Sabre Lame Questions

[Sciabolista]

I've been fencing for just over a year now, and the time has finally come to buy a lame. I'm trying to decide what brand and level of lame to go with. Since I only fence electric every month or so during the school year, and once a week over the summer, it seems like a waste to get a high-end lame. (I did spring for the LP mask though )

Do you experienced fencers think it is okay to go for a lower-end lame, like Absolute's $80 one, or would it be better to get a better one? I like the look of Triplette and Absolute's Ultralight stuff (~$150), but I don't know anyone who has one and noticed some negative comments about their respective durabilities on the forums.

Also, how does sizing work for lame? Do you get one the same size as your jacket, or a little bigger or smaller? I have a Triplette jacket that I love but its a bit too big and baggy, so I was considering getting a lame that was a size smaller to reduce target area.

Last question! Can lame be washed if it doesn't specifically say washable on it?

thanks very much!!!

[Inquartata]

Bargain lamés are OK, especially if you don't use them often. I have a JL that lasted a year ( say 20 competitions ) in tournament-only use, and is now doing service as my practice lamé since it won't test at the armourer's table anymore.

However, fencing has a way of getting into your blood, and you could find yourself fencing more than you think you are going to do right now. In which case a better lamé will be a better investment...

Get the larger size. My JL is really too small, and I have to work to get the collar closed up over the jacket collar; the sleeves are about an inch too short; and I feel constricted in it. You want to be thinking about your fencing, not about getting out of a sausage-casing.

Lamés can ( and should! ) be washed, but unless it's an Infinity not machine-washed. Use cold water in a basin with a bit of Woolite or Ivory Snow "gentle" detergent and a dash of plain ammonia. Dunk the thing in, agitate a bit---don't scrub or knead---remove and rinse. I do this until the water in the basin is clear when emptied. Then rinse well ( I do it under the showerhead ) and hang on a plastic or wood hanger to drip-dry.

[Purple Fencer]

For sizing, I generally tell people to go up one size from their jacket (since a size 42 jacket and a size 42 lame are the same....from the same maker, of course)

For washing instructions, go to my website (link in my sig block)...there's a link to washing instructions there, although Inq gave a good breakdown.

[Inigo_Montoya]

I would recommend getting an absolute lame because they are the best lames for the money. I have one of their regular lames and it is very nice for the price range. I also have some clubmates who have the absolute ultralight lames and love them!

[fencerbill]

Originally Posted by Inquartata

Lamés can ( and should! ) be washed, but unless it's an Infinity not machine-washed. Use cold water in a basin with a bit of Woolite or Ivory Snow "gentle" detergent and a dash of plain ammonia. Dunk the thing in, agitate a bit---don't scrub or knead---remove and rinse. I do this until the water in the basin is clear when emptied. Then rinse well ( I do it under the showerhead ) and hang on a plastic or wood hanger to drip-dry.

When they say don't wash a Lame in a machine, what they should be saying is don't spin it out in a washing machine. We are fortunate in having a washing machine with a very "Gentle" cycle. I leave the lid up so it won't spin out. Then I put the Lame in a bucket and throw it in the tub to drain while the machine is refilling.

This is about the same amount of work if you are washing one Lame. But if you are washing a load of Lames five at a time, it is a big improvement.

If I am doing them by hand I do it in the bottome of a tub. You can conveniently pour the soap on dirty places and brush with a soft hair brush.

[Inquartata]

I dunno, Bill. If there's any agitation at all going on in a machine it would worrry me---if for no other reason than that I had the cuisard strap of a jacket pulled down under the agitator and eventually had to cut it off...now I tie jackets into pillowcases before laundering.

[Ordway]

I generally suggest that people buy a relatively inexpensive lame for their very first one. That lets you discover what you prefer, so when it wears out in a year, you can buy a nice one that you really like. The Absolute / BG / Triplette lames are OK in my opinion for the money. I really like the Uhlmann and Allstar lames, and for me they are worth the extra money; they cost a bit more than twice as much as a cheap lame, and last about 4-5 times as long.

For the sizing, it also depends on how you like your lame to fit. I wear the same size jacket and lame, but that's because 1. they're the same manufacturer (Allstar) and 2. the jacket is very nicely tailored and fits snugly, so there's no fabric to bunch up under the lame. And 3. I like my lame to fit snugly; others like it looser.

[clonardo]

We use the cheapo BG steel lames at my club, and we haven't had any issues with them. Granted, I'm very particular about how they're taken care of (always hung up, never folded, never put in a fencing bag with sweaty gear), but that's the same level of care you should be giving to your personal stuff.

[Inquartata]

Originally Posted by clonardo

We use the cheapo BG steel lames at my club, and we haven't had any issues with them.

Issues as in touches not scoring, or issues as in not passing conductivity testing at a competition armourer's table? Two very different standards of performance, those...

[fencerbill]

Originally Posted by Inquartata

I dunno, Bill. If there's any agitation at all going on in a machine it would worrry me---if for no other reason than that I had the cuisard strap of a jacket pulled down under the agitator and eventually had to cut it off...now I tie jackets into pillowcases before laundering.

Have you ever seen Queen Elizabeth waving to the crowd in a parade? It looks like she is screwing in a lightbulb. A slight twisting back and forth. That is what the agitation in our top loading washing machine looks like. As I said, we are fortunate in how gentle it is. I don't deny what happened to you, but I have washed jackets and Lames in a top loader close to a thousand times with no such trouble. But my wife is still "annoyed" with me about the time I put the mask in and then had to carve off part of the agitator to get it out.

I would not recommend washing Lames in a front loader.

I like the large zip up laundry bags for washing my good Lame.

[clonardo]

Originally Posted by Inquartata

Issues as in touches not scoring, or issues as in not passing conductivity testing at a competition armourer's table? Two very different standards of performance, those...

They've been passed by armorers at tournaments all semester, and we've had them for about a year..

[Inquartata]

Originally Posted by fencerbill

A slight twisting back and forth. That is what the agitation in our top loading washing machine looks like. As I said, we are fortunate in how gentle it is.

OK. But the agitator is not simply designed to swish things around. It is supposed to pull garments down to the bottom of the tank, then send them back up, and so on. Even on gentle, that doesn't seem optimal for keeping metallic threads intact...

The jacket cuisard was "eaten" on normal cycle, it's true.

I don't deny what happened to you, but I have washed jackets and Lames in a top loader close to a thousand times with no such trouble.

Me, too. All it takes is once, unfortunately.

But my wife is still "annoyed" with me about the time I put the mask in and then had to carve off part of the agitator to get it out.

That's why they make dishwashers.