Welcome to our version of the online whip catalog. Since the summer of 1990 when we made our first whip we have made hundreds and hundreds more whips, shared ideas with almost as many people, and felt more hides than we care to remember. Through these experiences we observe and learn in the time-honored way of all creative people: by doing the work. As we share new insights, we hope you will enjoy and benefit from them.

A whip which excites us is elegantly crafted. The passion which we feel for the erotic consensual exchange of power is translated into our creations. Beautiful leather feels wonderful not only in our hands as we work with it, but also in your hand when you play with it.

We select leather for durability, character, and striking visual appearance and combine the various leathers so each whip will express the unique power, and love of its owner.

Once again, many thanks to the various and wonderful members of our community who have encouraged and supported us as we pursue this rewarding craft.  Please keep the ideas coming and we will continue to respond.

Characteristics of Heartwood Floggers

The flogger has developed as the premier tool of choice for administering of discipline because of its erotic qualities and wide range of possible sensation. A well-balanced flogger is a joy to use, and with some practice the handler can develop great accuracy with simple or flamboyant moves according to his or her personality and athletic coordination.

A balanced whip has a handle specifically weighted to off-set the length and weight of its tails. A finish knot that tightens around the tails helps to keep them together as they fly. An appropriate finish knot to terminate the handle provides a secure feeling whether used in or behind the hand. A sturdy loop can be used around the wrist while playing and for storage of the whip. The small inner loop can be used to hang the whip from a belt clip.

The material used for the tails of the whip determines its principal character. There are numerous materials (horse-hair, rubber, plastics, rope, woven fabrics, chain and so on) which can make interesting tails, but leather with its tactile qualities combining strength with flexibility, still remains the material of primary choice. While being worked into a beautiful tool, or during the many years of its useful life, the marvelous feel of leather is not duplicated by any other material.

HANDLE BRAIDS - We keep on hand dozens of colors and textures of leather. Most handles incorporate black and one or more other colors and textures. If we really like a particular hide we will buy it just for use in handles. Sometimes we find scrap pieces to add to our palette, but once used up cannot be duplicated. We keep my material in long parallel rows, just like an artist's palette of watercolors. We don't have just basic red, blue, green, grey, etc. but have numerous variations within each color range, tints and tones of red, such as vermillion, crimson, lipstick, dull, maroon, metallic, patent; eight shades of grey, warm tones to harmonize with the red spectrum and cool tones to work with the blues. We do love the contrast that patent leather gives to a handle. And keep patent in black and several other colors. If you are one of the people who don't care for patent be sure to mention this when you order!

Most of the handles we weave are in the traditional diamonds, but even within this geometry many patterns are possible. Thinner strips can be introduced; variations woven within the pattern itself; and colors chosen with an eye to their relationship as they lie next to each other or are diagonally adjacent. The traditional patterns are well-known; checkerboard, herringbone, square, etc. We name the ones we make up; "tartan, leather pride, jewel in the basket, stepped square, split diamond" etc. When ordering we ask that you describe the feeling you would like the handle to evoke and the colors you visualize.

Our customers almost always seem very pleased with how we interpret their descriptions. We do not want to formalize this part of the ordering process because a large part of our interest in whip-making is to expand our repertoire of designs. We do not want to narrow the choices by offering only specific combinations we have already mastered. Most of the loops on my whips are round braids made from colors to complement the handles. Sometimes all black, sometimes a color to match a finish knot if it is other than black. The small inner loop for use with a belt clip has become so popular that we now add it to all the whips except the minis, which we think look nice hanging by the finger loop itself. If you do not want the inner loop, kindly mention so when ordering.

HANDLE SIZES - The length of a handle affects how a whip is balanced and how the handle feels in use. On our longest floggers we use a 10" handle; on the short floggers,  a 7 1/2" handle.

Lately we have been using the medium (9") handle on the long whips with medium and lighter weight tails, such as the cowhides, elk, and deerskin. Customers also favor this configuration. Let us know if you definitely want the 10" handle.

