Yes I KNOW its been gone over again and again, but does anyone have any plans? I've downloaded all the pictures etc off this site, I DONT have Volkmanns book and I have found another site which has some instructions.
My problem is this, my grandfather (who is building the thing for me) wants more. He wants to take the best bits of every fencing dummy out there and make the best fencing dummy ever.....so any more suggestions? Walter, did you ever write that how to guide?
__________________ You may love me but you dont accept me. I dont want your love without your acceptance.
Unfortunately, I never got the fencing dummy's arm figured out to my satisfaction. It will take a better home engineer than me to tweak my "innovative" new arm so that it works... or at least, someone with more time. Because of ongoing minor annoyances with the arm and blade mounting, I never went through with the how-to.
I have recently seen some Volkmann fencing dummies, and they did not suffer from the flaws my dummy suffers from. That is the way to go, if you can find someone to bum the book off of.
I do know that Artisan was working up designs for a mechanical arm, but I don't know how far he got with them. We had a joint effort to make a "super dummy" that petered out.
I do know that Artisan was working up designs for a mechanical arm, but I don't know how far he got with them. We had a joint effort to make a "super dummy" that petered out.
Actually I haven't given up, and am just now testing a simplified version of what we had discussed. The problem with most of the arm designs I've seen is the spring - which is either too "twang-y" or works itself loose under heavy use. I've mounted a blade on a pivot that works like a skateboard truck, so it gives and springs back without being too spring like. Don't hold you breath though - this has become a pretty low priority. I've found real humans and lessons to be much more productive than sparring with the arm - though it is helpful in working out specific problems. When time permits I'll make a sketch and a parts list available. The Volkmann design is good though, but requires one weld and locating the right spring.
Any way to substitute bungee cable? I'd think that's imitate human tendon and muscle more closely than a spring...
My old club had a fencing arm with two springs (set to the left and right behind the guard) which worked really well. I wouldn't be able to remember exactly the technical layout. It was great for practicing beat hits and takings.
Yes I KNOW its been gone over again and again, but does anyone have any plans? I've downloaded all the pictures etc off this site, I DONT have Volkmanns book and I have found another site which has some instructions.
My problem is this, my grandfather (who is building the thing for me) wants more. He wants to take the best bits of every fencing dummy out there and make the best fencing dummy ever.....so any more suggestions? Walter, did you ever write that how to guide?
zeld: oh just get av or kate to stand around for an hour or two while you practice. Tell them its a fun new game you've learnt to play on the mainland.
Ok, I somehow dont think EITHER of them will fall for it, and they wont be able to statify my urge to do disengages at midnight when I cant sleep.... but I will try it on Av, and see what happens....its a matter of giving her a foil and not having her drop it like a very large hot potato.
__________________ You may love me but you dont accept me. I dont want your love without your acceptance.
Can one of you guys out there that has Rudy's book, please send me the list of hardware? I am also trying to build another dummy for the folks here, but have left my copy of the book at home in Houston. I can work out the various manufactured pieces, but need the specific hardware parts. Thanks.
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When I have the time, my son (11) is usually more than happy to stand there and take the hits for me. I must provide extra plastron, and and a heavy sweter to slog on under the jacket (mask too duh!).
He is beginning fencing himself and thus is very programmable.
Materials required to duplicate this fencing dummy are at hand for most, but the build time requires remarkable patience.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Zelda
Yes I KNOW its been gone over again and again, but does anyone have any plans? I've downloaded all the pictures etc off this site, I DONT have Volkmanns book and I have found another site which has some instructions.
My problem is this, my grandfather (who is building the thing for me) wants more. He wants to take the best bits of every fencing dummy out there and make the best fencing dummy ever.....so any more suggestions? Walter, did you ever write that how to guide?
Tell him to make you a working model and then keep improving it. It really isn't that difficult to do. Each one I've made, 3, has been different. Mostly because they're built out of scrap materials I have lying around the garage. And because they fit in different places. As they wear away, the material I use to wrap the arm with, a mixture of leather, foam and vinyl gets holes from being poked and the bell guard breaks after being hit repeatedly, new material is applied on top which changes the arm.
My suggestion is to get something that works and then continually improve it.
Unfortunately, I never got the fencing dummy's arm figured out to my satisfaction. It will take a better home engineer than me to tweak my "innovative" new arm so that it works... or at least, someone with more time. Because of ongoing minor annoyances with the arm and blade mounting, I never went through with the how-to. 
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