LadyHugs
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Joined: 1/1/2004
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Dear cacodylic, Ladies and Gentlemen;
Here you go! (Lengthy but it is from a presentation on Whips)
Excerpt...The Seven Groups
In defining the seven groups of whips we will find that some will often cross over into other groups. This is largely due to how the whip is made and the injury factors involved.
When using the defined whip groups, be aware that not all in the leather community closely keep to the formal definitions and often will mean the same thing but call something by a different name or description. This being normal, it really is not necessary to embroil ourselves in debate.
The main thing in the leather community is to use all our whips and rods in a safe manner, to maintain them in good condition, to keep them clean as well as to sanitize them between use on others.
Crop Group is the group to which is rather self explanatory, as the horseback riding crop that is found in the tack shop is in it’s own class.
A riding crop is defined as a shaft that is fitted with a handle that flows into a tapered shaft and ends with a flap or loop of leather, a leather design such as a little hand or butterfly as to slap the horse with.
When selecting a riding crop, since the purpose is to hit the naked body of a human and not a horse, is to make sure the shaft does not go past the loop in it’s construction. Cheap crops will be poorly made as well as have sharp points concealed at the tip.
Lash Group has the most whips that the BDSM community uses. The Lash Group is made up of floggers, multiple tailed whips, cat-o-nines, quirts, riding whips with a cracker also known as a popper, dressage whips, cart and buggy whips, single tails, signal whips, snake whips, bull whips or any whip that has one or more lashes, crackers or poppers.
As those to who do not have horses or know horse equipment often confuse it, a riding whip is often confused with the crop. However, there is a great difference.
Unlike a crop, the riding whip is a handle, tapered shaft into a round nylon or rolled horsehair cracker. There is no flap or folds of leather what so ever.
Another characteristic of the riding whip is that its length is slightly longer then the crop.
The crop is to be used behind the leg of the rider or on the rump, to create a slap rather then a sting, as a riding whip would cause. So in summary, a riding crop is a thud and a riding whip is a sting.
The dressage whip, which is a riding whip, is even longer in the shaft as to permit the rider to reach back to the hind quarters and tap as to drive the horse under themselves, as to collect and be able to gather themselves to create movements much like those seen by the famous Spanish Riding Horses of Austria and other movements characteristic of the ancient war horse.
The cart whip is often misidentified, as dealers in horse equipment have few that need cart whips and often sell dressage whips as cart whips. However, the true cart whip has a thicker handle and shaft into a taper with a fall that goes into the cracker or popper, and is to be able to reach from the cart seat to the withers or shoulder of the horse.
The buggy whip is also another misidentified whip by those in tack shops. Tack shops will pass dressage whips as buggy whips or cart whips however a true buggy whip is about six feet in length with a long cracker or popper as the buggy places the horse further away from the driver and groom.
The carriage whip or lounging whip, which are approximately six to ten feet in length with the fall equal to the shaft’s measurement and with a cracker or popper on the end.
Please note, that the riding whips and driving whips are really not to be used on the horse’s body itself with any impact unless it is to give pain the horse in a case of crisis or panic as to have the horse focus on the whip and not what is frightening them. In riding and driving horses, a mere touch is most often the most contact a horse will need to send it rapidly forward.
Flogger is what is properly termed as a person to who whips a person but in modern times it is to identify a multiple tailed whip, made with a variety of materials such as leather and rubber.
In the selection of the multiple tail whip or flogger, the individual must understand the characteristics of each type leather used as well as to understand how wide or thick the lash is determines the thud or sting sensation. Just as important, is the number of lashes creates thud or sting.
The cat-o-nine, is a whip that has only nine lashes or tails. The cat-o-nine was originally made with hemp rope which scratches, with barbs or other sharp objects as to slice open the back of the individual that was being beaten.
Today’s cat-o-nine is very muted from the original but, in some cases can be crossed over into the scourge group, based on how severe the injury risks can be or risks of drawing blood.
Majorities of the cat-o-nine flails or whips are made in braided leather, sometimes without knots and some with knots. Some cat-o-nines are made with flat braids with or without knots.
Round braids will be more sting then the flat braided whips to which have more thud.
