[Ansteorra] siloflex swords

Sat Feb 9 19:51:38 PST 2008

Salut cozyns,

I've been using siloflex swords since it was initially allowed--about fifteen years ago, I think. As Sir Morgan indicated, siloflex swords are lighter than unmitigated rattan. As a result, if you have any difficulty delivering a solid blow, siloflex swords will just exasperate you. 

I can attest that, yes, siloflex definitely increases sword life. Not only does the siloflex shield the surface of the rattan, but the cross section of the rattan is only 1". Due to the smaller diameter, shear forces transmitted from the striking to non-striking side of the rattan is less. When I was at my most active (two or three practices per week plus tournaments whenever possible), I went through a rattan sword in one to three months. At the same activity level, my swords lasted over a year.

I like the lighter blades. Even though they force me to hit harder, they do less damage to my shoulders and elbows. 

I've noted two odd aspects of siloflex swords. 

First, the increased lifespan means that thrusting tips go dead long before the rattan gives out. 

Second, siloflex striking bare flesh, or flesh protected by cloth alone, is not a pleasant experience. It stings. This makes sense when you consider what's happening to the two materials when they bend around a target. The rattan fibers at the strike point simply bend. Fibers behind slide to accommodate the flexion. The polymer fibers in siloflex, on the other hand, have a web-like structure. To accommodate a bend, the web on the striking surface compresses. The compression causes friction on the skin--it essentially grabs flesh.

En Lyonel 
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Impedimentum via est 
(The obstacle is the path)

> Date: Sat, 9 Feb 2008 20:53:32 -0600> From: iaenmor at swbell.net> To: ansteorra at lists.ansteorra.org> Subject: Re: [Ansteorra] siloflex swords> > To add to what Sir Morgan has posted. Siloflex is a brand name that has > become like Xerox. There are other brands out there that meet the same > standards (ASTM) as Siloflex and are usable. "ASTM standard D-2239 or > the international equivalent, having at least a 1 1?4 inch (31.8 mm) > diameter on the outside and at least 1/8 inch (3.2 mm) walls." > > Siloflex Equivalents> > 1. Be manufactured to ASTM D2239 or ASTM D2737 Standards.> 2. Be manufactured from PE3408> 3. Be sized as 1" ID if D2239, or 1-1/4" OD if D2737> > Silverline> "Sil-O-Flex" D2239 pipe from PE 3408 in pressure ratings from 100 to 200 > PSI ***Only D2239 with 1" inside diameter at either 100 psi or 160 psi > are approved for use as APDs***> http://www.silverline.net> > Cresline> D2239 and D2737 pipe from PE 3408 ***Only D2239 with 1" inside diameter > at either 100,160 or 200 psi and D2737 with 1-1/4" outside diameter at > either 100 psi or 160 psi are approved for use as APDs***> http://www.cresline.com> > Charter Plastic Inc.> D2239 and D2737 pipe from PE 3408 in pressure ratings from 80 to 250 PSI > ***Only D2239 with 1" inside diameter at either 100 psi or 160 psi, and > D2737 with 1-1/4" outside diameter at either 100 psi or 160 psi are > approved for use as APDs***> http://www.charterplastics.com> > Endot Industries, Inc> "Blue Jet" and "Endopoly" D2239 and D2737 pipe from PE 3408 in pressure > ratings from 100 to 200 PSI ***Only D2239 with 1" inside diameter at > either 100 psi or 160 psi, and D2737 with 1-1/4" outside diameter at > either 100 psi or 160 psi are approved for use as APDs***> http://www.endot.com> > Orangeburg Pipe ****new addition***> > "Poly-Xtra" brand pipe. D2239 water service pipe from PE3408 in pressure > ratings from 100 to 200 PSI.. *** Orangeburg Pipe is a division of Endot > Industries *** (sometimes sold at Lowes)> > Genova Products Inc.> "PARR IPS" D2239 pipe from PE 3408 in pressure ratings from 100 to 200 > PSI ***Only D2239 with 1" inside diameter at either 100 psi or 160 psi > are approved for use as APDs***> http://www.genovaproducts.com> > Vanguard Piping Systems Inc.> "ProGuard" D2239 and D2737 pipe from PE 3408 in pressure ratings from > 100 to 200 PSI ***Only D2239 with 1" inside diameter at either 100 psi > or 160 psi, and D2737 with 1-1/4" outside diameter at either 100 psi or > 160 psi are approved for use as APDs***> "Bruiser" D2239 and D2737 pipe from PE 3408 in pressure ratings from 160 > to 200 PSI> * NOTE Bruiser is blue in color on the outside for easy identification > as a water pipe ***Only D2239 with 1" inside diameter at 160 psi, and > D2737 with 1-1/4" outside diameter at 160 psi are approved for use as > APDs***> http://www.vanguardpipe.com> > WesFlex Pipe Manufacturing> "Gold Label" D2239 and D2737 pipe from PE 3408 in pressure ratings from > 100 to 200 PSI ***Only D2239 with 1" inside diameter at either 100 psi > or 160 psi, and D2737 with 1-1/4" outside diameter at either 100 psi or > 160 psi are approved for use as APDs***> http://www.wesflex.com> > Note these are the equivalents listed from www.combat-archery.com for > APD use but would be usable for sword construction. Be sure to use the > 160 psi rated pipe. Siloflex can usually be found at Lowe's in the > plumbing section in the same display as the black steel pipe. Charter > Plastics or Cresline (don't remember which, has orange lettering) can > found at Home Depot in the same area. These are already straightened > and cut to 5' lengths. > > HL Iaen Mor> > Sir Morgan Buchanan wrote:> > Siloflex is a polymer tubing material which can be purchased at a variety of > > places like home improvement or plumbing supply, as I understand it. It > > doesn't substitute for rattan, but is used to enhance rattan. One takes a > > core of rattan and drives it into a siloflex tube. The hard(er) polymer > > tube keeps the rattan healthy longer, or so the theory goes.> >> > The piece of rattan used is smaller than 1 1/4" as the outside diameter of > > the siloflex is usually that measurement.> >> > They handle pretty well exactly the same as a "full" rattan sword. Siloflex > > swords, in at least my experience, tend to be on the lighter end of the > > spectrum. The problem as I see it with siloflex swords is that internal > > damage isn't as immediately apparent. With a tape and rattan sword, you can > > put your hand on the sword and simply feel that the rattan has pulped out. > > With siloflex, you just get an increasily flexible sword.> >> > There's really not a great deal to say about it. Hope this helps - I'm sure > > that fans of it will speak up on some of the stronger pros.> >> > Morgan> >> >> > ----- Original Message ----- > > From: "Stefan li Rous" <StefanliRous at austin.rr.com>> > > >> From time to time I've seen mention of this material. I assume this> >> is being used as a substitute as rattan gets more expensive or> >> difficult to get. In the Florlegium I have a file on rattan with> >> sources and how to work it. I'd like to hear some similar information> >> about this siloflex.> >>> >> How does it compare to rattan? What are its pro? and cons? When made> >> into an SCA weapon does it handle differently than the same type of> >> weapon made of rattan? Where do you get the stuff? > >> > >> > _______________________________________________> > Ansteorra mailing list> > Ansteorra at lists.ansteorra.org> > http://lists.ansteorra.org/listinfo.cgi/ansteorra-ansteorra.org> >> > > _______________________________________________> Ansteorra mailing list> Ansteorra at lists.ansteorra.org> http://lists.ansteorra.org/listinfo.cgi/ansteorra-ansteorra.org
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