Absolute Fencing Standard Lame dead after 5 uses?

[Eisley]

I was given a standard lame after I went through 2 lightweight lames in a season. The standard lame started to take on a green tinge the very same day I used it for the first time (at a NAC). It didn't last too much longer and became extremely green very quickly. I would stay away from Absolute lames, but that is just my 2 cents.

You definitely should have contacted us!! Those lames really do have a common lifespan of 2-3 years if treated normally (i.e. not left in a bag with damp items consistently etc.) Anytime something suspicious or unreasonable seeming happens with any of our equipment I STRONGLY ADVISE everyone out there to contact us! I guarantee you that if what happened is unreasonable and not clearly from neglect, we can work with you to either repair or replace whatever went wrong!

I have to say that sometime we don't always have as good of quality control as the well-known European companies, but also we haven't been in business as long, and mistakes will happen as some of it is purely experience based. However, the margin for these errors are relatively small and we are improving our quality control all the time and care very much about the quality of the items that we produce and sell-- which is why we back everything up completely, and if you aren't satisfied with something from us because it turned green the same day you purchased it or something broke a week after getting it, or something just simply doesn't seem right, please let us know! We are very happy to be able to work with our customers on these issues and I really do hate hearing about things that have happened to some customers when I know that something could have been done about it if they simply contacted us at the time.

[yearsofwisdom]

actually eisley i would never put it in my bag. i got the lame. kept it in the original bag unwrapped. and kept it in my closet .when i used it in my first tourney, 2months after in june, i would wear it and then put it immediately on a clothes hanger, never going in my bag. and thats what i always do. but if i do get problems in a couple days ill be sure to contact absolute.

[SJCFU#2]

Unless you have a washable lame, your lame should never come in contact with water.

????? ??????

Actually most "experts" recommend rinsing a metallic lame from time to time (for example, see this article in the Ask the Expert: Armory section of Fencing.net or these instructions on Purple Fencer's web site). Rinsing the lame helps remove salt deposits left by dried sweat (which can really do a number on a lame).

Unless by never allowing your lame to come in contact with water you meant don't run your metallic lame through the washing machine, in which case I totally agree with you.

[Eisley]

????? ??????

Actually most "experts" recommend rinsing a metallic lame from time to time (for example, see this article in the Ask the Expert: Armory section of Fencing.net or these instructions on Purple Fencer's web site). Rinsing the lame helps remove salt deposits left by dried sweat (which can really do a number on a lame).

Unless by never allowing your lame to come in contact with water you meant don't run your metallic lame through the washing machine, in which case I totally agree with you.

Rinsing the lame with water is simply.. not the best idea. There are other things to clean your lame with that make much more sense. Now I'm not saying that wiping your lame down with a damp cloth is going to ruin it, but it does give the wrong impression to some people about water and lames and with repeated use, why use something on your lame such as water when you can use something much gentler on the metal such as ammonia or Windex?

The advice from armorers about cleaning the salt from your sweat off your lame is very good advice and very correct, and what it boils down to is that cleaning your lame with a towel damp with water is definitely better for your lame than never cleaning it at all BUT why recommend water to do it?

[brtech]

THE recommended procedure for cleaning standard lames is to rinse, gently, with no wringing in a solution of water, Woolite and something with ammonia in it, like Windex. A capful of Woolite and about the same or a little more of windex, in a tub of basin of water is good. Swish it around, swish it around, and if you need to, use a SOFT bristle brush to GENTLY clean the dirty spots. Then rinse, rinse, rinse, and rinse some more. Then rinse it again, and maybe again. Make SURE you have all the soap out. Lay it flat on a towel, put another towel on top and press to get most of the water off. Then hang up to dry, preferably with some air motion.

Cleaning as per the above WILL NOT harm the lame, as long as you don't bend or wring or otherwise abuse the metal fibers, that you don't use anything other than a mild detergent and something with Ammonia (NEVER use Oxy-anything), and rinse thoroughly, AND hang up to dry.

I'll echo the observation that AF standard lames usually last a season if well cared for. Large dead spots after 4-5 uses, if you are hanging the lame between use, is very unusual.

