Fencing.Net - Your Guide to Fencing & Fencing Equipment

fleshbroiler · 01-30-2008, 04:01 PM

I have no experience with grips other than the rubber French grip on my dry foil. The one electric foil I handled in class had a Visconti that was cast aluminum. I gather from looking at catalogs online that aluminum is the most common material for anatomic grips, is this correct? Does any manufacturer use non-metallic materials, has anybody used them and what do you think of them? I gather that they are not too popular even if available as I haven't found any yet.

HDG · 01-30-2008, 04:02 PM

LP has a plastic Belgian. I used to have one of them -- way too slick.

edit: They have a Belgian grip, not some Belgian guy made of plastic..

Beloit Fencer of Old · 01-30-2008, 04:04 PM

My understanding is that manufacturers tried plastic at one point, but they (predictably) broke. Even the aluminum ones break...I have three or four broken aluminum grips on my workbench right now. And the grips made of chocolate frosting were a complete disaster.

Zilverzmurfen · 01-30-2008, 04:05 PM

I've seen wooden french grips, though mostly they're coated with rubber. For ortho grips some kind of metal (mostly aluminium I think) is the most common material.

HDG · 01-30-2008, 04:05 PM

If you're going to work with sugar-based grips, fondant is the way to go.

Beloit Fencer of Old · 01-30-2008, 04:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HDG

LP has a plastic Belgian. I used to have one of them -- way too slick.

edit: They have a Belgian grip, not some Belgian guy made of plastic..

If Joan Rivers were from Belgium, SHE would be a plastic Belgian. And you would get disarmed all the time because you would look down at her and yell "YIKES!"

Zilverzmurfen · 01-30-2008, 04:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HDG

LP has a plastic Belgian. I used to have one of them -- way too slick.

edit: They have a Belgian grip, not some Belgian guy made of plastic..

Yeah, those slick Belgians... I much prefer the Swiss.

Beloit Fencer of Old · 01-30-2008, 04:07 PM

OK...I admit that those of us who are posting here from the East Coast have gotten a little silly.

Beloit Fencer of Old · 01-30-2008, 04:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zilverzmurfen

Yeah, those slick Belgians... I much prefer the Swiss.

Oh...the Epeeists from Sweden are getting in on the act...

swatchpost · 01-30-2008, 04:14 PM

Don't you think one could just roughen up the plastic grips with a filer or something of the like to give it some kind of grip resistance. But I don't know how much difference that would make in the overall feel.

Never tried a plastic grip. But I like the idea that you can file it down to fit your hand any way that you see fit.

Beloit Fencer of Old · 01-30-2008, 05:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by swatchpost

Don't you think one could just roughen up the plastic grips with a filer or something of the like to give it some kind of grip resistance. But I don't know how much difference that would make in the overall feel.

Never tried a plastic grip. But I like the idea that you can file it down to fit your hand any way that you see fit.

My preference is to use aluminum and then build it UP with synthetic rubber...much more grippie. I actually apply the same rubber to the palm of my glove for that "ain't never lettin' go" feelin'.

swatchpost · 01-30-2008, 05:05 PM

That's a really good idea. What kind of rubber do you use and where do you get it? Something that could be bought at say, Home Depot?

Beloit Fencer of Old · 01-30-2008, 10:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by swatchpost

That's a really good idea. What kind of rubber do you use and where do you get it? Something that could be bought at say, Home Depot?

Something that can be bought at Ace Hardware...Plasti Dip. I'm actually doing two new grips tonight...I'm also doing my new glove. There's a whole thread on it. It's called "really grippy glove" or something like that.

Pescados666 · 01-31-2008, 10:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by swatchpost

Don't you think one could just roughen up the plastic grips with a filer or something of the like to give it some kind of grip resistance. But I don't know how much difference that would make in the overall feel.

Never tried a plastic grip. But I like the idea that you can file it down to fit your hand any way that you see fit.

Any you can't do that with a aluminum grip? It would take a bit longer but it would work. If you really want a good fit, heat up a Russian Grip until it glows red. Grab it while it's still hot and smash your fingers into it with a hammer. Best fit that will last for a long time!

Beloit Fencer of Old · 01-31-2008, 10:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pescados666

Any you can't do that with a aluminum grip? It would take a bit longer but it would work. If you really want a good fit, heat up a Russian Grip until it glows red. Grab it while it's still hot and smash your fingers into it with a hammer. Best fit that will last for a long time!

Sheesh! I'm glad that saber fencers don't use Russian grips, or you would have some liability claims coming you way!

migopod · 01-31-2008, 10:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pescados666

Any you can't do that with a aluminum grip? It would take a bit longer but it would work. If you really want a good fit, heat up a Russian Grip until it glows red. Grab it while it's still hot and smash your fingers into it with a hammer. Best fit that will last for a long time!

Aluminum won't glow red no matter how hot you get it, and unlike steel it actually gets more brittle when hot, so heating it up to just below melting point and squeezing it hard would probably just shatter it and leave you with your fingers burned and probably useless.

I've had a lot of success just using files and sandpaper rather than heat with aluminum. Die grinders and dremmel tools work nicely too.

Beloit Fencer of Old · 01-31-2008, 11:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by migopod

Aluminum won't glow red no matter how hot you get it, and unlike steel it actually gets more brittle when hot, so heating it up to just below melting point and squeezing it hard would probably just shatter it and leave you with your fingers burned and probably useless.

I've had a lot of success just using files and sandpaper rather than heat with aluminum. Die grinders and dremmel tools work nicely too.

Let me guess...you fence at the Milwaukee School of Engineering?

swatchpost · 01-31-2008, 11:08 AM

Haha—good, I've got a brand new dremmel tool that I got for Christmas that's begging to be used!

migopod · 01-31-2008, 11:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Beloit Fencer of Old

Let me guess...you fence at the Milwaukee School of Engineering?

Actually no, although i did fence with them for a semester once. They were a bit more into the rapier/dagger stuff than i was.
I have a lot of aluminum experience from my past life as a welder. Mostly repairing aluminum boat propellers. The process involves filling in the missing parts of the blades by welding on the edges and then welding on the weld (rinse, repeat) until you've built up the blade, and then machining it back down to the right shape and weight. Doing that for 8 hours a day really gets you in touch with your inner aluminum!

Rockstar44 · 01-31-2008, 03:38 PM

The Plasti Dip will adhere nicely to bare aluminum. It comes in several colors and gives the grip a nice slip free feel. It's far superior to the raw aluminum grip. You can paint it onto your glove as well (palm side) and the combination is very grippy. It will make the glove a little stiff, though. I don't like it on the glove, but I see people do it.