Sword Cores

[Jevins]

I hear most people say they prefer fiberglass or kitespar cores for their swords. Obviously, this is better than PVC most of the time, but I know there are more variables to poles than their material.

My question for the forums is in regards to the type, shape, and measurements of one's preferred core. I want to know what seems to work best to be the most efficient combination of shape, weight, and material.

I currently use round, solid, fiberglass poles from D&B supply, but those poles often have too much flex if they're built to be anything beyond a medium-long blue sword. I have also had problems with core dis-bondage more than once, due to the flex and vibrations these swords take when they come into contact with anything.

So what does the rest of Belegarth prefere? Square or rounded core? Solid or hollow? And what thicknesses seem to work best for everyone?

[Doozer]

what diameter do you use for you cores? 3/8 or 1/2 inch? my blues are made half inch and the flex is no issue.

[Remdawg Killionaire]

I like kitespar. Being hollow takes a noticable amount of weight off, and it doesn't have as much stank on hits as solid fiberglass. Problem is, it tends to flex, specially as you get into lower diameter cores. I also broke a kitespar sword at last practice with my * sword. oops.

[Caleidah]

I use solid fiberglass on my weapons, if only because I'm still too cheap to get kitespar and make myself good kit. 3/8" solid fiberglass is good for swords with a total length up to about 32". Beyond that, you'll want 1/2" solid. That will do you out to min-red length.

.502 is the kitespar of choice for most folks, as far as I know. .502 or .524, anyway.

[Guy Leslo Jans]

I roll with 1/2 inch fibe. for all but my mini swords(<24 in.) or B#$% sticks as I commonly refer to them. That's what I give my noobs. The 1/2 is good for max blues, but I've never had a red last more than two practices before flex fail. If you can find square fibe. core let me know,the best weapon I ever owned was square core, every blade I put on it lasted two years with no slipping. I recently lost it at chaos and I would rather build with that, just because of the amount of contact with the standard box blade.

Kitesparr is good but then you have to weight your weapon, and its durability is on par with golf club cores which in my realm, we break one once a month.

[Tyrieal Isenguard]

For blues my unit uses .524 or 1/2in around 1/8in wall fiberglass. The kitespar is easier to balance, but the fiberglass hits like a brick and we haven't broke one yet. For reds I like 1/2 solid carbon fiber rods.

[Taxfrog]

from my reading elsewhere, when carbon fiber shatters it breaks into many needles. My question is, has this happened in Bel? Cause I've only read about it with arrows and model airplanes.

[Big King Jimmy]

from my reading elsewhere, when carbon fiber shatters it breaks into many needles. My question is, has this happened in Bel? Cause I've only read about it with arrows and model airplanes.

"Needles" is a strong word. Plus, it's encased in foam. Not really an issue.

[Arrakis]

I use .524 for blueswords out to 38" or so, .602 kitespar for longer blueswords and short-to-medium length javelins, 1/2" sq. fiberglass for 48-52" red swords, and bandpole for anything 72" or longer. I don't really build things between 52" and 72". I did once build a 54" or so short spear out of 3/4" OD Tonken bamboo. It's still working pretty good, too.

3/8" square fiberglass also makes pretty nice blueswords 40" and under.

[No'Vak]

I use .524 for blueswords out to 38" or so, .602 kitespar for longer blueswords and short-to-medium length javelins, 1/2" sq. fiberglass for 48-52" red swords, and bandpole for anything 72" or longer. I don't really build things between 52" and 72". I did once build a 54" or so short spear out of 3/4" OD Tonken bamboo. It's still working pretty good, too.

3/8" square fiberglass also makes pretty nice blueswords 40" and under.

Where do you get your sq 1/2"?

[Arrakis]

Brutus at BestDagStuff before he went out of business; Edhellen before that.

[Blackwolfe]

Brutus at BestDagStuff before he went out of business; Edhellen before that.

wait.. and Now?

[Arrakis]

I don't buy things one at a time. I buy rare things like 1/2" sq. in much larger quantities than I require. I am almost out.

[Thomas MacFinn]

From a Dun Abhon local thread:

For those looking for "bandshoppe poles", Eddie Riser in the sales dept at Bohn Fiberglass, here in Louisville, says they can make can make 20 ft long hollow fiberglass poles (1" inside diameter, 1/8" thick), for $38.20

They won't sell it at other lengths, but will hapilly cut it down into 2 - 10 ft poles (or 2 - 8's and a 4', etc). Although they carry solid round poles for individual sale in stock, Bohn doesn't normally deal in orders as small as we would want for custom stuff like the hollow poles. For us, Eddie says he is willing to tack a few poles onto another order - we would just have to let him know and wait a while for such an order to come in.

Bohn's website is down or something. ... Thomas, do you still have their number or perhaps a new/different website to check?

The old website was little more than an address and a picture of the building.

(502) 933-3515. Eddie Riser still works there.

http://local.yahoo.com/info-15264683-bo ... louisville

I just ordered a 20 ft piece of 1/2" square stock from Eddie at Bohn Fiberglass today. It was $30 plus tax.

[Arrakis]

From a Dun Abhon local thread:

For those looking for "bandshoppe poles", Eddie Riser in the sales dept at Bohn Fiberglass, here in Louisville, says they can make can make 20 ft long hollow fiberglass poles (1" inside diameter, 1/8" thick), for $38.20

They won't sell it at other lengths, but will hapilly cut it down into 2 - 10 ft poles (or 2 - 8's and a 4', etc). Although they carry solid round poles for individual sale in stock, Bohn doesn't normally deal in orders as small as we would want for custom stuff like the hollow poles. For us, Eddie says he is willing to tack a few poles onto another order - we would just have to let him know and wait a while for such an order to come in.

Bohn's website is down or something. ... Thomas, do you still have their number or perhaps a new/different website to check?

The old website was little more than an address and a picture of the building.

(502) 933-3515. Eddie Riser still works there.

http://local.yahoo.com/info-15264683-bo ... louisville

I just ordered a 20 ft piece of 1/2" square stock from Eddie at Bohn Fiberglass today. It was $30 plus tax.

*shudder*

I know what I'm doing next time I'm in KY.

[Thomas MacFinn]

Preorder. They carry the 1/2" and 5/8" round stuff in stock all the time, but not the square.

[Arrakis]

Preorder. They carry the 1/2" and 5/8" round stuff in stock all the time, but not the square.

Thanks, man.

I may have to preorder some sick shaped rattan wasters from you, too...

[Thomas MacFinn]

You might want to check these out then:

http://forums.armourarchive.org/phpBB3/ ... 3&t=139746

http://forums.armourarchive.org/phpBB3/ ... 3&t=136028

http://foxknife.com