The quirt is rooted in the horseback riding arena, and found mostly in Australia, South America and southern regions of the United States, or locations that have a lot of brush or brambles.
The origin of the quirt came as a shaft riding whip would often be entangled in the brush and was more of a nuisance. In making a miniature of a bullwhip’s body, adding two lashes to it, the quirt became a handy whip as it could be hung off the saddle horn or around the wrist of the rider to move the horse forward.
For those to whom are not comfortable using single tails, to pull back one of the two lashes and make only one lash available to strike with is technically a single tail or single lash.
Further, it should be noted that the quirt with one lash might often leave marks more familiar to single tails then a quirt. And, the quirt is a favorite among those who have to work in small places where single tails are too bulky.
Rod Group is the second most used group by BDSM individuals. This group classifications cover canes, rods, batons, riot sticks, poles, shafts or any like item. Absent from this group are switches, as they have their own group.
Often there is confusion as to what the difference between a rod and cane. So, in short the BDSM criterion is a rod is stiff with no flexibility or a small measure of flexibility and often thick in diameter.
The cane on the other hand, is smaller diameter and ranges from extremely flexible to barely flexible.
Natural canes consist of rattan, which is a hardy and most
accessible material for the majority of people in the leather community. The rattan cane can be finished in water based Polyurethane or in raw linseed oil.
Another natural cane is bamboo, which requires the most maintained as it has to be kept moist in salt water and no oils or Polyurethane or sealant will work to keep it supple.
Bamboo being hollow in the middle also has a different vibration to it and isn’t strong for extreme heavy caning.
In harvesting bamboo, the stem needs to be cut as to allow the knot area to be where it is the tip and the length determined by its cutting to the other joint or know found in the stalk.
The third natural cane is Birch. A Birch cane isn’t to be confused with a Birch switch. Birch can be commonly found among the trees in the majority of nations and in many parts of the country.
The Yew, which is another natural wood cane, has been in ancient times the most sought after wood due to its natural flexibility and often found in archery bows.
Again the Yew is the lesser-known natural cane as it is not commonly harvested and process and more rare so, than the Birch cane.
In care of the natural fiber cane, the ideal way to store a cane is by suspending it from a hook and not on the side or in a box in which it is supported by one end. However, if circumstances are such as there is no other way to store a cane, placing the handle on the bottom is the wise thing to do.
In selecting a fiber cane, such as rattan, the Master should select it by the type of diameter and intent the cane will be used for. Then, select the length as the longer the cane is the more variety of ways a Master can use it as well as it has more flexibility. Shorter canes will not have the same energy as a longer cane and thus also cheats a Master out of the necessary energy.
The next step in the selection process is looking at the natural fiber itself. If it is raw or coated, the fiber can be seen and what is not desired in the cane is what is known as a “coke bottle twist” or as if somebody was wringing out a wash cloth. This twist weakens the cane and will separate and can fracture under stress.
Often times, vendors will hide this twist under the handle, as it is not under impact stress. However if it is anywhere in the body of the cane, this twist will fail in time.
Bows in the cane are not as much as a problem. Often times when a cane is sold it is straight and then a bow comes forth. This can be for several reasons.
One, the cane is struck only on the one area and not twisted or rotated at each stroke to wear on all sides. Or, the cane was steamed and processed into being straight and then the cane relaxes into its natural state in time.
Now, addressing man made materials as canes and rods.
Plexiglas is a nice hard material and often found in curtain rod handles, walking canes, table legs and a host of variety of uses just as Lucite is.
The thinner the diameter the more sting it will create and if too thin, it will shatter.
Carbon is another man made material, to which can be found in arrow shafts and will shatter if harshly used however, the author has yet to have one shatter.
Aluminum is another wonderful material in which can be found in arrow shafts and keeping the point or tip of the arrow off, is safe to use and can be sanitized as carbon, Plexiglas and Lucite can.
Rubber is another element of which can be used and is found on the African riot cane, in which it is available for purchase in most countries however, with caution. This African riot cane is called a Sjombok (there are several spellings)and was designed to break bones and disable people.
Delran and Lexan are two other materials used in canes.
Metal, such as in coat hangers are very thin and will sting a lot. A metal covering that is flexible and retards the sting a lot as it adds more diameters often coats these thin metals.