The diameter of the handle is a factor of the bulk of the tails which must attach to it and the preference of the user. To get the best-looking whips we put the thicker handles on the bulkier tails and the thinner handles on the slimmer bundles of tails. For most of our floggers we use the thicker 1-1/4" diameter handle. For the twenty-four tail deerskin floggers and the cats we use the thinner 1" diameter handle. This imparts a grace which we prefer.

For those who are convinced that the thinner handle just doesn't feel right in their hand, we are happy to use the thicker 1-1/4" diameter handle. But remember, a whip may look bigger with a thicker handle, but if there is not enough fullness in the tails to visually offset the handle, the result will be a whip which lacks elegance and visual resolution.

For smaller hands especially we can put the thinner 1" diameter handle on the heavier shorter whips. This will make a whip of much grace and utility.

THE LENGTH OF A WHIP - Is a matter of personal preference. If you usually play in confined spaces, or like to whip in close proximity to your subject, then the short length whips will work best. If you like to whip with maximum impact, then the longer tail whips will deliver more force because of their additional weight and the fact that the ends of the tails will be traveling in a longer and, therefore, faster arc. But remember, if you are a heavy player, upper body strength and conditioning will play a part in how the bottom experiences your impact. Each type of whip has potential to deliver a specific kind of feeling, within a given range of intensity. For example, no matter how heavily you apply a deerskin whip, you will never turn it into a heavyweight flogger.

FINISH KNOTS - The large intricately braided finish knot at the end of the handle which gives the finish to any whip is a whip-makers greatest trademark. We all use different braids. We use a distinctive herringbone braid which closes tightly around the handle and tails, faithfully duplicating the shape we have built up underneath it and tightening into the tails so they are held in place to give the optimum flying action. On almost all the whips we use black lace, but for special effects we use white, tan, brown, or silver. These braided finish knots come to us from the heritage of cowboy horse gear. The leather knots will well outlast the whip itself. They are the single most time-consuming part of whip making but one of the aspects which stands the professional whip maker apart.

TAIL MATERIALS FOR FLOGGERS

DEER SKIN - The softest floggers we make have deer skin tails. This light velvety hide makes a perfect warm-up whip. It makes lots of noise but delivers a limited amount of impact. Deerskin is ideal for caressing the body like many erotic fingers or for moving a lot of air like a fan. Deerskin whips are perfect for players who are more into the sense of domination without too much pain. Deerskin can get a crumpled look if kept too long in a restricted toy bag. Crumpling doesn't affects its usability, but we have found that hanging the whip when not in use will release any crumpling. With game animals in particular the hides vary in thickness. In our standard whips we add more tails if the hides are thinner so the effect remains pretty consistent, but we do charge extra for additional tails.

Because we buy deerskin from many different sources we can work in lots of different colors, including: black, red, fuscia, pink. lavender, dull purple, royal blue, electric blue, forest green, teal, dark brown, golden, tan and white - to name a few. By combining two or sometimes more colors in the tails, gorgeous results can be achieved. Deerskin whips are among our most popular. We try to keep some in stock. These whips are made with the standard twenty-four tails or in the double version which has fifty tails.

LIGHTWEIGHT COWHIDE - Some folks have requested a whip which is heavier than deerskin, but not as intense as my heavy flogger. For you we have added a lightweight cowhide with a velvety surface. It is available in a limited range of colors, and of course, black.  These whips are ideal for warm up however they also work beautifully midway through a scene as the density of the leather allows the Dominant to incorporate just a little bite.

ELK - An elk is a larger animal than a deer. Its hide is thicker and a little heavier but still has much of the soft quality of deerskin. We usually use black or the golden elk from which we make our flame whips. We employ a sponge application technique called stippling. Black and red dye is applied over the gold hide to give the illusion of flames as the tails are flying. We weave the handle either in all black or red/gold flame to match the tails.

HORSE HAIR - In England, when Janette was a child, they used the traditional horse-hair crops to whisk away the flies which bothered their ponies on warm summer days. Now she gets a nostalgic smile when we lay a nicely made horse-hair flogger on the body of a well-prepared candidate.

