Paracord Bullwhip
Paracord Bullwhip
Paracord Bullwhip
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Paracord Bullwhip
by ch5 on March 30, 2010
Table of Contents
Paracord Bullwhip . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
http://www.instructables.com/id/Paracord-Bullwhip/
http://www.instructables.com/id/Paracord-Bullwhip/
Paracord ( lots of it ) I started with 60m (196 ft.) and had maybe 15m left after I finished.
But better be safe than sorry on this point :)
2m (6.5ft ) of some light chain, the kind you find on lamps or that holds your sink plug.
Duct tape and/or electrical tape
1 "Big" Nail ( Big meaning that it would do the trick as a handle )
Some medium width string to tie the cracker
Something that cuts ( my trusted Surge in that case)
Something that makes fire to neatly melt the ends of your butchered paracord.
A Zippo is a nice choice, it will get you a nice flame and stand on the desk by itself while you use both hands to melt/cut the paracord over the flame.
Measuring tape
Patience
Image Notes
1. Hmmmm, paracord :)
2. Duct tape. No project without this one eh ? :)
3. Some firepower. Zippos can stand up straight by themselves.
4. Something that cuts,snips,holds, perforates...
5. Some lamp chain, actually more than pictured here.
http://www.instructables.com/id/Paracord-Bullwhip/
Image Notes
1. Measuring tape to cut things to length
2. A big nail as a handle
3. Strong electrical tape to make things stiff
4. Some medium width string for the cracker
Image Notes
1. A homemade marlinspike. Made from the same kind of nail as the handle and
after a bit of grinding.
The half hitch and the overhand knot ( you DO know them ,trust me :) )
Basic rope whipping ( to hold strands together, the picture below should be enough )
The constrictor knot, serves the same purpose as the above.
(en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constrictor_knot)
The star knot ( makes a wonderfull handle knob)
Best explained here : knotical-arts.com/star1.html
The matthew walker knot ( holds well as a final knot around the handle)
( Sorry, i could'nt find any really clear tutorial to share on this one )
The turk's head if you want to mark the end of the handle.
Any kind of multi-srand knot you know and would like to use as a decoration on the handle ( crown knot wrappings, half hitch coverings, various round braids..)
Only the first three of the list are really mandatory if all you need is a working whip.
But it would be sad not to wrap things up in your favorite fancy knots.
See the last picture to see what goes where.
Image Notes
http://www.instructables.com/id/Paracord-Bullwhip/
Image Notes
1. Half hitches will help you while threading chain trhrough paracord;
Image Notes
1. The constrictor knot in all it's glory. Probably the best one out there to keep
round things together.
Image Notes
1. Basic rope whipping
Image Notes
1. The star knot, optionnal but wonderfull :)
http://www.instructables.com/id/Paracord-Bullwhip/
Image Notes
1. The turk's head. Also optionnal and for decorative purposes.
http://www.instructables.com/id/Paracord-Bullwhip/
Image Notes
1. The matthew walker , also optionnal but neat.
Image Notes
1. The star knot
2. A Matthew walker's holds nicely as the last knot.
3. You could use your favorite multi strand wrapping here. I diddn't, my handle is
already thick enough.
4. You could also mark the handle's end with a turks head or a multi strand
lanyard knot.
5. Basically half hiches
http://www.instructables.com/id/Paracord-Bullwhip/
(3 ft )
(2 ft )
(1 ft )
You will remove the inner strands from the 3 shortest pieces... but wait !
You will then have to put the corresponding lengths of chain into the corresponding strands and this can be a real pain without the proper technique.
I've tried a few:
Making a wire needle to pull the chain through the strand, hand threading cm by cm, threading a whole wire through it first and pulling it back with the chain taped to it...
None of them worked...
On the other hand, this last technique did wonders :
Carefully remove 6 of the 7 inner strands taking great care not to let the last one slip along with it's friends ( you can tie it around a finger, a pen or anything that will stay
out of the paracord sheath).
