1)How are your whips made?
 

   All of our whips are made from first grade, drum stuffed kangaroo. Cores and bolsters are made from soft supple veg tanned cowhide. We use two plaited kangaroo bellies and two cowhide bolsters in the standard David Morgan construction method. No shortcuts are taken during the construction of your whip. We take as much care and attention to detail prepping and plaiting the strands of the bellies as we do when prepping and plaiting the strand of the overlay. This insures that your whip will maintain its roundness and taper for many years to come.

2)What length should I start out with?
 

   I find that a good length whip for a beginner is between six to eight feet. A short whip (such as say, four feet or so) requires very good technique and has a faster throw time. A beginning whip cracker may not have good enough technique to get a nice sharp crack out of a short whip. This may lead to frustration and cause one to lose interest. A long whip (ten feet or more) also requires good technique and is usually a much heavier whip requiring more strength. A beginner could quickly become frustrated with a long whip and lose interest. Not to mention regretting the higher cost of a longer whip. I feel that a good length for a beginner is between six to eight feet because these lengths will be easier to get a good loud crack with little or no experience while learning the techniques needed to use a shorter or longer whip in the future.

3)How much maintenance is involved with a kangaroo whip?
 

   Not as much as you might think! A small amount of leather dressing applied once every six months or so should do fine. More for dryer climates. The fall of the whip may need to be conditioned after every session. I usually condition the fall whenever it feels dry to the touch. The whip should be stored in a dry place when not in use so that it doesn't develop mold. Using the whip in wet grass isn't recommended but isn't as harmful as you might think. As long as it is allowed to completely dry before applying leather dressing. Applying dressing while the whip is wet will only seal in the moisture and cause the whip to break down from the inside out over time. With proper care and maintenance, a well made roohide whip will last a lifetime.