Dipping canes in things like tool dip or rubbery coatings and then add texture is another great way to making something different and with different sensations.
In selecting dipping elements please make sure that it is a product that is meant to be in contact with humans. And, also know that there are individuals to whom have allergies to latex, rubber, vinyl and jelly type substances found in adult toys. Again, pre-scene negotiations are
extremely important.
With the extremely popular rose bush and thorns, this really would be best classified in the switch group or scourge group due to its injury risk factor
In using the rose cane with thorns, it must be a one-person contact toy and dedicated, as drawing blood will happen.
It is most unfair to use such toys after drawing blood on one slave to apply it to another slave’s body. Please be health minded and considerate.
Scourge Group can be best classified as those whips and rods that will by its nature cause deep and profound injuries as well as risks are more than the muted whips and canes normally found within the BDSM scene.
These whips and rods are usually involved in blood sports or blood play, and should be dedicated if unable to properly sterilize the whip or rod. This is why man made materials are a plus as they can be exposed to high temperatures as to kill germs and bacteria.
Scourges can be such as a Roman flail, which is a three-thong whip with barbs on the end. This is what was applied to Jesus Christ in the days of Roman rule.
Barbed whips, crackers and poppers, some cat-o-nines with blood knots or beads made of metal or glass, chain such as motorcycle drive chain or bike chain and so forth.
Switches that have thorns or knots left on the shaft, such as rose bush canes and switches, unfinished switches and canes, canes or rods that have exposed tips or tacks as well as spikes.
Strap Group covers such things as belts, razor straps, folded leather, taws, vipers, reins, spur straps and bootlaces.
In using the strap, the impact can be as severe as a cane full force and is deceptively damaging.
Belts if used, should be smooth edged, without decoration as to dig into the skin such as spikes, metal decorations, fake gems, buckles, chains or metal tips.
Razor straps are usually firm and don’t flex as much as belts but they are heavy and do have a deep impact. These razor straps often come
in a paddle like form with handles.
Folded leather is not as severe as a razor strap, but can be often identified with paddles as well as most in the strap group.
Taws or vipers have leather as a basis but are split as to make fingers. The viper has two fingers, the Scottish Taws are three fingers and there are five finger taws.
Taws and vipers can be used as a paddle as well as being as a strap can slice through on a down stroke and using it’s edges can mark and feel as if a cane struck them as in Middle Eastern style of caning.
Horse bridle reins, if braided shouldn’t be used but, if they are plain and without buckles or connections, are straps that will deliver a sharp and painful slap. It is recommended that western reins are purchased as they are often in lengths and a variety of widths and only have connectors to the bit on one side and without buckles as normally found on English reins.
Spur straps are tiny compared to the riding reins and are small enough to apply to breasts, genitals and make great practice targets for a Master to aim at in the use of his single tail.
Shoe laces, in which leather laces are always the best, can provide thin and extremely stingy sensations, which produces welts.
A good amount of laces together would then go into the scourge group or lash group as they become a multi tailed whip.
Switch Group is best described as the flexible branch off trees or bushes.
Rose bushes provide switches with thorns or the thorns can be cut off and the switch smoothed prior to application.
Other switches can be found in Birch trees, Yew trees, and fruit trees with the exception of citrus fruit trees, Pussy willow trees and young green saplings as long as they do not have sap or pitch as pine or other wood or bushes may have.
Tether Group addresses those whips that are made from chain, rope or nylon.
In chains, the chain that is used for belts or purse straps as well as the ball chain in which usually is found around necks holding identification cards or photos can be used as floggers if in the proper amount and filed edges as not to dig or rip the skin.
Rope can be braided as well as knotted but, most rope whips are usually made as to be light and feathered, and a very sensual tool.
Nylon strapped whips are harsh and do not have the softness of rope and yet can be more severe then a chain whip due to the fiber itself. Thus, nylon is best left for webbing or suspension harnesses and bondage support as nylon will dig and cause the flesh to burn if it is allowed to rub a slave’s skin.
End of excerpt.
(Copyrighted by Lady Hugs)
Respectfully submitted for consideration,
Lady Hugs
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What to look for in a flogger - 
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