Then tie one end of the last inner strand 1-3 balls away from the end of the lamp chain using the smallest knot possible.( preceding it with half hitches between every ball
might help to improve it's lengthwise pull tolerance as knots tied in those slick inner strands tend to be a bit slippery )
Then just pull the inner strand out of the cord to get the chain in place and cut the string off.
If by mistake your last inner strand slips out of the sheath early or alone, you might try to feed it back through the cord by tying it to a long piece of stiff wire ( longer than
the cord ).
Or you might just cut another piece of paracord and start over.
Image Notes
1. Tie one of the strands around something so it doesn't get out of the sheath
http://www.instructables.com/id/Paracord-Bullwhip/
Image Notes
1. 6 out of 7 strands removed
2. It didn't slip through :)
3. We will now be working with this end
Image Notes
1. A solid knot 2-3 balls from the top
Image Notes
1. Half hitches on every segment
2. Then pull on the inner strand out and have the chain take it's place inside
the cord
Image Notes
1. The chain threaded through the gutted paracord.
http://www.instructables.com/id/Paracord-Bullwhip/
Image Notes
1. The groove
Image Notes
1. A constrictor knot will hold it well. Don't trim the ends to short untill you've
added the whipping around it.
Image Notes
1. Once you've whipped the cords using one of the inner strings you just pulled
out, trim the inner constrictor's knot ends short
Image Notes
1. Then you can do it twice...
Image Notes
1. ...then a few more times
2. And finally trim those short around there.
http://www.instructables.com/id/Paracord-Bullwhip/
http://www.instructables.com/id/Paracord-Bullwhip/
Image Notes
1. Make it neater...
2. The strands twisted together. This should also be a bit more even.
Image Notes
1. Wrap up to the end of the 3rd cord
2. Don't wrap the mono strand part
Image Notes
1. The second layer.
2. It's OK if the transition from the handle still feels a bit weak there when you
bend it. We will address this problem in step 13.
2x 5m
1X 3m
1x 4,30m
-> 4x 2,5
-> 2x 1,5
-> 2x 2,15
(16.4ft)
( 9.90 ft )
(14.10 ft )
Take the inner strands out of them, save for later use.
Don't forget to melt the ends before going on.
From now your gutted paracord will tend to lay flat.
You can run it once or twice around a soft round spot to make it even if you want. ( a metal bar or pipe of some kind )
You could also just run it through your fingers as I did, but do this carefully so as not to burn your fingers, you'll need them later ;)
Next, fold the 4 pieces in half and work with the middle of the cords.
How you group them doesn't matter for the next step.
From there, follow the pictures to lay them out properly :
-
Using a first pair ( again, which strands doesn't matter), cross them in front of the handle as pictured.
Then, thread the second pair through the loop and lay it as in the third picture.
Make sure all the lengths are even on both sides while you still can :)
( For the sake of simplicity i'm not showing the actual whip here but a "model" of it using 2 different colors.
Also note that your strands should be gutted and flat at this point )
http://www.instructables.com/id/Paracord-Bullwhip/
Image Notes
1. First loop a pair as shown...
Image Notes
1. Then thread the second pair through the loop...
Image Notes
1. You end up with 2 pairs on both sides.
At this point you probably got the trick, that's all there is to it:
- You take one sides' top strand,
- make it travel around the back ,
http://www.instructables.com/id/Paracord-Bullwhip/
Image Notes
1. Begin with 2 pairs on each side
Image Notes
1. Top right will be our first working strand
Image Notes
1. It goes behind the back...
Image Notes
1. Then under 2 , over 2...
Image Notes
1. It ends up on the initial side, but on the bottom of the plait. This is the end of the
first pass.
Image Notes
1. Then we repeat on the other side with the top left strand
http://www.instructables.com/id/Paracord-Bullwhip/
Image Notes
1. Behind, then under 2 over 2..
Image Notes
1. ends up on the bottom left. This is the end of th second pass.
