I want to learn more about Polypropylene swords!

[Corby de la Flamme]

This was the sticker on the 3' piece I got from McMaster-Carr:
http://on.fb.me/kp5apz

"Content unavailable" Facebook sucks.

[B. Amos]

Just ordered 20 more sticks for Atlantia. Is the East kingdom participating in this experament? I have a friend up there who was interested in getting one.

[Corby de la Flamme]

OK, after a mistake where I accidentally deleted my pics posted earlier, here are some new ones.

Tip showing cuts added to lighten said tip.



Back edge of the blade. You can tell because the tape hasn't worn off!


This last one shows the "most" serious damage I could find on the rod:

[Christophe de Frisselle]

This was the sticker on the 3' piece I got from McMaster-Carr:
http://on.fb.me/kp5apz

"Content unavailable" Facebook sucks.

Damn it!

[Christophe de Frisselle]

Just ordered 20 more sticks for Atlantia. Is the East kingdom participating in this experament? I have a friend up there who was interested in getting one.

Not that I officially know of, but the current KEM has seen and used my sword at an event I sent it to for him to see.

[Sir Omarad]

Just ordered 20 more sticks for Atlantia. Is the East kingdom participating in this experament? I have a friend up there who was interested in getting one.

Not that I officially know of, but the current KEM has seen and used my sword at an event I sent it to for him to see.

If I am remembering correctly they are starting the experiment currently.
Contact him for details.
Sir Stephen Grandchamp
earl-marshal@eastkingdom.org

[olaf haraldson]

I ran it by Steve, like Christophe said. Nobody seemed against it... right now he's looking for an experimental weapons deputy.
Olaf

Just ordered 20 more sticks for Atlantia. Is the East kingdom participating in this experament? I have a friend up there who was interested in getting one.

Not that I officially know of, but the current KEM has seen and used my sword at an event I sent it to for him to see.

If I am remembering correctly they are starting the experiment currently.
Contact him for details.
Sir Stephen Grandchamp
earl-marshal@eastkingdom.org

[Baron Alcyoneus]

How much does it weigh?

[Corby de la Flamme]

As I believe is mentioned somewhere above, while these sticks are 1.25" diameter, they weigh about the same as a moderately dense piece of 1.5" rattan.

[Christophe de Frisselle]

My 3' rod weighed 1 lbs 2oz. After switching it out from a basket hilt to a cross guard, I cut of about an inch and a half. The sword is not 36" long with thrusting tip. Taped, Ironmonger cross guard held on with two hose clamps and a pipe cap for a pommel. The whole thing weighs 2 lbs 13 oz. A little over a quarter pound more than I normally make my swords. The balance point is 4.75" above the cross guard. I have found that the tang on the IronMonger cross guard has provided some stiffness to the shaved handle area of the rod. This has greatly reduced any of the wobble due to the flex of the rod. Which with the basket hilt were causing alot of the shots landing with the last 6" - 8" to not hit with sufficient force and a lot of vibration to transfer down to the grip.

[Sir Omarad]

spindle sanders work best for shaping the handles.

[Count Johnathan]

My 3' rod weighed 1 lbs 2oz.

Yeah we all say that since we assume girls don't know how to weigh or measure things.

[Corby de la Flamme]

Here are my thoughts about the polypro rods for use in a competitive environment.

[BdeB]

Corby that is almost exactly my experience at TOC as well, and to be honest with most of the fighters at my local practice. I also have a feeling that heat/humidity is going to affect these as well. Cold seem to have no real affect and heat shouldn't but it's just a feeling I have. A lot of my blows last night near the foible were wobbly. In short I think this material is excellent for practice applications but I would never fight in a competitive tourney with it. The difference in sound and in feel make that problematic. However, as a practice and pell sword. Oh yeah.

[uwhguy]

i had a brand new one break against me on Monday. it was a relatively clean break, but it wasnt 90 degrees. It isnt my sword, so I dont have pics, sorry, but I thought I should post it here.

[Vitus von Atzinger]

I played with one last night, and will post my findings soon.

[Sir Omarad]

i had a brand new one break against me on Monday. it was a relatively clean break, but it wasnt 90 degrees. It isnt my sword, so I dont have pics, sorry, but I thought I should post it here.

I'd like to know the manufacturer and the owner for data purposes.

[BdeB]

i had a brand new one break against me on Monday. it was a relatively clean break, but it wasnt 90 degrees. It isnt my sword, so I dont have pics, sorry, but I thought I should post it here.