Horse-hair delivers a sensation of being scratched. It often evokes a love/hate response. With the repetition of strokes, the scratching sensation intensifies. Many bottoms are caught in the delicious dilemma, "I can't stand any more, but please don't stop!" For some recipients this will be the finale, for others just a step in the escalation of intensifying sensation.

We use a hand-full of hair in our standard whips. Adding more hair seems to reduce, not increase, the sensation, because the extra bulk causes wind resistance which slows down the speed of the tails. Horse-hair whips usually have black or white tails. While we are on the subject of intensifying sensation, we accidentally discovered how severe horse hair can be when we flicked the tails across our arms while they were still wet from washing. Horse-hair whips usually have the shorter, thinner handles with tails about twenty four inches long. Since the whips are lightweight, accurate handle balance is not critical; you can cut the tails shorter if desired.

Our Horse Hair is currently available in blue, yellow, red, white and of course, black.

MINI WHIPS - The smaller pieces remaining from our hides are made into what can be called purse or cock whips. Such delightful toys--so useful when we are close, but still want to keep whipping. These whips have a short braided loop on the handle. They can be carried in a Mistress' purse or clipped to a Master's belt for formal wear. We can use heavier leather for the tails upon request. The tails are usually 12" in length, the handle is 5".

RUBBER - Upon request, we will gladly make floggers with rubber tails. They are very severe and tolerated by only a few bottoms.

THE HEAVY FLOGGER - Still our most popular whip! For the tails we use a top-grain cowhide with a thick, but spongy texture. This gives the whip a great range of sensation with a balance of thud and sting. Although it will never have the soft touch of deerskin, if used with finesse, it can serve as a warm-up whip. We usually have a few of these whips in stock, mostly in black.

OIL TANNED COWHIDE - These hides make a snappy severe whip that really stings. The weight of the hides vary from medium to what our supplier calls "bottom of the barrel." This is very oily leather and has great density. We am always on the look-out for it, and such a whip makes a prized addition to any collection.

BULLHIDE - The leather for whips with solid thud. It is a superior top-grain hide with an even surface texture. It is heavy, supple, and consistent in thickness. Bullhide stretches less than Bison, which is an aesthetic consideration for some folks. Bullhide is available in a red, green, purple, gold and black..

BISON - (American Plains Buffalo) is now available and makes the most gorgeous tails imaginable. The hide is dense and supple. Sometimes the hides are medium weight, sometimes a heavier weight. Both are lovely; the ultimate whip collection would easily include one of each! The grain texture of Bison is very distinctive; it varies from neck to tail and has a gnarly, bumpy texture. Bison tails stretch more than average, a trait which some folks find quite acceptable, even appealing! I use mainly black, but sometimes maroon or tan which I stipple with black, feathering it from darker at the handle to nothing at the tail's end; this produces a sensational custom look.

LIGHT BUFFALO - Fast becoming one of our more popular floggers, the light weight Buffalo is very dense in nature and light weight.  This material offers a wonderful thud to the bottom who appreciates such.  Light weight Buffalo is one of our more versatile floggers, the sensation dependant on the skill of the Dominant.

MOOSE - It varies from extremely heavy through medium weights. The hides are somewhat dense and supple. The surface texture is usually quite beautiful but not as deeply etched as Bison. The color range is limited. We are fortunate to find a stockpile of extremely supple black hides.

MOPS - Such a mundane name for such a monumental instrument. Miss Bunnie talked Janette into making her first whip with about a hundred and fifty deerskin tails in a rainbow of six colors. Soon thereafter Jay from Second Skin made a similar request, the difference being that he had a name for the object of his desire. He questioned her, "Janette, can you make a mop?" Quickly realizing that he was probably not looking for an instrument with which to polish the floor, she replied in her usual friendly manner, "I'm sure I can!", and then had to ask, "What is a mop?".

So to us, a mop is a flogger with more than one hundred deerskin, moose, light buffalo, analine cow or elk tails (but 150 is the maximum, thank you!). Long tails are favored by those who like to drag flops over wrapped (or unwrapped) bodies. Mini-mops are favored by those who like to whip close. Mops always have a fat handle and the time-consuming nature of these whips is reflected in the price.

