Flogger Construction & Selection
Quality floggers are handcrafted from start to finish. Custom
orders are our specialty!
Fantasies In Leather began with the creation of floggers and in
the beginning it was an unhurried and time-consuming endeavor. This
remains true today as each flogger is created with careful attention
to details. Archer personally selects the leather hides for all
flogger lashes. This leather is not procured sight unseen but chosen
for specific qualities to make superior floggers.
Lashes
Lashes are hand cut from soft but sturdy sections of animal hides
and our standard lashes are 3 oz hides that measure 20" long.
Lash width varies from 5/8" to 1/2" depending on the flogger
selected and lash count is between 28 to 30 lashes for standard
foggers.
Physics comes into play when considering the number of lashes
desired for a flogger: Force = Mass (weight) x Acceleration. If
a person can accurately throw a flogger with lightweight or few
lashes using a faster speed than they normally throw one with heavier
or more lashes then the impact (force) will be the same.
Cross section is also a consideration. Cross section refers not
only to the number of lashes but also to the width of the individual
lashes. Generally speaking, all other factors being equal, as the
width of each lash increases, the blow will feel more thuddy as
opposed to stingy. This is because the force of the blow is distributed
over a wider cross section. When considering the number of lashes,
both effects are felt to a slightly lesser degree. This is the reason
that braided lashes give a deeper blow, albeit a stinging one.
Mop floggers are usually made to give “heavy thud”
sensation…and for their sheer evil appearance. The biggest
problem with mops is they are difficult to work well and not easy
to counterbalance properly because most people can't throw them
with the same grip they use on a regular weight flogger. They are
as dangerous to the wrists, arms and shoulders of the user as they
are to the backs of their targets.
As with many things some people will try to make up for lack of
length of various body parts by increasing it in others. We generally
recommend that the overall length of a flogger including handle
and lashes should be no longer than the length of their arm, regardless
of the imagined length of certain body parts. This gives room so
that you don't get in the way of your own flogger. Longer lashes
can be worked with but is the extra effort really worthwhile?
All our floggers have straight cut lash ends. This gives you the
option to alter as desired. Cutting the tips round or beveled might
reduce sting caused by contact with just the tips. However some
people like to be able to give that extra sting by using a tip strike,
which concentrates the energy in that little tip and thus creates
sting.
Handles
Quality lashes are securely fixed to 7" hardwood handles
with a 7/8” diameter. Longer handles can be custom cut to
your specifications but remember: the weight and length of a handle
must feel ‘right’ with the tails and this is something
that one must feel, not read about.
Handle wraps are generally of two styles: diamond weave and herringbone
weave. Color choices vary. All floggers come complete with wrist
strap and hanging loop.
Turk's Head Finishing Knots
The Turk's head knot is a decorative knot with a basket weave
pattern surrounding a cylinder shaped object. The name is used to
describe the general family of all such knots rather than one individual
knot. The knot was originally named because of its resemblance to
a Turban. Most knots used on floggers are variations of the Turk's
head knot (sometimes called Monkey Paw, Gifthead or Pineapple).
The visual differences are a result of shape and thickness of the
material (leather, rope, etc) used and the number of strands of
material used.
Most Turk's head knots and other ring knots are used to hide the
construction of the flogger or whatever else they happen to be used
on. They cover the places where the end of the handle braids are,
or where the lashes are attached to the handles. They give the item
a more finished look and if tied tightly, with leather that stretches
a little bit, then they also add to the strength of the construction.
A properly placed bottom knot also bundles the tails together. This
helps reduce the tendency for the tails to "fly" or break
away from each other. Some people throw a flogger by gripping the
knot between the forefinger and the middle finger. Unfortunately,
this style of throwing can cause friction on the skin leading to
blistering between the fingers.
Balance
Balance is the point at which the weight of the handle equals
the weight of the tails. Balance is important so that when swinging
the flogger with the hand on the middle of the handle does not work
the wrist too hard. A properly balanced flogger also enables to
Top to lay the lashes more precisely on a desired location on the
body. The handle and the turkshead knot or other finishing embellishment
on the end of the handle counterbalances the falls.
The most common point of balance is in the neck of the flogger.
The neck is where the lashes attach to the handle. However it is
less important that the point of balance always be at the neck than
it is that the point of balance be consistently in the same part
of the handle on all your floggers. It is that consistent placement
of the point of balance that makes a consistent throw easier. This
creates muscle memory and makes it possible to throw the flogger
the most accurately with the least amount of stress on the wrist,
arm and shoulder. If the point of balance is one forth the distance
from the neck to the end of the handle in all of your floggers then
you are still going to have the same benefits as if they were all
in the neck.
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