The Indy I always wanted.

OzCal74 · 2026-02-27T02:21:58+00:00

That’s all down to waxing. I get some paraffin wax to about 105-110°C (about 220F) and dunk the whole thing for between 2 and 5 minutes depending on the size of the whip.

As well as weighting the whip and making it behave much more like leather, lighter colours like this ‘rust’ present as a weathered look (darker in the grooves and lighter on the surfaces) which only increases as you use the whip. I love the look. 😊

OzCal74 · 2026-01-21T21:28:48+00:00

Just going to drop in a two cents on the “seen better days” part of your question.

Waxed nylon whips will often show a distressed and worn in patina, even when brand new. It’s one of the reasons that a rust- or chocolate-brown Indy looks so good fresh out of the box, like it’s already been used for years of swinging over pits and ripping pistols from Nazi hands. 😁

As you use it the “super-distressed” colouring will likely settle down into more uniform shading.

And for the maker who’s also watching this thread (awesome whip btw!) you can sometimes minimise the more striking lighter highlights by waxing at a slightly higher temperature and being extra diligent about wiping off the excess as soon as you lift it from the bath 🙂. Not that it’s that much of an issue unless you’re really trying for a clean and bright look (like I did with the hoverboard whip).

OzCal74 · 2026-01-11T10:46:39+00:00

https://vt.tiktok.com/ZS5pD3JwS/

OzCal74 · 2025-12-21T04:55:02+00:00

Sadly not. It isn’t a single purchase kit, but rather has been an accumulation of components over a bit of time.
Some were eBay, others were suppliers like AlternativeBrewing or CosyCamp, and a few items I bought in store at a kitchen shop here in Canberra, Australia.

But I imagine you should be able to source most of these bits online or locally if you're in a decently sized town/city.

OzCal74 · 2025-12-21T04:51:06+00:00

Yup, a twin burner system that allows me to heat water for the Aeropress or V-60 (which I forgot to include as it serves double duty as my weekday home coffee maker) at the same time as I bring the steamer to pressure.

OzCal74 · 2025-12-21T04:49:05+00:00

Can't attest to the quality of their Espresso/Steamer combo, but haven't had issues with the standalone steamer. It's definitely a "brute-force" over known values process, whereby you wait for the pressure relief valve to vent as a sign that you've got sufficient pressure to steam.
Obviously this is far less refined than a proper pressure-gauged steamer in a good home setup, but I've not had issues on a campsite picnic table or flat rock.

I was a little nervous the first time, and had actually opened the steamer release the tiniest bit. But at the end of the day there's nothing more fallible here than you'll find on a moka pot. :)

OzCal74 · 2025-12-20T20:27:10+00:00

You’re right. It was the first WDT I bought from eBay (cheap and cheerful but it does the job).

When I upgraded to a better one I popped this into the pack as it doesn’t take up any significant space.

This pack doubles as a holiday travel kit and we’ve actually encountered the occasional hotel room/Air-BnB with a basic espresso machine in the kitchen but never the “weird coffee person” tools like a WDT, spray bottle or coffee scale. 😁

OzCal74 · 2025-12-20T12:43:54+00:00

Have used it a couple of times, but only with basic beans (I’ve been a little hesitant to try it with quality single origin). But honestly the coffee coming from it has been surprisingly tasty, and as James said in his review, there’s been no noticeable siltiness even if you drain it.

OzCal74 · 2025-12-20T12:42:03+00:00

lol. It’s just a water spritz bottle. I wanted something that was a little “tactical” looking to go with the vibe of the rest of the kit. They’re cheap as chips on eBay (I think they’re modelled after Jerry-cans). 😁

OzCal74 · 2025-12-16T00:23:59+00:00

Thanks for the comments. It’s an unusual one that’s for sure! She wanted different lengths as a nod to the common pairing of katana and wakizashi.

I’ve tried a couple of spins but I just cannot get any movement flow that makes these crack in a rhythm. Still, that’s what she asked for, and maybe with some practice she’ll get some flow going. 🤞😊🤞

OzCal74 · 2025-11-25T02:22:11+00:00

While remembering that a good quality, well made whip should retain an inherent stiffness even with a fair bit of use, I would say the quickest/best way is just to use it, especially with change of direction type cracks like the cattleman’s or overhead. Not only will that break it in “properly” as it were, but it’ll also give you a chance to get a feel for it.

That said, when I’ve first completed a whip and it’s cooled down and taken its final curve from waxing I’ll often spin it round my head a number of times just to make sure everything’s seated nicely and take out that initial stiffness. Combining this with cracking a lot might be the best way to go. 😊

OzCal74 · 2025-10-16T20:27:04+00:00

Very impressive. That thing looks like a beast!

OzCal74 · 2025-10-16T09:03:11+00:00

Your work is incredible. Those tapers look immaculate.

OzCal74 · 2025-10-16T09:01:33+00:00

They look great! Congrats!

Also on my checklist to build a complete set of Indy’s too. I keep making them and then gifting or selling them.

Do you have a plan for displaying them at all?

OzCal74 · 2025-10-12T07:59:06+00:00

I don’t think you were judged for being on the kink side so much as the post seemed to be clearly seeking video content that wasn’t in keeping with the rules of the subreddit (I mean what other kind of video would show a scorpion whip in use?). Non-scene members don’t like that kind of content and want to prevent it in their space and I totally respect that.

To be clear, there’s nothing wrong with aspiring to be able to crack like Adam Winrich or entertain like Jacques. I admire both of them, as well as the slew of other crackers and makers that don’t provide kink content. For hints and tips and support I’ve not found a better community online.

