| Author |
Topic:
Good Carbon-Fiber sparring tube source...
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Evil-Henchman
Registered:
Jul '04
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Date Posted:
10/1/05 3:58am
Subject:
RE: Good Carbon-Fiber sparring tube source...
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Ok, I got my carbon fiber tubes from Dragonplate.com and though I'd give you what info I have gathered on them so far.
Both tubes are 4' in length. The 1/2" OD tube has a 3/64" thick wall and is very, very light. The 3/4" OD tube has a 3/32" thick wall and definately has a noticable weight/heft to it but it IS lighter than PVC of (roughly) the same dimensions and IS lighter than 3/4" red oak dowel. Both tube's outside diameter appears to be 1/128" thinner than the stated diameter. That should make for a very nice fit in saber hilts bored out to either 1/2" or 3/4". 
Both tubes are extremely rigid. I can barely flex the 1/2" OD tube ever so slightly and basically can't do it at all with the 3/4" OD tube. This means that there will be no "whip" when swinging or sparring with them. It is possible that some whip could be seen in the 1/2" tube when it hits something very hard but I doubt it will be noticable enough on film to be any kind of problem whatsoever.
Both tubes are very straight. In other words, rolling them on a flat surface will show that they are almost perfectly straight. So far so good. Sparring stress test video to follow in a week or two.
Here be some pics. As you can see, both tubes are pretty much black in color.
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PixelMagic
Registered:
Oct '01
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Date Posted:
10/1/05 4:09am
Subject:
RE: Good Carbon-Fiber sparring tube source...
- Date Edited:
10/1/05 4:09am (1 edits total)
Edited By:
PixelMagic
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Is it possible to paint them? Say, florecent orange?
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http://danielbroadway.blogspot.com " Well, I have a tendency to come unexpectedly like that." -Codepoet
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Evil-Henchman
Registered:
Jul '04
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Date Posted:
10/1/05 4:14am
Subject:
RE: Good Carbon-Fiber sparring tube source...
- Date Edited:
10/1/05 4:15am (1 edits total)
Edited By:
Evil-Henchman
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Well, they're really smooth so I'm not sure how well paint would stick to the material. I'm guessing, not very well. Perhaps the tubes can be sanded to a slightly rougher finish so paint will stick. I just don't know.
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"Warned you we tried. Listen you did not. Now screwed we all will be."
"Why are there no lumberjacks in the city?"
"Ninja kick the damn rabbit!"
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fireresq7
Registered:
Oct '02
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Date Posted:
10/1/05 6:54am
Subject:
RE: Good Carbon-Fiber sparring tube source...
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Well how about these guys?[
there blades are like $32 but they look good.
~Rory
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G-Unit
Registered:
May '04
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Date Posted:
10/1/05 7:39am
Subject:
RE: Good Carbon-Fiber sparring tube source...
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I bet the checkered pattern could be painted from R.A.sabers
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Aaron Greer-Director/Writer/Producer http://www.nexthorizonfilms.com/ "I'd rather direct than produce. Any day. And twice on Sunday." Steven Spielberg Current Project- Sky Guardian
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Evil-Henchman
Registered:
Jul '04
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Date Posted:
10/3/05 12:43am
Subject:
RE: Good Carbon-Fiber sparring tube source...
- Date Edited:
10/3/05 12:49am (1 edits total)
Edited By:
Evil-Henchman
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Ok, I decided to hit the 2 carbon fiber tubes together by myself. I hit them hard but not execessivly so. After the second hit, the 1/2" tube split in several places. Splintered would be more like it. It seems these tubes are very similiar to fiberglass. Below is a pic of me pinching the tube where it splintered.
I'm guessing the 3/4" tube will not last very long when sparring... I'll know soon. Perhaps the Kilwell fiberglass tubes that RandomSabers sells are better seeing as how thay have that crossweave pattern going on.
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"Warned you we tried. Listen you did not. Now screwed we all will be."
"Why are there no lumberjacks in the city?"
"Ninja kick the damn rabbit!"
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Crimsus
Registered:
Oct '04
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Date Posted:
10/3/05 12:48am
Subject:
RE: Good Carbon-Fiber sparring tube source...
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I messed around with a small 5-inch piece of the 1/2" OD tube to see how well paint sticks. The tubes do need to be sanded, but to expedite the process, I just put the 1/2" OD tube in a drill. I used 200 grit sandpaper and sanded back and forth while the drill was turning the tube. I used a quick but firm back and forth motion on the tube to get a somewhat cross hatched sanding pattern on the tube. Once I did that, I used some of that Krylon (I think it was Krylon) plastic primer and some orange spray paint.
The paint held a lot better, but since most will spar with the tubes, you'll have to do a lot of repainting.
I suggest instead of using paint, use some flourescent tape and apply it in a candy cane spiral with a solid wrap around the bottom and top of the tube. Tape is cheaper and easier to reapply than having to repaint.
-Crimsus
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Evil-Henchman
Registered:
Jul '04
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Date Posted:
10/3/05 1:46pm
Subject:
RE: Good Carbon-Fiber sparring tube source...
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Bump.
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