PROJECTS: BULLWHIP
makezine.com/09/bullwhip
MAKE IT.
CRAFT YOUR BULLWHIP
START>>
Time: 4– 8 Hours Complexity: Medium Easy
1. CUT THE LONG PIECES
1a. Cut the belly. Mark and cut a
leather strip at least 8' long, that
tapers evenly and symmetrically from
6" at one end to 1", as shown in the
Belly Cutting Diagram (below). This
will be the whip’s belly, around which
the thong plaits are laid. The plaits
form a hollow tube through which
the belly runs. If your hide is longer
or shorter than 8', adjust your layout
accordingly. With a longer hide, you
can make a longer whip.
Belly Cutting Diagram (not to scale)
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1b. Lay out the thong. The thong consists of connected strips of leather that are woven or plaited together
to form the main body of the whip. Thong layout is the most critical portion of the entire whip-making
procedure, so take time to do this accurately. Adjust the length of the thong to match the length of the
belly if it’s different from 8'.
Thong Cutting Diagram (not to scale)
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86 Make: Volume 09
