Best box/reels kit for $1000...?

[Garrison]

Ahoy all,
I've got $1000 ready to spend on a box and reels. I'm hoping some of you big brains could throw some armory wisdom my way.

Ideally, I'd like to get a nice scoring box, good reels and floor cords for this amount.

Any and all advice is appreciated.

Mike

[KD5MDK]

Get Favero reels. Unless getting Uhlmanns allows you to squeeze in a Score & Time box. I recommend the Favero FA-05, as it's the cheapest score & time box I know of that also has distinct lights for on and off target.

[twisterfencing]

Here are just some thoughts:

Reel set: http://sword-masters.com/catalog/pro...oducts_id=1342

Score box:http://sword-masters.com/catalog/pro...oducts_id=1351

Favero: Reel set/box for reels/floor cords = $630
Favero: Fav Arm 01 table mount score box = $425

Gary Spruill

Ahoy all,
I've got $1000 ready to spend on a box and reels. I'm hoping some of you big brains could throw some armory wisdom my way.

Ideally, I'd like to get a nice scoring box, good reels and floor cords for this amount.

Any and all advice is appreciated.

Mike

[JEC]

Here are just some thoughts:

Reel set: http://sword-masters.com/catalog/pro...oducts_id=1342

Score box:http://sword-masters.com/catalog/pro...oducts_id=1351

Favero: Reel set/box for reels/floor cords = $630
Favero: Fav Arm 01 table mount score box = $425

Gary Spruill

That is the set that I have. Swordmasters' price is very competitive, and at the time I purchased my equipment, they were the cheapest. They have very good service.

If you need to scale down the score box to fit under $1000, consider then, the eclipse ($350 at Am. Fencers) or the bluesky boxes ($400). SG-11 is $395 at BG. Despite all of those slightly cheaper alternatives, I still like best the Favero box best because of its size and visibility, particularly mounted at eye level.

[larkmaj]

I like the millennium reels for $630 (reels, floor cords, case). I get them from Zivkovic, but that's partly because they're closer.

For the box, it depends on what you want to use it for. I like the eclipse because they're small, light, durable, have free upgrades, and easily run on a 9V.

The Full-Arm has bigger light banks, and adjustable sound volume (usually piercing and quiet), but it's a little more expensive, bigger, case and battery cost significantly more (although, you can rig up a pack with 8 1.5V batteries and the proper connector), and upgrades are about $50 a shot.

There is also the SG-11. It's smaller than the Favero. The light banks have a wider viewing angle, but some people (especially colorblind) have issue with the fact(s) that the on and off target lights are in the same bank, and the off target lights are amber instead of white. Absolute has a set with millennium reels and an SG-11 for $994, although it's unclear whether that includes cases.

I like the Millenium reel/eclipse set, but it comes down to what you want in a scoring box/reel. I would not suggest prieur or TCA boxes, or Leon Paul at all as far as scoring equipment is concerned. Again, my opinion, your preference matters.

EDIT: The SGs and Eigerteks have anti-fault circuits for epee which means that if ONE of your wires is grounding to your weapon it will still function properly. Also, if the B line on your sabre is not grounded the Eclipse will still function normally, just without sound and have a constant white light.

[SJCFU#2]

If you want a machine with integrated time and score then you will probably have to settle for a bungee system if you want to keep it under $1000. Otherwise your best bet is probably to go with a less expensive "club" machine (Eigertek, Favero FA-01 or SG-11) and the Favero reels.

The various attributes and flaws of these machines have been discussed repeatedly in various threads over the last few years. If you aren't familiar with them then I suggest you do a search.

I would not recommend the TCA Club machine - it's reputation is pretty much beyond any hope of redemption even if all the problems associated with earlier machines really have been fixed this time.

[Garrison]

Thank you all for your advice and comments.

Seems like the Eigertek box and Favero reels are the way to go in this price range.

Thank you again for everything. For a bunch of martial arts wannabe wankers, y'all ain't half bad.

Mike

P.S. Oh, please Jeebus, please let them smell the good natured sarcasm...

[Robert Smith]

... and if you'd prefer two strips for the price of one, consider a bungee system in place of reels. At about $100 per strip, it's waaay cheaper than reels.

[Garrison]

... and if you'd prefer two strips for the price of one, consider a bungee system in place of reels. At about $100 per strip, it's waaay cheaper than reels.

Hi Robert,
Thanks for this advice. Can I use a bungee system without a permanent installation? I rent space and am not allowed to "install" anything. Are there bungee systems out there that can be set up and taken down?

Thanks again,
Mike

[Swordmaster]

... Can I use a bungee system without a permanent installation? I rent space and am not allowed to "install" anything. Are there bungee systems out there that can be set up and taken down?

Mike,
Yes there are bungee systems out there but if you are that new to fencing you will do better with a reel and scoring box setup (less hassle setting up, taking down and storing)
I do carry both the Favero and the Leon Paul systems. In fact, I just happen to have a special one only brand new set from Leon Paul that I got at Summer Nationals directly from Alex Paul. I am letting it go for $875. That is two reels, two floor cords and one scoring machine, all Leon Paul.
The Favero system is a great system and the reels are great, but I just can not sell it for less than $995 and that is with a once used machine.

[twisterfencing]

Mike:

Thats one heck of a deal Swordmasters is offering you. Might want to re-think it through. A brand new LP system complete for that kind of money?? May want to make a phone call soon before someone else does.

Gary Spruill

Mike,
Yes there are bungee systems out there but if you are that new to fencing you will do better with a reel and scoring box setup (less hassle setting up, taking down and storing)
I do carry both the Favero and the Leon Paul systems. In fact, I just happen to have a special one only brand new set from Leon Paul that I got at Summer Nationals directly from Alex Paul. I am letting it go for $875. That is two reels, two floor cords and one scoring machine, all Leon Paul.
The Favero system is a great system and the reels are great, but I just can not sell it for less than $995 and that is with a once used machine.

[Robert Smith]

Hi Robert,
Thanks for this advice. Can I use a bungee system without a permanent installation? I rent space and am not allowed to "install" anything. Are there bungee systems out there that can be set up and taken down?

We use a school gym, so ours is up and down each night. Takes maybe five minutes to set up two strips. Take it down, there's no sign it was ever there. You need some way to anchor the end points, which is the only part that requires any thought. In our old location, we'd use dollar store suction cups an maybe just a touch of Vaseline to help maintain vacuum. For big and dusty gyms, the same suction cups helped out by a little masking tape. In our regular venue, we use bulldog clips - from your local stationery store - to attach to the baseboards. One place, we used the same clips attached to the legs of gym benches.

There are plenty of threads here on bungee systems, their pros and cons - they're dirt cheap (compared to reels) and simple to maintain. They have things to trip over that you don't get with reels, so if you fleche you need to avoid that hazard.

We've got through about four sets of cables in four years, but that's mostly because we were learning on the earlier ones - right sized pulleys are important, non-copper stranded wire very important, spare conductors very handy too, so if you get a break in one line, you can just switch to another. Other than that, and $10 worth of bulldog clips to replace the suction cups, it's been cost free.