Lame'

[KShan5[PrFC]]

My lame is in pretty cruddy shape. It lasted only a year because i bought the cheap noob one.

Turns out, it nor my mask will atually pass a test. So I need new stuff.

Anyone have any sugestions on a mask or lame. Last maybe 4-5 years? I am thinking maybe a Santelli mask.

[whtouche]

uhlmann or allstar stainless steele lames last a long time. Expensive tho, $199 vs $85 for BG.
As far as masks go, you should get alot of use out of any FIE mask, but personally I suggest the leon paul sabre x-change mask. It's the sturdiest I've experienced and if you have a problem with the bib you can just get a new one.

[shamshir]

can't you do that on uhlmann/allstar masks too?

[DHCJr]

No, what the Leon Paul allows you to do is slide out the old bid and slide in the new. You can replace the bid on the other masks, but it involves sewing, either by patching or by unsewing the old bid, remove any rivets and then replace doing the sewing and the riviting. Obviously the former is the only option. There are several who will repair the bib by covering the whole bib with new lame. Bill Hall is who I usually recomend.

[QTPie]

Not sure about the life of Uhlmann?Allstar lames....

I use allstar lames (foil, though) and they last about 9 months (get lots of use).

If you do quite a few competitions, then I recommend getting a second lame that you use for competitions only (means that you have one which you don't use very often and can have a lot of comfidence that it will pass weapons check).

If you find one that does last 4 or 5 years, then tell us all about it (would save me a fortune!).

QT

[shamshir]

My god, what an awesome idea. I want one. Only I'm sure it costs zillions of dollars.

http://www.leonpaul.com/products/new_x_change_mask.htm

[WoodsideDr]

Any pointers on regular care and maintenance of my (foil) lame? After using the club's rather grungy shared lames, I finally bought one of my own, but am not entirely certain (other than toweling it off after use, and keeping it away from moisture) what I should be doing to it to prolong its life.

[Purple Fencer]

Woodside...go to my website www.homfencing.com There's a link on the front page for lame washing instructions.

[WoodsideDr]

Thanks Purple Fencer. Was told not even to attempt to wash it, just to towel it off after practice. I assuming you have done this successfully???

[sallearmourer]

By washing it in a 1/2capful of woolite and 1/2 capful of ammonia you can extened the life of a lame. I have cooper lames that are 30 years old and still pass. Rinse it in cold water and let drip dry. We also hang on lames on plastic hangers and don't throw them in our fencing bags.


Tim

[R. Exnicios]

I thought I would pass on this tip. I sweat like a pig so I wash my lame at least twice a month. It's an allstar and has held up for almost two years of heavy use. The only dead spot (which was repaired with that new thread) was caused by a small rip. The lining of my lame did shrink a bit. So you need to use cold water or warm water NOT hot water.

good luck

R

[sallearmourer]

The best lames I have ever seen was in 1985 .. I had five lames handed to me check. They were kind of goldest color and little heavy. They belong to the Mexcain women foil team they read dead zero ohms. Turn out they were made out of 18k gold. The captain of the foil had them made her husband own some gold mines

Tim

[oiuyt]

Another nice feature of those is that they won't oxidize. Ever. To any extent (assuming that someone doesn't take them into a lab and laboriously and intentionally make gold-oxide). They will remain at 0ohm forever (barring the threads breaking).

-B :)

[Windsor]

Wonder how much gold it would take to make a lame?...

[CvilleFencer]

I think that gold would make a very poor choice as it is very soft and heavy. It would be like a having a lead lame. Gold plated wires might be possible... but why? I know that some companys have gold plated connectors.

I would like to see one made out of that stuff they use on helium and hot air ballons. It is like a metal film, but I do not know it's properties, just that it looks and feels cool!

[CvilleFencer]

Originally posted by WoodsideDr
Any pointers on regular care and maintenance of my (foil) lame? After using the club's rather grungy shared lames, I finally bought one of my own, but am not entirely certain (other than toweling it off after use, and keeping it away from moisture) what I should be doing to it to prolong its life.

After practice I take mine into the shower with me and rinse it off very good with cool water. Then I just let it hang dry. Every season or so I do the woolite trick. It works well for me and I have a cheapy SS lame from Blade. I fence about three times a week and am almost into my second year with this lame with no dead spots or discoloration... that Iknow of!

I have never heard of a lame last more than 2 years under heavy use, even an Uhlmann/Allstar. Has anyone else?