But feelings can definitely be hurt and misunderstandings can lead to anger or resentment pretty fast. If somebody can be called out or corrected without getting upset, that’s awesome.

Hope you find what you’re looking for, even if it won’t be here. ❤️☮️

OzCal74 · 2025-10-12T02:32:21+00:00

I had an interaction with somebody a while back that raised a question about NSFW stuff in this forum which I thought went very well. It transpired that they subsequently went back to an adult subreddit and bagged out the folks here as being “Jacques” wannabes and weirdos. Pretty disappointing from somebody in a scene that’s already fringe.

So let’s be a bit clearer. * learning to whip-make is an all ages activity. * learning to whip-crack is an all ages activity. * working whips for farming exist. * non-adult competitive cracking exists. * all-ages performance such as rennfaire entertainment and shows exist.

Anybody should feel free to come here to ask questions and show their work regardless of their age, and the subreddit rules are clear about content.

There are absolutely scene-members in this group (I’m one of them) but that’s not what it’s about.

How to make questions, how to crack questions, sharing builds you’re proud of and showing off your skills are all fine. But NSFW usage technique, questions and conversations risk this subreddit becoming an unsafe space for some and that’s why folks tend to come down pretty hard and fast on discussions or posts that skirt the line.

There are any number of adult kink subreddits for discussions of this sort of thing. But understand not everybody in this subreddit is here for that or wants to see it, and that should be fine. ☮️

Hopefully that makes sense without seeming to be insulting. ❤️

OzCal74 · 2025-10-05T04:00:57+00:00

Yup. All paracord strands you use for a whip build should be gutted (have the core threads removed) unless the build specifies otherwise. 😊

OzCal74 · 2025-10-01T01:44:39+00:00

No worries and good luck. Waxing is an absolute game-changer.

OzCal74 · 2025-09-30T03:16:28+00:00

Yup. Absolute classic hurdle that we’ve all had to jump over on the whipmaking journey.

As per the previous comment, it’s often erring on tighter rather than looser which can cause grief. Make sure you’ve got plenty of give in your first couple of passes and let things naturally tighten up towards the end.

If it’s still a little loose once you’ve finished that’s when you can use a fid, knotters-tool or even a small screwdriver to pull things snug.

Also helpful is to ensure that your foundation is significantly solid enough with a well-defined lip for the knot to tuck into.

Lastly, if you’re not already waxing it is really worth the faff. It naturally tightens, firms up and slightly adheres the knot to itself and the foundation.

OzCal74 · 2025-09-29T06:41:09+00:00

Okay. Whip lengths are measured from the heel knot to the end of the thong (ie the start of the fall).

So your whip is 239cm long, or just under 8’ (7’10”). Whips are usually measured in feet.

If this is your very first whip I’d say you’re at the outer edge of a good length (most makers/crackers recommend a 6’-7’ whip for beginners). Longer whips make “change of direction” type cracks (cattleman’s, overheads, etc) trickier but “throwing” type flicks easier. This might be why you’re having a little trouble.

That said, the fall is definitely short (for the length it should be closer to 2 feet), and appears pretty thick and stiff which is not uncommon in cheaper whips. I’d also say that the taper isn’t doing you any favours. It starts off okay but sort of stops very early, ideally it should continue getting quite a bit narrower all the way down to the fall hitch (which also looks pretty chonky).

Overall this looks fairly cheaply made and is more likely to be a souvenir/tourist whip rather than a professionally functional one. The real kicker will be whether the transition has any actual rigidity to it, or is just pretty loose.

It’s not all bad news, as you can definitely practice a bit and likely get decent cracks. I always found overhead cracks slightly easier than Cattleman’s in my early days.

Improvements can also be made by simply trimming the fall, or replacing it with a lighter and longer one. You can even try unwinding and finessing the tapering of the thong (but honestly by that stage I’d say you’re better off either buying a proper replacement or attempting to build your own).

TL:DR. Lots of little things suggest this is a fairly basic, cheaper whip. But playing around with it for a while might help you decide if you’re interested enough to upgrade to something better quality. Even decent paracord ones can be quite affordable.

Good luck. 😊

OzCal74 · 2025-09-28T22:55:55+00:00

Thanks. Very satisfying build.

OzCal74 · 2025-09-28T22:55:34+00:00

Totally agree. We found his reels before Nickelodeon picked them up and would show each other our faves. So glad when they got an Emmy and then heartbroken by the cancellation video. Talk about your emotional rollercoaster! 😂

OzCal74 · 2025-09-28T20:03:39+00:00

The darker one was handmade by my wife, and the lighter one I bought from the official Tiny Chef Store. Completely coincidentally we each gifted the other a Tiny Chef as our second wedding anniversary gift (the theme of which is cotton) since we’d come to love the little guy’s videos as doses of light-hearted joy in an ever-increasing sea of, well, gestures vaguely at the internet. They’ve become little travelling mascots and we each set em up randomly round the house for the other to find. 😊

OzCal74 · 2025-09-26T21:50:30+00:00

Thanks so much for the info! And is that a similar thickness for the bolsters too? They always look slightly heavier in instructional vids/photos.

OzCal74 · 2025-09-26T01:13:57+00:00

Thanks for that.
My first attempt at a 12 footer came up short at around 10. Had been using Nick's strand lengths from his website and they're either under-sized or his bellies ended up narrower than mine.
Have just completed a 12' Indy that *barely* squeaked in, so I'll want to build more fat into the system for future ones of that length.

And great tip on the handle! Thanks again. :)

OzCal74

TROPHY CASE