Using tape on carpet?

[Frank Pratt]

We are considering getting a venue for our next event that has a carpeted surface. The gym is a full sized basketball court with the court markings on the carpet (with paint or dye, I guess.) The carpet is not quite as plush as what you would find in most homes, but it's definitely softer than any other hard sports surface. It does not feel like there is any elaborate foam sub flooring as you would find in an aerobics room; it's probably just laid on carpet mat. The surface is great for fencing (as is evidenced by a recent demo we did there for a boy scout troup,) but I am worried about damaging the surface by marking strips with tape. I am also little concerned about damaging the carpet with weapons (e.g. missed epee attacks to the leg/toe.) We use the 3M blue painter's tape at our current venue, which works great. Would this work without damaging carpet? Is there a better alternative out there?

[Mergs]

Tape on carpet will work. I've seen it done several times in past events, however, it is a bear to keep in place depending on the thickness of the pile of the carpet. Instead of painter's tape you may want to go with something heavier that won't leave residue on the carpet.

[Larrison]

Call around and see if you can get "Gaffer's tape". It's very similar to duct tape, with very similar adhesive and strength properties, but the adhesive is specially designed to leave no residue when pulled up.

[reawl]

someone once suggested using washable paints in a carpet situation. I didn't try it at the time, but if anyone has any experience taking this stuff out of the carpet I'd be interested to hear it.

[swordsen]

I hate fencing on carpet. There is alot more grip on the floor than most fencers are used to. Expect to see some nose dives and a few twisted ankles and a possibility.

[restlesscheese]

I hate fencing on carpet. There is alot more grip on the floor than most fencers are used to.

Phbbt. Try fencing on dirty tile, where the dirt acts as a lubricant and the grout is made for tripping... I'd rather have carpet.

Gaff tape is specifically made to hold things for extended periods of time while still being able to be taken off *smooth surfaces* fairly easily. I don't think it would take to being taken off carpet very well, but I've only ever used it on camera equipment. If you do use it, be forewarned it's sort of expensive.

I'd say your painter's tape is the best, since it's meant not to harm stuff, and probably cheaper too.

[Amadeus]

Phbbt. Try fencing on dirty tile, where the dirt acts as a lubricant and the grout is made for tripping... I'd rather have carpet.

Hah...i laugh at your level of comfort. my club's strips are made of ice, and are suspended 20 feet over boiling lava. you won't be counterattacking off the strip much after fencing here, let me tell you. and bouts end mightly quickly when the ice is melting at a few inches per minute.

[DieterS]

Be aware that fencing on carpet can build up immense static charges that can zap fencers and reset or even fry scoring machines and other electronic devices. There are commercial anti-static treatments available for carpet and plastic "sport tile" to reduce the problem.

Dieter