The only
difference
between the
two is in the
end of the
whip.
Snake whips
end much like
a bullwhip
with a fall
attached at
the end of the
braided
portion (the
thong) with a
fall hitch,
and the popper
attached to
end of the
fall. A
signal whip
skips the fall
and instead
has a popper
that is
gradually
braided into
the tapered
end of the
whip.
You can see
examples of
both types of
whips in our "whips
gallery."
9.
Q.
What are the
advantages and
disadvantages
of having a
stockwhip?
A.
The
stockwhip
originally
came from
Australia,
with a long
history of
practical use
in the
Australian
Outback.
The extra long
handle of a
stockwhip
helped keep
the dangerous
cracking end
of the whip
further away
from the horse
while riding,
and
stockwhips'
thongs can be
easily
replaced after
being worn out
without
needing to
replace the
often
intricate
custom
handle.
With proper
care, your
MidWestWhips
whip should
last a
lifetime, but
replacement
thongs are an
option with
stockwhips.
Also, the
extra leverage
the longer
stockwhip
handle
provides along
with the
"hinge" of the
keeper knot
makes fancy
whip routines
somewhat
easier than
they can be
with bullwhips
or snake
whips.
However, stock
whips do lack
the distinctly
"American"
flavor
bullwhips seem
to have, can
be more
difficult to
use in tight
spaces, and
can make fine
targeting more
difficult for
beginners.
If at all
possible, we
recommend that
you try as
many different
types of whips
as you can
before you
decide what
type of whip
will work best
for you.
But if that's
not a
possibility,
please talk us
and we can
discuss what
your goals are
and if a
stockwhip may
be the right
choice for
you.
10.
Q. Where can I
practice my
whipcracking?
If I go to a
public park,
will the cops
get called?
A.
For
the
most part,
public parks
are a great
place to
practice, and
in all my time
practicing in
parks I've
never had
anyone call
the
cops.
That's not to
say it won't
happen - some
whipcrackers
have stories
of the cops
being called,
but in all
cases where
the
whipcracker
was polite and
respectful,
the worst that
ever happened
was the the
officer kindly
asked the
person to not
practice in
that park
anymore.
More
often than not
though, the
other people
in the park
are fascinated
and may even
approach you
to ask you
questions or
want to try it
themselves.
In order to
best avoid any
conflicts or
confrontations
with the
police, there
are a few
basic
guidelines to
keep in mind
while
practicing in
public, to
make sure that
you don't run
into any
problems.
First, be
courteous -
practice well
away from
picnic areas
or crowded
playgrounds.
Second, wear
professional
or regular
street
clothes, and
carry a
pamphlet or
business card
with you from
a professional
whipmaker or
sport
whipcracking
group.
Whipcracking
isn't
something most
people see
every day, and
people tend to
fear most
things they
don't
understand, so
just look and
act as
friendly and
non-threatening
as
possible.
If you don't
have a
pamphlet or
business card
to show
curious or
nervous park
patrons, email
us and we'll
be happy to
send you
something.
Lastly, just
use common
sense.
You'll be
surprised at
the positive
responses and
interest
you'll likely
receive from
your community
- whipcracking
is a unique
and beautiful
sport.
11.
Q. What should
I look for in
a high quality
whip?
A.
First,
the
highest
quality whips
today are made
from kangaroo
which has the
highest
tensile
strength and
durable
elasticity of
any leather
available.
A well-braided
whip of any
material,
including
'roo, is
tightly
braided and
firm (never
spongy) when
you squeeze
any section of
the thong,
which usually
means it will
take some time
to break
in. It
is also free
of major gaps
between the
strands of the
overlay.
Also
exceptionally
important is
the internal
construction
of the whip.
Lower quality
whips may use
rope for the
core, or duct
tape, or may
use a cheap
leather for
the braided
bellies - or
have no
bellies at
all. All
MidWestWhips
have 100%
leather cores,
and our
bellies are
always made
from
veg-tanned
kangaroo hide
with the same
attention to
detail we give
overlays.
12. Q. There are lots of whipmakers
out
there.
Why should I
get a
MidWestWhip?
A.
MidWestWhips
makes
the highest
quality
product you
can trust as a
enjoyable and
useful whip as
well as an
investment.
We have well
over a decade
of practical
experience
making
professional
quality whips
and studying
whipmaking
skills from
the long
traditions of
both American
and Australian
whipmakers.
As consumate
perfectionists,
no one pays
more attention
to the little
details as the
whipmakers at
Midwestwhips,
and our
customer
service and
ability to
customize your
whip exactly
for your
unique needs
is
unmatched.
Check out our
"Customer
Testimonials" page and our "Photo Gallery" for an idea of what we mean.
Also, keep in
mind that
MidWestWhips
is our only
source of
income, our
full-time job
- whipmaking
is our life,
our love, and
our career -
and we hope
that will
never
change.
This means
that we
understand the
importance of
our customers'
satisfaction
with our
products in
the short term
as well as in
the long
term.
Our whips are
built to look
great, perform
well, and last
for decades to
come.
13. Q. OK, now I have my brand new
MidWestWhip.
How do I care
for it?
A.
When
you
receive your
whip, we will
have included
a few spare
poppers and a
sample tub of
Pecards
leather
conditioner in
the package
for you.
A brand new
whip will
probably not
need a coat of
leather
conditioner
right away,
because it
will still be
conditioned
from the
braiding soap
mixture we use
in the process
of making your
whip.
With few
exceptions, a
good rule of
thumb is to
spread a
quarter size
amount along
the length of
the thong
(avoiding all
knots) about
once every 4-6
months,
starting a
couple months
after you
first receive
your
whip. If
you use your
whip often,
which we hope
you will, you
will need to
condition the
fall more
often and more
heavily,
approximately
a dime size
amount just
for the fall,
after third or
fourth
practice.
The idea is to
keep it from
drying out,
but also not
condition it
so much that
it becomes
soggy.
After any
conditioning
session, wipe
the excess
conditioner
off
after 15
minutes with a
dry soft cloth
(an old white
cotton tshirt
works
perfectly).
Also keep in
mind that your
MidWestWhip is
constructed to
last, with a
dense
all-leather
core compacted
by tightly and
evenly braided
bellies and an
overlay - so
it's going to
take a little
cracking to
break in and
become "used"
and fluid
feeling.
Please try to
refrain from
rushing this
break-in
period
unnaturally.
The best way
to break your
whip in is
simply to take
it out and
start cracking
it.
Practice just
a few times a
week, and
you'll be able
to quickly
feel you and
your whip
learning each
other's
movements and
breaking
in.
Please also
try to
remember to
practice
mostly
achieving
clean, crisp
cracks with
little effort
and good form,
instead of
huge muscled
cracks with
little
attention paid
to form.
Also avoid
cracking your
whip on gravel
or concrete or
other rough
surfaces that
will scrape up
the leather -
stick to
grass, carpet,
or other
smooth
flooring.
At some point,
the fluff of
your popper
will start to
shrink, a
popper may fly
off, or your
fall may break
enough times
that it
becomes too
short.
Don't
panic!
All of these
parts are
easily and
inexpensively
replaced, and
most
whipcrackers
quickly learn
to make these
simple repairs
for themselves
with poppers
they make on
their own and
falls they
purchase from
a
whipmaker.
We hope at
some point in
the near
future to
create a
tutorial on
how to do
these simple
tasks, but
until then if
you have any
questions,
don't hesitate
to email
or call us
- we're happy
to help.
Some of the
sites on our "Whip Links" page
also have some
of this
information,
so be sure to
check those
out as well.
|