Straigthening out the blade of a foil? (AF Elite Foil)

[Signfiica]

I purchased a AF Non-FIE elite blade about 3 months ago but recently from practice due to its flexibility, the blade bended in sort of a S shape. I've tried to with my hands and with the bottom of my shoe but it is always bent to one side.

It's the rounded light weight foil from absolute if anyone has a similar foil.

[FreshPrinceofEWU]

Have someone in your club show you how to bend it back to a slight curve. I always slide mine under my foot with the bottom part of the grip facing up so I get a slight curve.

[mrbiggs]

As said, have someone who knows what they're doing bend it.

Also, three months is not all that short a lifetime for that kind of blade. There's a reason they cost $20.You might not be able to get this bend out, and in any case, it might break fairly soon.

[Signfiica]

I've had a few people try to fix it, but it is bent to the right (Not up or down). That's the only part they can't fix.

[fencerchica]

I used to have problems with my Vniti FIE foil blades, once they'd had a LOT of use, developing a gradual C-curve towards the right (as opposed to up and down). With some effort, I could correct this odd bend, but once it started to show up in one of my blades, it seemed to come back again fairly easily. My Chevalier Blue FIE's (foil) did it too although usually they'd break before they reached that point.

I found that using a bench vise was the best way to fix the bend. I'd clamp near the middle, a little bit towards the foible side, and pull *carefully* from the grip. I needed the vise because otherwise I had difficulty pulling at the right angle, since it was a lateral and not an up/down bend.

[maxruszkowski]

I have a similar blade. I haven't encountered the problem yet, though looking at it again I can see it developing a little bit. I'm curious though, does the rounded edge help against an opponent's parry (ie they can't hold the parry as well and you can slide over it easier) or do you prefer it for its whippy-ness?

[Signfiica]

Well, I use it due to its light-weight build and cheap cost. I'm pretty much a beginner, the rounded edge I think were intended to prolong its lifetime use.

Fencerchica - I'll have to try that. Thanks. I noticed the same thing though, the first time it happened, I managed to fix it with my hands/foot but it repeatly occurs and is impossible to do now without another item it seems. Is there perhaps a way to restrengthen the molecules in the area so it won't keep bending in this direction?

[Cookeit]

Just show the blade a picture of your mom and it will straighten right up.

[KD5MDK]

The usual advice for straightening/bending a blade is to put it through the end of a box ended wrench and use that to bend it.

[Alex_Paul]

Is there perhaps a way to restrengthen the molecules in the area so it won't keep bending in this direction?

Sadly not if it keeps re bending after you straighten out the sideways curve then there isn't anything you can do.

3-6 months is about all you should expect from a cheap blade

[wbowman]

The usual advice for straightening/bending a blade is to put it through the end of a box ended wrench and use that to bend it.

KD5 beat me to it. the hole at the end of a crescent wrench works quite well. Put it through the hole so the handle of the wrench is on the side you want to bend it toward. Squeeze the wrench toward the blade (gently, at first, 'til you get the hang of it), move the wrench slightly, squeeze again, etc.

[fencerchica]

KD5 beat me to it. the hole at the end of a crescent wrench works quite well. Put it through the hole so the handle of the wrench is on the side you want to bend it toward. Squeeze the wrench toward the blade (gently, at first, 'til you get the hang of it), move the wrench slightly, squeeze again, etc.

This is good advice for correcting an up-down bend, but the OP was talking about a lateral curvature.

[HDG]

Is there perhaps a way to restrengthen the molecules in the area so it won't keep bending in this direction?

Alchemy?

[SJCFU#2]

This is good advice for correcting an up-down bend, but the OP was talking about a lateral curvature.

Also works for lateral bends - it just takes more force to overcome the increased section modulus associated with the longer side of a rectangular cross section (SM is proportional to height cubed).

If the OP is lucky then the cross section of the blade is almost square and it won't require much more force than would be required for a vertical bend.