Blade stiffness?

[thomawesome]

I have an STM FIE color blade, and it's really awesome and light, but it's also incredibly stiff. I feel like I can barely bend it safely. I also feel like I am killing all my club-mates' arms due to how little this thing bends.

I like the blade a lot, and I'm getting used to how stiff it is, but it hasn't even begun to hold a curve in the blade that I like (due to the fact that it always pops back to being completely straight after I try to put a bend in it) and I'm nervous it's going to snap due to how little it gives.

Is there anything I can do to make the blade a bit less stiff?

[Purple Fencer]

Just keep using it....they all soften eventually....you can't do anything to affect the flexibility per the rules (by means of grinding, heat treating, etc).

If your mates don't want to get hit....they should retreat and take a parry.

[Purple Fencer]

Just keep using it....they all soften eventually....you can't do anything to affect the flexibility per the rules (by means of grinding, heat treating, etc).

If your mates don't want to get hit....they should retreat and take a parry.

[migopod]

Just keep using it....they all soften eventually....you can't do anything to affect the flexibility per the rules (by means of grinding, heat treating, etc).

If your mates don't want to get hit....they should retreat and take a parry.

On the down side, I've noticed that the point when a blade is the perfect flexibility is approximately one week before it snaps.

[Greybeard]

And here I thought it was going to be a dirty thread with that title

[thomawesome]

And here I thought it was going to be a dirty thread with that title

If your blade remains stiff for longer than 4 hours, contact your physician.

ANYWAY, yes, I figured the most I could do was to continue using it. Alright then, I guess I'll just need to fence more.

[Greybeard]

Someone had to say it :-)

[erooMynohtnA]

Most likely you're not bending it past its point of elastic deformation. You're not bending it far enough. New blades are stiff and resilient. You really have to go after them to put in a curve. That's not going to make it more flexible, just make sure it flexes in the right way.

Some people like to do a lot of deep target work against a wall to break in blades.

[a.fencer]

The STM FIE is very very stiff, I have had mine for almost a year now, and still it refuses to take a nice bend. Even my coach tries bending it with no success. I know how to bend blades without breaking them, and I am bending this one past the normal point of elastic deformation but it just springs back.

[erooMynohtnA]

I am bending this one past the normal point of elastic deformation but it just springs back.

If it bends back, then you are, by definition, not bending it past the point of elastic deformation.

[telkanuru]

Someone please rep him. I'm laughing too hard.

[Morale Officer]

If your blade remains stiff for longer than 4 hours, contact your physician.

Just your doctor? Dude, I know guys that would be calling EVERYONE in their phone book, not just their doctor! lol