Image Notes
1. Then once again with the top right strand...
2. To here... This was the 1-picture 3rd pass :)
Image Notes
1. Go on like this until you reach the spot where the whip gets thinner.
Image Notes
1. Here's how it looks on the actual whip with the flat strands.
http://www.instructables.com/id/Paracord-Bullwhip/
Image Notes
1. Every now and then begin tightening..
2. 1
3. 2
4. 3
5. 4
6. 5
7. 6
8. 7
9. 8
Image Notes
1. Then we plait 4 passes, and tighten again...
As you plait, each strand becomes the active one for each pass when it reaches the top of it's respective side.
The drop will occur just before the short strands reach the top position.As you're about to work with the opposite side's top strand.
Simply let the to be dropped strand fall under the plane in which all strands of the corresponding side are aligned.
Then, push the 2 bottom strands of the same side up, close to the top strand
You end up grasping 3 strands :the top one+ the 2 bottom ones.
Now work with the opposite side's top strand as you would if the drop did not occur.
The formula changes now : form "under 2, over 2 ", it becomes "under 2 , over 1 "
Make sur you "trap" the dropped strand agaisnt the core with the working one.
Now the to-be-dropped strand on the other side should have reached the next-to-top posiion.
( if it ends up on top right now,this means you began your drop one pass to late and should have beginned dropping on the other side).
Simply repeat the manoeuver on this side :
- let the shortest strand fall and lay it against the core
- put the remaining bottom strands up where the dropped one used to be
- work as you would with the opposite's side top strand.
Remember, from now on, you're plaiting a 6 strands plait.
The formula is under 2 , over 1.
http://www.instructables.com/id/Paracord-Bullwhip/
Do this a couple of inches or so ( 5 cm , 0.15ft ), being sure you trap both dropped strands against the core with each pass, then cut one of the strands.
Go on for another couple inches and cut the 2nd one.
Both strands will remain hidden under the plait.
Once again, the pictures for this step are an illustration and not the actual whip.
The drop does not occur on the handle, but on the guts , at the spot where the whip becomes thinner.
Image Notes
1. This will be the next active strand. We WON'T drop this one..
2. We will drop this strand
Image Notes
1. Just let it fall against the core
Image Notes
1. ...and grab the 3 remaining strands as if nothing had happened.
Image Notes
1. Then work with the active strand using the new formula...
2. ...under 2 , over 1
http://www.instructables.com/id/Paracord-Bullwhip/
Image Notes
1. Make sure to trap the dropped strand with the active one.
2. This is the last active strand, ending up at the bottom, as always.
Image Notes
1. This will be the next active strand...
2. ...so it's time to drop this one.
Image Notes
1. Let it down against the core.
Image Notes
1. Grab the 3 strands left on this side...
2. This will be the next working strand.
Image Notes
1. This strand was just worked as always: under 2 over 1
Image Notes
1. Plait the 6 strand plait to the next spot where the whip gets thinner.
2. Be sure to trap the dropped strands with the working ones. Then cut them after
a few passes. They will be hidden under the plait.
http://www.instructables.com/id/Paracord-Bullwhip/
Image Notes
1. The 4 strand plait ends here, a bit past where the single strand core begins. Wrap this with tape untill you reach step 15.
Image Notes
1. A long whipping with the inner loop strands sometimes in, sometimes out to
avoid friction while tightening.
2. Ready for the next step !
3. out...
4. out...
http://www.instructables.com/id/Paracord-Bullwhip/
Image Notes
1. Cover a bit of the transition with a tight layer of strong tape.
2x 7,30m
1x 5,50m
1x 5m
1x 4,30m
1x 3m
Once again, take the inner strands out and fold your gutted paracord in half .
Work from the middle to get your 12 strands.
Begin this layer as you did the first one, only arranging the strands by groups of 3 instead of pairs (see pictures)
Begin plaiting with the upper right strand, then go on as you did so far.
The formula for the 12 plait is under 3, over 3 .
remember to keep things tight and even.
When you reach the marks where the whip becomes thinner,go a bit past them ( remove your marking aid ) and drop 2 strands as in the previous steps.