SUPER BIG FLOGGERS - Some of our big boys just can't resist giant whips; so at their request we have made some really powerful models. But remember that as tails get long and more numerous these whips become heavy, up to four pounds! But for those of you who work out regularly the rewards can be quite startling!

We designate a "Super Big Flogger" as one with either more tails than our heavyweight flogger and/or tails longer than 24". We can make them in any of the leathers, the most popular being bison, elk, and moose. But remember, a super big bison, for example, will weigh almost twice as much as a similar whip with deerskin tails. If the bundle of tails gets much larger than my standard whips I must use the "fat" 1-5/8" diameter handle. This requires a more complex, time-consuming, but nonetheless very handsome finish knot.

Unless you are an exceptionally tall person we suggest you try somebody else's extra long flogger before you set your heart on tails over 24". Cutting off tails upsets the balance of the whip, which we worked so diligently to achieve.

RABBIT FUR - Our newly designed rabbit fur floggers were originally designed for beginners and those into more sensual play.  Our first design was created with just one standard size rabbit pelt however we were soon able to incorporate larger, thicker pelts into the collection thus giving the recipient a delightful and moving thud.  Each Colossal Cotton Tail holds 3 of the large pelts which we think you will find most erotic.

Characteristics of Flat Braids

FLAT BRAIDS offer such a delicious variation for longer tails. After experimenting with numerous types of leather we are most pleased to offer a whip which a sweet friend names "industrial strength!" The tails are braided from bullhide with a "nice 1-1/2" flapper on each end. The flat braids' stinging sensation should not be confused with the cat, which has more of a cutting feeling. We make this whip with the traditional nine tails approximately 21" long and a 9" handle. We craft the handle loop in a flat braid to match the tails.

If you really want a very intense whip, we can terminate the flat braid tails with Turk's head knots.

Before the tail is braided, the edges of each strand are edge-dyed. On non-black leather this edge highlights the wheat-stalk-like pattern created when the strands are interwoven. If you would like this, then select a color listed in the section on bullhide floggers.  For a crisper, cleaner look, we can edge-dye red and purple flat braids with their natural color as opposed to black..

We must tell you that when Janette handles this whip she is reminded of growing up in England, and the many times she rode to the hounds. As a young girl she galloped her excited pony around the fields, jumping the hedges, and guiding him with the beautifully braided leather reins held firmly in her small gloved hands. Perhaps this whip will evoke fond memories from your past also!

Characteristics of Cats

Our cats, by tradition, have the nine round braided tails. They administer a sting, creating the sensation of being "whipped". The more tightly the tails are braided, the more intense will be each stroke. Braiding the tails is very hard on the crafter's hands. Holding the braids tightly causes callouses and soreness of the skin. This is reflected in the price of cats and the length of time some of you patiently wait for us to complete your order.

Cats with tails which terminate in the traditional Turk's head knots deliver more of a cutting action, while the tails which incorporate what we call the "leaf ends" deliver more of a scratching action. We make most of our cats from a top-quality cowhide. These hides of consistent thickness, with minimal superficial flaws braid into nice even tails which will make any good Sadist salivate. Besides all black, all red, etc, we can make up to fifty-fifty combinations like red and black or three colors like black, purple and green, etc.

We have used other leathers to make cat tails for either a softer or heavier effect. If they get really big and heavy, please anticipate a price to match, especially for a Saber Tooth cat with the "fat" handle. Our cats usually have tails approximately 21" long and the handle is 9". We use the 1" diameter handle on most cats because we like the elegant look which results.

Do remember that the cat is not a heavy whip in terms of weight. It usually weighs a little more than half a pound. But oh, what power those devilish round braids can deliver. It is a perfect example of mechanical advantage. Even the most petite mistress can get the undivided attention of her slave with this whip.

