How to make a 4 foot snakewhip out of paracord. Before you start, remember to always wear eye protection when using your whip, unless you’re this guy. The design was loosely inspired by this instructable and takes around 6-8 hours. I also sell premade whips in any combination of colors. I currently have black, red, hot pink, and neon yellow in stock. Please specify colors and cracker color.
Supplies
- Scissors
- 4 feet (1.2 meters) lamp chain
- Metal clasp or ring
- Fire
- Needle
- Strong thread, string, or sinew
- 89 feet (28 meters) 550 paracord (multiple colors look awesome)
- Measuring tape or ruler
Optional Supplies
- Duct tape (for a stiffer whip and to hold things in place)
- Contrasting string or ribbon for a cracker
- Sharpie and/or crayon to mark thing
- Smooth needle nose pliers to tighten as you braid (sharp edges damage the paracord)
Core
- Cut 33 inches (84 cm) of lamp chain. Mark with a sharpie 14 inches (35.5 cm) from one end.
- Cut 13 inches (33 cm) of lamp chain. Mark with a sharpie 4 inches (10 cm) from one end.
- Thread lamp chain through the clasp so the marks are touching the clasp (the ends will be uneven)
- Cut 96 inches (244 cm) of paracord. Singe both ends. Mark in the middle with crayon.
- Thread paracord through the clasp so the mark touches the clasp and one end is loose.
- Tape everything in place so it doesn’t slip.
First Layer
- Put the loose end of the paracord through the other end of the clasp so it is out of the way.
- Cut 4 pieces of paracord: 99, 99, 85, 60 inches (252, 252, 216, 152 cm). Remove the cores (white strands in the middle). Singe the ends. Mark each piece in the middle.
- Thread 4 pieces through the clasp so the marks are touching the clasp.
- Position the 4 pieces as shown above.
First strand of the braid.
Tighten first strand.
Second strand.
Tighten second strand.
Third strand.
Tighten third strand.
Fourth strand.
Continue braiding. Remove the tape as you get to it. Be careful not to pick up the core strand of paracord and braid with that. Every two strands, pull everything tight with pliers. The tighter the better.
When one of the strands gets 1-2 inches (3-5 cm) in length, tuck it behind and wrap it around the core. Stitch it in place with the needle and thread. Repeat with the other short strand.
Now braid.
When the strands get short again, tuck them back and stitch in place again. Continue braiding with 4 strands.
When you get to the ends, tuck back and stitch in place.