The formula for the 10 plait is under 3, over 2.
For the 8 plait it is under 2 over 2.
Continue the 8 strand plait until you reach the point where the taped part of the inner layer is.
Remove the tape.
Cut the 2 shortest strands of the inner layer there.
Cut the remaining 2 at 10cm(0.30 ft) and 15-20cm (0.5-0.65 ft )
Continue the 8 plait over these.
Drop to a 6 plait ( under 2 over 1 ) as you progress.
Then to the 4 plait ( under 1 over 1) when to the end of the lone inner cord.
Keep 15 cm of strands at the end to tie the fall knot.( next step)
Once again, the pictures featuring orange paracord are illustrations, they're not what your actual whip should look like at this point.
Image Notes
1. Begin the 12 plait exactly as the 8 one. Only using groups of 3 strands instead
of 2
http://www.instructables.com/id/Paracord-Bullwhip/
Image Notes
1. Once again, this will be the first working strand.
Image Notes
1. I couldn't resist plaiting some more :) This is under 3 over 3, it should look
familiar to you at this point.
Image Notes
1. The outer layer
2. The inner layer
3. On the actual whip, things will look like this.
http://www.instructables.com/id/Paracord-Bullwhip/
Image Notes
1. At the end of the second layer,the end of your whip looks like this: 4 plait
strands + 1 core strand.
Image Notes
1. This will be the fall. It's an arm length of paracord with all the inner strands
intact.
2. Pierce it as close to the tip as you can. Make sure to melt it well.
Image Notes
1. Then thread the other end of the fall through the hole. Good luck with that
one :)
Image Notes
1. You'll end up with a loop.
Image Notes
1. Pull the loop around the end of your whip, don't make it tight yet.
Image Notes
1. Lay the remaining part of the fall against the core strand for now.
Image Notes
1. Tie identical half hitches with the 5 strands in turn. Be sure to trap ALL of the
remaining strands each time.
2. 1st
3. 2nd
Image Notes
1. Don't pull them too tight yet
http://www.instructables.com/id/Paracord-Bullwhip/
4. 3rd
5. 4th
6. 5th
Image Notes
1. 2 knots so far...
Image Notes
1. 3 knots
Image Notes
1. 4 knots
http://www.instructables.com/id/Paracord-Bullwhip/
Image Notes
1. All five knots in place
Image Notes
1. You will be threading the 5th strand ( the inner one ) through the 4 preceding
knots.
Image Notes
1. like this..
Image Notes
1. Pull it all the way through
Image Notes
1. Everything should line up neatly.
http://www.instructables.com/id/Paracord-Bullwhip/
Image Notes
1. FInally thread the strand through the loop
Image Notes
1. Tighten the loop..
Image Notes
1. Then pull the fall inside the knot along with the last strand. Pull it as far inside
as it will go.
Image Notes
1. You're done! Put everything as tight as you can and then cut all the remaning
strands short. Don't cut the fall ! :p
2. Cut
3. Cut
http://www.instructables.com/id/Paracord-Bullwhip/
Image Notes
1. Measure an armlength of string
Image Notes
1. Fold in half.
Image Notes
1. Twist it as you've learnt doing :)
Image Notes
1. After all this, tying an overhand knot should cause you no trouble.
Image Notes
1. Fray the ends. Using a comb will help.
Image Notes
1. We will be tying the cracker to the fall. This knot is meant to be small and easy
to untie even after supersonic abuse.
http://www.instructables.com/id/Paracord-Bullwhip/
Image Notes
1. Thread the fall through the "eye" at the end of the cracker. See closup if you
don't get it.
Image Notes
1. The final knot just before tightening.
Image Notes
1. Make it small
I will probably soon make a few other Instructables on the advanced knots if you lack inspiration.
http://www.instructables.com/id/Paracord-Bullwhip/
Image Notes
1. The now fully functionnal whip!
Image Notes
1. Here's a sample handle from a homemade marlinspike. You could do
something similar to this on the whip's handle as well.