On the subject of BULLWHIPS, let us point out that we do not make any single-tail whips (of which the bullwhip is just one type). Single-tail whip making employs different leathers, different techniques, and different manual skills from those which we have developed. Because the demand is so high for Signal Whips, we have commissioned Roddy Williams (RAWhips!) to supply us with his wonderful craftsmanship.  Please call us if you would like to discuss plaits, pricing and color.

CATS - The cat comes to us from the seafaring tradition. In the galley's confined spaces slaves were lashed with cats. From "Bulls, Snakes and Other Scary Critters" (an article by Jim the whipmaker and Dick Carlson, which was printed in Dungeon Master) we quote: "Also of interest is the fact that flogging in the British Royal Navy was done with a cat made by the offender himself from a rope's end. The rope of the time was made of three roves of three, hence the nine tails. When the punishment was finished, the cat was cast overboard for reasons of hygiene. If anyone offers you a genuine Royal navy cat, don’t take it." A copy of this article was given to Janette by Robert Dante of Toronto, publisher of Boudoir Noir. If you yearn to see a real Master of the bullwhip, we doubt you will find a higher level of accuracy, intensity and connection than that demonstrated by this unassuming and powerful man.

WHIP CARE

We have been unable to find a certified method of decontaminating whips which may have been exposed to H.I.V. or other communicable diseases. The only 100% safe solution seems to be the rule: use each whip on no more than one person however we know this is at times unrealistic.

A Few Suggestions on Leather Whip Care

When not in use, hang your whips from a fat peg in a cool place, out of direct sunlight. Do not leave them all crumpled up in a toy bag. When traveling, pull a stocking over each whip to protect from rubbing against metal and other alien objects.

Cleaning - You may clean your whips by sponging (not soaking) with a solution of warm water to which you add 5% "Simple Green", or dishwashing liquid, or laundry detergent. Be sure to thoroughly dry the leather immediately by squeezing and blotting with paper towels. Do not use heat. Leather does not like to get wet and will remain stiff if not dried adequately.

Once they are clean, most people who wish to decontaminate their whips apply a heavy coat of Isopropyl 70% rubbing alcohol to the necessary parts, scrubbing with a soft brush to reach all surfaces. Spin the whip to aid in the natural process of evaporation.

Cleaning and decontamination removes the natural oils in leather. It is these natural oils which preserve and give the leather its life. Without replacing these natural oils the leather will become stiff and hard and lose its character and flexibility.

To Recondition - Use a "leather dressing" like Dubbin, Lexol or Pecards. For tails other than black, be sure to use a neutral color product. Avoid mink oil, a waterproofing agent, as it complicates the cleaning process and leaves the tails sticky and heavy. Make sure the whip is dry before you apply a small amount of the dressing. Work it into the leather with your bare hands, allow a couple of hours for absorption, then wipe off any excess with a soft cloth.

For those of you that feel uneasy about applying foreign agents to your whips, we highly recommend allowing your whip to hang after use, out of sunlight, in a cool location.  After 24-48 hours, any contaminants will evaporate into the air and die.  If your whip is marked with body fluids, we suggest using a soft toothbrush to brush away this debris. 

Caution: Always test products on a small area of leather to be sure they do not alter colors of dyes or surfaces

Since composing the notes on leather whip care, two sources of really helpful information have become available:

"Leather and Latex Care, by Kelly J. Thibault
Daedalus Publishing Company
584 Castro Street #518
San Francisco, CA 94114

David Morgan's Braided Goods Specialty Catalog
has really fine information on the care of whips.
Do not mention S/M use when calling this source.
(800) 324-4934

We notice that each expert seems to favor a different proprietary leather dressing:

-Kelly mentions Lexol or Neats Foot Oil
-I, Lori, love Pecard's Leather Dressing which I refer to as the best leather dressing on the market today.
-Robert Dane, of Toronto, uses and recommends Dr. Jackson's Hide Rejuvenator available from Tandy by mail order.

We are always here to answer any questions you may have so please feel free to write or call on us at 540-661-3332 or write PO BOX 1127 Orange, VA  22960.

© 2010.  Heartwood Whips of Passion.  All Rights Reserved.