fiberglass polearm shafts

Stoffel · Post by **Stoffel** » Sun Oct 21, 2001 9:04 pm

What exactly is pultruded(sp?) fiberglass, and where would I get it? I happen to have a few 12 foot sections of fiberglass poles for floundering, that are hollow inside, but I dont see how they could possible hold up very long in combat. I've never actually seen under the duct tape of a fiberglass shaft, only rattan.

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AKA Duc Kjosua

Vladimir · Post by **Vladimir** » Sun Oct 21, 2001 9:50 pm

the fiberglass is used only for spears, not polearms.

Ulsted · Post by **Ulsted** » Fri Oct 26, 2001 12:00 pm

The exact rules for poltruded fiberglass vary slightly, but in Ansteorra, it must be 1/8" wall thickness with a 1-1/4" outside diameter (and therefore a 1" ID). Poltruded fiberglass is made from a number of long fibers running the length of the pole. Thus when the matrix is damaged (such as from repeated blows), the fibers separate harmlessly (very much like rattan). It is also unlikely to form sharp splinters, again like rattan. You might try local plastics and fiberglass supplies / manufacturers for poles - or go to http://www.mandrakearmory.com/
Ulsted

bela of kaffa · Post by **bela of kaffa** » Sun Oct 28, 2001 12:28 pm

ok, i give up; what is "floundering"?

bela, floundering around on porpoise, for the halibut...

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:<HR>Originally posted by Stoffel:
 I happen to have a few 12 foot sections of fiberglass poles for floundering, that are hollow inside, but I dont see how they could possible hold up very long in combat.
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Stoffel · Post by **Stoffel** » Sat Nov 10, 2001 9:14 pm

ok, i give up; what is "floundering"?

basically using a big spear at night and walking around in shallow water with a light spearing flounders in the water(flounders, if you didnt know, are basically an ugly flat fish that buries itself in the sand)

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AKA Duc Kjosua

bela of kaffa · Post by **bela of kaffa** » Sun Nov 11, 2001 10:29 am

hmmm... a dock, a six pack, spinning rod w/ 8# test, and live bait on a spreader usually works for me!
bela
(one and a half more months until i'm back in the gulf lookin for fish!)

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:<HR>Originally posted by Stoffel:

ok, i give up; what is "floundering"?<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
basically using a big spear at night and walking around in shallow water with a light spearing flounders in the water(flounders, if you didnt know, are basically an ugly flat fish that buries itself in the sand)

Aidan Cambel · Post by **Aidan Cambel** » Mon Nov 12, 2001 8:33 pm

pultruded fiberglass is used some in the petroleum industry because its construction holds well under pressures of earth. It is used like waterpipe from a tank to a pump. Its hard to come by, but if you can find a dealer in gas station equipment you mike find some.

Also, the Coca-Cola Company uses it for something... not sure what. Probably about the same thing I owuld suspect, since co-cola is so acidic.

Important thing for everyone to remember about pultruded fiberglass is that it does become brittle when exposed to sunlight after a long time. When someone breaks a spear they have had for a few years ,they say "well, it lasted a long time" but don't realize it would have lasted longer if it had been protected.

A good way to protect these shafts are to cover them in contact paper. And since you can get contact paper in a wood grain - you can have a spear that *looks* like a wooden shaft from 10 feet away - and protect it from becoming brittle.

In Service,
Aidan (who couldn't resist the oppurtunity to try and get rid of yellow/green/black shafts on the field

)