2. A star knot
3. Matthew Walker's knot
4. Crown knot covering
5. (messy) multistrand lanyard knot.
http://www.instructables.com/id/Paracord-Bullwhip/
Image Notes
1. The same with some refinements
Cracking your whip is about technique, not force ( and my technique just plain sucks , these are my first tries :)
They're lots of vids on youtube teaching you proper moves.Be sure to check a few out before trying to go Indianna Jones.
Remember to do this outside, and wear proper face protection untill you feel completely confident with it.
( A full face paintball mask would not be too much for beginners, it's SO easy to have the thing jump back at your face even if you think you are being carefull... And trust
me...that hurts.)
I hope you enjoyed this instructable as much as I did doing this project.
Have fun and play safe!
Leave suggestions in the comments if you think that some steps deserve further explanation.
Under 3 Over 3
Under 3 Over 2
Under 2 Over 2
Under 2 Over 1
Under 1 Over 1
http://www.instructables.com/id/Paracord-Bullwhip/
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Comments
50 comments Add Comment
hailtothkngbby says:
http://www.instructables.com/id/Paracord-Bullwhip/
ch5 says:
salomon1996 says:
ch5 says:
salomon1996 says:
salomon1996 says:
ch5 says:
http://www.instructables.com/id/Paracord-Bullwhip/
salomon1996 says:
that helps a lot! thank you! i will remake the star knot, hopefully, and see if that works.
runowicz says:
ch5 says:
runowicz says:
ch5 says:
runowicz says:
wangerton says:
http://www.instructables.com/id/Paracord-Bullwhip/
ch5 says:
Spy_64 says:
ch5 says:
WataAtaCrackahJack says:
http://www.instructables.com/id/Paracord-Bullwhip/
ch5 says:
J.A.R.V.I.S. says:
Darter76 says:
KovuKora says:
Wow-wee! Totally gonna have to make this a project for my dad and myself to do!
WataAtaCrackahJack says:
salomon1996 says:
whoohoo!! done with the third one! one tan, and two black! :D
ch5 says:
:D
I didn't think that could be so contagious.
salomon1996 says:
hehehe :P
http://www.instructables.com/id/Paracord-Bullwhip/
uniqueutopia says:
Hey great instructable... will have to give it a go (my son is currently Indiana Jones mad)... thanks for showing us how!
ch5 says:
Thanks too.
You're welcome :)
Spy_64 says:
jcbhaney says:
ch5 says:
napstr007 says:
ch5 says:
Spy_64 says:
Oh yah and by the way you have my vote as well out of 5 stars, you get 6! (c;
pgg120495 says:
and how did you tie the knot four wires after crimping
chaddv79 says:
ch5 says:
Spy_64 says:
I would love to see a couple indestructables like a net bag, or especially a hammock frmo the remaining inner strands. (c;
bears0 says:
in case you would like to know, the middle strand is called the "belly" of the whip
http://www.instructables.com/id/Paracord-Bullwhip/
ch5 says:
It's some kind of personnal variation i came up with when trying my whip for the first time.
Its lies somewhere between the overhead crack and the cattleman's crack I guess.
But I'm not hitting the ground at any time, the whip cracks properly at eye level right before me.
( Is that a BM42 in your profile picture ? I love mine so much ^^ )
mtm101097 says:
wn7ant says:
alexnando says:
alexnando says:
hondarider_206 says:
I have also heard of plaiting over a spring at the end of the handle to simulate the effect of the tape wrapping
ch5 says:
While wandering in the hardware store, I've found two interesting items :
- large springs used to evenly bend copper tubes by hand ( i'm not sure how they're called )
- brushes fixed on a very long and thin springs , used as drain cleaners.
Using them both as a handle and guts, I'm sure one could make a really powerfull whip with these.
I hope I have enough time to try this soon :)
( here's how those "things" look like )
WataAtaCrackahJack says:
http://www.instructables.com/id/Paracord-Bullwhip/
ch5 says:
http://www.instructables.com/id/Paracord-Bullwhip/