Another tip: don't fold lames. Hanging is best. Rolling in a dry towel is next best. Wadding up in a ball is actually better than folding. Yes, we know, they come folded. Don't ever fold them again.

[Greybeard]

No Folding? I usually turn it inside out and fold it in 1/4's to put back in my back and then hang up to dry when I get home. Am I in trouble?

I am still hoping I don't sand a dead spot into it from my chair

[oiuyt]

No Folding? I usually turn it inside out and fold it in 1/4's to put back in my back and then hang up to dry when I get home. Am I in trouble?

Folding stresses the metal strands. Over time it causes them to break. Broken strands lead to patches of the lamé that are not (electrically) connected to other parts. In other words, dead spots.

-B

[wahrman]

For some strange reason my AF ultralight lame lasted well over a year. Almost one and a half. And I usually ruin lames pretty quickly. A JL lasts about 4 months. I turned my AF signature lame green in a week (but it still passes at NACs).

[Greybeard]

Folding stresses the metal strands. Over time it causes them to break. Broken strands lead to patches of the lamé that are not (electrically) connected to other parts. In other words, dead spots.

-B

I did not know that. I will just turn it inside out and lay it in my bag for transport. Thanks

[catwood1]

For some strange reason my AF ultralight lame lasted well over a year. Almost one and a half. And I usually ruin lames pretty quickly. A JL lasts about 4 months. I turned my AF signature lame green in a week (but it still passes at NACs).

wow...

[fencerchica]

Folding stresses the metal strands. Over time it causes them to break. Broken strands lead to patches of the lamé that are not (electrically) connected to other parts. In other words, dead spots.

-B

Ultralights, or at least the LP ultralights, are less susceptible to damage this way since they don't contain metallic threads of the same nature as traditional lames (actually, I don't know how the LP ultralight is made, come to think of it). For convenience I folded my LP for about 2 years of constant (3x or more weekly) use, and when it finally developed its first small dead spots they weren't on the fold points but rather on the collar.

[oiuyt]

Ultralights, or at least the LP ultralights, are less susceptible to damage this way since they don't contain metallic threads of the same nature as traditional lames (actually, I don't know how the LP ultralight is made, come to think of it). For convenience I folded my LP for about 2 years of constant (3x or more weekly) use, and when it finally developed its first small dead spots they weren't on the fold points but rather on the collar.

The conversation had drifted. I don't think that the sub-thread re: the inadvisability of folding a lamé was still specific to the ultralights.

-B

[fencerchica]

The conversation had drifted. I don't think that the sub-thread re: the inadvisability of folding a lamé was still specific to the ultralights.

-B

Sorry, I didn't read the earlier posts closely enough.

[AndrewH]

Well, after a few practices, mine is getting pretty green where the glove covers the sleeve. Still working, though.

[brtech]

Remember that there is working and there is passing, and those are different.

The rules are intentionally more strict than the equipment needs, and modern machines are actually much better (in most cases) then the machines the rules were developed for. I can give you a counterexample to that: in the Beijing Olympics, they required the weapons to have less than 1 ohm resistance. This was a limitation of the wireless system. The fact that the rules say otherwise did not seem to bother the officials.

Your lame might work, but if you bring it to an armorer for testing, it might fail.

Green is not all that reliable an indication of badness. We see plenty of green spots that conduct well enough. You can be sure that we will check those spots carefully though.

[AndrewH]

Oh, it's just a practice lame. For competition I use an Allstar, those things are practically indestructible. So for my purposes, it just has to work.

[yearsofwisdom]

where do u exactly order allstar stuff? cuz bg and af dont supply it.

[chinbeard]

where do u exactly order allstar stuff? cuz bg and af dont supply it.

Wrong.

[yearsofwisdom]

correct....50 percent. af does not sell allstar lames and items

[SJCFU#2]

Wrong.

The few uniform items listed under "Limited Quantity Uniforms" do not include lames.

However Absolute does carry Uhlmann lames, which are pretty much identical to Allstar, except perhaps being cut a bit fuller (and that can be taken in).

Within the US you're pretty much stuck dealing with Allstar USA (who has an exclusive vendor agreement with Allstar). If your heart is really set on Allstar then you might also consider going through a foreign vendor who will ship to the US (in the past people have recommended Fechtsport Langenkamp).