Newbie Needs Advice!

[Farfetnoogen]

I recently got my first new weapon, (I know, I'm such a newbie ) and I'd like to know how to set the blade/ bend the tang/the cant of the weapon. I've heard stuff about vice grips, but nothing very informative. Any relevant advice will be more useful than none at all.

Thanks,
Farfetnoogen

[Purple Fencer]

There are several techniques....I use one of two depending on where I am.

If in the office and I have access to the bench mounted vise:

I secure the tang in the vise horizontally (so the edge of the vise is at the shoulder of the blade -- where the tang meets the rest of the blade) and pull toward me to do the adjustment (nice leverage that way).....first for the down angle (positoning the blade so the maker's mark faces me), then I rotate the blade for the side angle (maker's mark facing up for a righty, down for a lefty) Often when i do the side angle, it "corrects" the down angle, so I usually overdo the down...the side adjustment usially puts the overall cant in a good position.

If at an event where I don't have a secure vise:

I take my big closed end wrench (the openeing's about 1" in diameter) and slide it over the tang to act as the vise.
Placement is the key...you want to place the wrench right at the shoulder of the blade . For teh down angle, the maker's mark must be facing the underside of teh wrench....this is because in order to do the cant, you'll be squeezing the blade and wrench together, using the leverage to do so.
You do the same for teh side cants.

For epees using the wrench is a little difficult for the side bend, but that comes down to a matter of personal technique.

If you're canting a dry blade, no worries....if it's a wired electric blade, you need to make sure you DON'T get the wire caught in the wrench or vise!

[keropie]

The whole maker's mark up or down for lefty/righty thing depends on which side of the vice you put the blade, as well. Just remember that you want the blade to be set down and in for whichever hand you use it in.

[purpzeyFCLI]

That is all very accurate and helpful advice.

However, if this is your very first weapon, I'd recommend having someone in your club do it for you while teaching you. Or have you do it with their supervision. B/C the potential for a gaff is somewhat large, and not always easy to repair. This would depend on how badly you mess it up, but at least if someone looks over your shoulder they can make sure you do a good job.

Be a pity to waste a brand new weapon.

(in the words of Paul Newman from the Hudsucker proxy:

"It'd be a pity to waste a whole Montecristo"

Just after Waring Hudsucker's death.)

[OROD]

Like purpzeyFCLI said, get someone at your club to show you.

.

[Purple Fencer]

The whole maker's mark up or down for lefty/righty thing depends on which side of the vice you put the blade, as well. Just remember that you want the blade to be set down and in for whichever hand you use it in.

DOH! I forgot that! My instyructions are for teh blade extending to the right of teh vise.

And note that an FIE blade is very difficult to bend with teh wrench technique.

[BySword]

DOH! I forgot that! My instyructions are for teh blade extending to the right of teh vise.

And note that an FIE blade is very difficult to bend with teh wrench technique.

actually, it's also very difficult to bend with the vice technique. but I know of the tool which is special tool like a pipe which you can insert the tang of the blade in one end. using this you get a lot more leverage because you can utilize the length of the pipe. this tool can really make bending any blade hassle-free.

[Inquartata]

Or, just don't bend the thing. You might find that you prefer it that way.

[DHCJr]

actually, it's also very difficult to bend with the vice technique. but I know of the tool which is special tool like a pipe which you can insert the tang of the blade in one end. using this you get a lot more leverage because you can utilize the length of the pipe. this tool can really make bending any blade hassle-free.

It is not difficult to bend with a vise. "Using this you get a lot more leverage because you can utilize the length of the pipe." I have a high pressure PVC pipe that I have been using with a vise for over 10 years with no problem and it is light weight, not as heavy as your special tool and I can use a vise at the tournament.

[Farfetnoogen]

Thank you!
PurpzeyFCLI, OROD: like you guys suggested, I'll get someone at my club to help me out.