Bending a stubborn blade

[DBGlazer]

I have a new foil blade, which I've been trying to bend so that it retains the slight downward bend necessary to keep it from bending the wrong way. I've tried hanging it in a chest-of-drawers (tip goes in a drawer, grip-end of blade bends down), but it just doesn't take. Any thoughts before I get the dreaded S-curve next time I fence?

Thanks,

-- David

[keith]

a floor and a foot are the best tools I find.

Just tensioning the blade wont put in a curve. Hold the handle and rest the blade on the floor stand on the blade (groove down) around the middle then pull gently and evenly up and away so the tip of the blade ends under your foot - repeat.

Remember to start gently so as the blade warms up with friction often a few repeats like this will put in a nice curve, if it doesn't seem to take a curve still start slowly increasing the force you apply down with your foot and up with your hand.

[larkmaj]

Don't be too afraid to break it, it can take a lot. Once the blade is warmed up you can pretty much step on the blade near the tang and pull it almost straight up.

[counter riposte]

wrenches. use a wrench with an eyelet on the end. You can then bend the blade using light pressure on directed points, for those subborn S curves.

[keropie]

wrenches. use a wrench with an eyelet on the end. You can then bend the blade using light pressure on directed points, for those subborn S curves.

That works well, though you may need a bigger wrench than you'd expect. Though, honestly I haven't found any blades I couldn't just bend by hand. So that's what I do. I tend to use the thumb along the bottom of the blade as the 'fulcrum' of the bend.