Who was the fighter?

[B. Amos]

i had a brand new one break against me on Monday. it was a relatively clean break, but it wasnt 90 degrees. It isnt my sword, so I dont have pics, sorry, but I thought I should post it here.

Who was the fighter?

I am also very interested in who it was. If it is part of the shipment that I bought I will trade it with a new one. It must have had a flaw like a buble or somthing, either that or I am just a puss since it took me 350+ strikes to break one.

[uwhguy]

It was William Shoprat. A marshal/spectator called hold almost immediately. It was literally his third or fourth swing with it I think.

I think that Joscelin has pics.

[B. Amos]

Not one of the ones I sold then, I thought that he had one for quite some time now.

[uwhguy]

You would have to ask him. I only mentioned it because I know William isn't an archiver, and I haven't seen Jos on here either. He did say it was brand new.

[B. Amos]

Bummer. I finaly decided to put some decient hardware on the one that I have been using so it will be interesting to see how much longer it lasts.

[BdeB]

Amos, that was one of the McMaster Carr ones wasn't it?

[B. Amos]

Amos, that was one of the McMaster Carr ones wasn't it?

I dont know. He didnt buy one from me. I do get all of mine from McMaster Carr. I wonder if I should test the new shipment before I sell them?

[BdeB]

I'll see if I can get Shoprat's # and talk to him.

[Count Johnathan]

B.Amos I can tell you the way the one broke in your video was very different from the way mine broke last year. A very obvious difference in composition.

My only concern is getting the right material consistantly. This is why I have been reluctant to purchase another for further testing.

[Sir Omarad]

There are several hundred out there and as long as they break without injury that's fine from an SCA standpoint.
I woyuld save the pieces and gety a refund or something if it really breaks that early in it's life.

I've had several pieces of rattan that broke the first period of use too.

[Count Johnathan]

I agree it's just that $30 for a single stick that didn't make it through the first fight was pretty lame.

I hit something with it. I don't think they would offer a refund for that.

[Corby de la Flamme]

If you paid $30 for 36" of it, you either got something different, or really overpaid.

Amos is getting them for <$15 per 36".

[Sir Omarad]

If you paid $30 for 36" of it, you either got something different, or really overpaid.

Amos is getting them for <$15 per 36".

I paid $35 for 10' cut into 3 swords 40" long.
So, not quite $12 each.

[Broadway]

Where are people getting this stuff, and what exactly do we order when we buy it?

I wouldn't mind buying a stick of it.

[Sir Omarad]

Just ask for the SCA rod cut into 3 pieces 40" long each.

From Barry Ellison at Brast Industries:
As the 1.25" dia polypropylene rod is a non-stock item for us, we do not have an assigned part number of it. Should you have anyone needing to inquire about purchasing it in the future, they would just need to ask for 1.25" diameter natural polypropylene rod. If they would just identify themselves with the SCA, we can be sure everyone receives the same price.
Sincerely
Barry Ellison
BRAST Industrial Solutions, LLC
502-585-5171
or
800-292-2396

[Broadway]

Ok, cool... I just ordered a 3ft long 1.25" polypropylene rod from McmasterCarr.

It was $13.

[BdeB]

I have talked to the marshall of the Atlantian practice that had a polypro fail, rather epically this week. It was purchased from Brast Industries and this was its second time being used. It sounds like there was an inclusion or bubble in the rod material. The break was L shaped and the part that flew off travelled some distance (it was nearer the foible than the forte). The marshall has taken pictures and was on his way to another practice to inspect the broken part of the sword last night to see if the smaller portion of the breakage could have entered a legal helmet grill. He is reporting his finding to our Earl Marshall and I suggested and he copy Sir Omarad on that.

The most distressing part of this breakage is that unlike rattan the poly, when it failed, did not simple mush up, but became a projectile (still larger than a thin shafted arrow but... ). Also since the break was closer to the tip it moved at a high arch with some velocity. (When a similar rattan weapon breaks it is usually at the grip rather than at the tip, and the long body of the sword tends to drop over to the ground rather quickly.)

From what I understand this sword was wrapped in duct tape, which did nothing in and of itself to keep the end of the sword from falling off. I asked if strapping tape was used and the marshall did not believe it was. I believe that an application of strapping tape might have made a difference in how this thing broke, but I can't prove that as of yet.

I am of course, a fan of this material for practice purposes, but I think in the interest of disclosure we need to report the good and the bad as they happen to have a clear picture of wheither or not this should be allowed for general use.