Mask Care

[counter riposte]

Hi all,

I know we have had this discussion before, but before I decide to throw my Sabre Mask into the dishwasher, I just want to make sure.

How does one clean a mask?, Mine is getting pretty nasty and I was considering putting some Woollite on it and throwing into the dishwasher. I just need to confirm whether or not I should add some Windex before starting the cycle or avoid the dishwasher altogether and wash it by hand.

Please let me know BEFORE I ruin my mask.

[JEC]

I used "cascade" in the dishwasher machine, and then a hair blower to dry it. You should not use "foamy" soaps in the dishwasher unles you want to get overflow into the kitchen floor. Plan to spend a couple of hours drying the mask.

[Catal]

I use soap with a mild bleach. Then, I use a propane torch to dry off the mask. Make sure the mask is on your head before you use the propane torch, so that it will be permantly bonded to your head.

[DHCJr]

Just a warning to all the new people! Catal has the habit of giving out ridiculous advice, just to catch someone to 'Fall' for their ludicrous suggestion. It is best just to ignore them.

Sorry Catal, your not going to catch someone this time and maybe next time you won’t waste our time.

[counter riposte]

Will cascade (or any other dishwasher detergent for that matter) damage the conductive material on the mask? Remember this is a SABRE mask..... which means the bib must conduct as well.

Second, a blow dryer so as to prevent, what exactly?

Lastly, Catal, has you actaully tried your drying solution?

[achilleus]

Originally posted by DHCJr
Just a warning to all the new people! Catal has the habit of giving out ridiculous advice, just to catch someone to 'Fall' for their ludicrous suggestion. It is best just to ignore them.

Sorry Catal, your not going to catch someone this time and maybe next time you won’t waste our time.

Sounds like someone here tried the propane torch drying process and was less than pleased with the result.

[DHCJr]

No, it is someone who is tired of someone giving advice which if someone to follow it would destroy their equipment. I don't want new fencers have an extra expense because someone wants to make fools of themselves.

I am not going to be fooled by these stupid suggestions. No matter what people think, I have done some armorering once or twice before.

[achilleus]

Originally posted by DHCJr
No, it is someone who is tired of someone giving advice which if someone to follow it would destroy their equipment. I don't want new fencers have an extra expense because someone wants to make fools of themselves.

I am not going to be fooled by these stupid suggestions. No matter what people think, I have done some armorering once or twice before.

Donald,

I know your armoring credentials.
My comment was a joke.
Catal's comment was an obvious joke.

[Catal]

No, it is someone who is tired of someone giving advice which if someone to follow it would destroy their equipment.


Wow, dude- if you were a frog, your *** couldn't be any more water-tight.

[Catal]

Originally posted by counter riposte
Lastly, Catal, has you actaully tried your drying solution?

Yes, and it wasn't pretty. I haven't taken a photo since.

[DHCJr]

Achilleus, I apologize my comments were too strong to you. I have no excuse.

Catal on the other hand, I still stand behind what I say. You seem to take joy when someone takes you seriously. Suppose a new fencer who does not know how to take care of the equipment takes one of your suggestions such as welding on the barrel. I don't think they would think that was funny and neither do I.

I and most Armorers believe Fencing Tournaments and anybody who works those tournaments are there for one reason and that is for the fencers. If someone attacks me, I don't care. If someone deliberately tries to hurt fencers or anyone else, I will come down hard. If you think I am ‘Water-tight’, so what, but anytime I see you try this again, I will warn the new fencers again.

[achilleus]

Originally posted by DHCJr
[B]Achilleus, I apologize my comments were too strong to you. I have no excuse.

No worries. I'm notoriously thick skinned, especially when it comes to an anonymous forum.

I just thought it was obvious that Catal's comment was not meant to be taken seriously.

[Catal]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by DHCJr [QUOTE]
Catal on the other hand, I still stand behind what I say. You seem to take joy when someone takes you seriously.

The only people who've taken my propane torch suggestion seriously, are "experts" like yourself. Not one beginner has seriously commented on my propane treatment, most likely because they have the common sense to know that using a propane torch would melt the hell out of whatever equipment is in question. Anyone dumb enough to use a propane torch on their very own head, shouldn't have a blade in their hand in the first place.


Suppose a new fencer who does not know how to take care of the equipment takes one of your suggestions such as welding on the barrel.

Give that person a Darwin Award, with honours if they take my mask on head with propane torch treatment seriously.


I don't think they would think that was funny and neither do I.

You're old. Drink a few vodkas, and read this post later.


I and most Armorers believe Fencing Tournaments

Armorers with a capital "A!" You must be very important.


and anybody who works those tournaments are there for one reason and that is for the fencers.

Then, clearly you're not a very good Armourer (English spelling with a capital letter, beat that!) or you would be an expert in propane treatment. I bet Ye Olde Armorer knows a thing or two about propane treatment.


If someone attacks me, I don't care. If someone deliberately tries to hurt fencers or anyone else, I will come down hard.

Oh, blah. Yes, I'm sure there's a beginner out there thinking, "I put the mask on my head, THEN use the propane... I would have never thought of that, thanks Catal."

If you think I am ‘Water-tight’, so what, but anytime I see you try this again, I will warn the new fencers again.

Drat! My evil plan to melt the heads of beginning saber fencers has been foiled! Foiled I say! I'll get you for this!!! Just you wait, I'll make a propane torch so big, it will melt the world!

[sallearmourer]

I use a butane torch myself Catal not as hot. DHCJr is really a okay guy at times and he really does care about the fencer. He just take things a little to serious at times. He was also the team armourer to the Jr World championship last year.


Tim

[Catal]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by sallearmourer
I use a butane torch myself Catal not as hot.

You rule.

[DHCJr]

Catal, I'm sorry your so sensitive. As you noticed I talked about welding on the barrel, not the mask. Just because a beginner did not respond, does not mean they did not take any of your suggestions seriously.

I have never said I was an expert or good. In fact, whenever I introduce myself, I always say I am only the 3rd best armorer within 100 miles and I don't even consider myself in the top 20 in the U.S. When I write about myself as an armorer it is with a small a. When I talk about other Armorers, I use a capital A. I don't consider myself an expert and as you can see I am a senior member, just like you. Craig knows that I am not qualified to be an expert.

I like good practical jokes that would not hurt anyone. When they were first considering electric Sabre, I made the suggestion that they just plug the fencers directly into 220 volts. I never made that suggestion to beginners, just to established Armorers. Dan DeChaine made the best reply. "We don't want to do that. The Sabreist might start to like it and we don't want to do anything for the Sabreist.

[counter riposte]

Sorry to interrupt the verbal ripostes but.... it still hasn't answered the question:

Will cascade (or any other dishwasher detergent for that matter) damage the conductive material on the mask? Remember this is a SABRE mask..... which means the bib (the lame material) must conduct as well.

OR:

Second, a blow dryer so as to prevent, what exactly?

Not that I took Catal's advice on blow torches.... as i do know that flammable materials on my mask would be bad....

[Catal]

Originally posted by DHCJr
Catal, I'm sorry your so sensitive.

I'm sensitive? Oh, la de ha! BTW, it's correctly spelled "you're."


As you noticed I talked about welding on the barrel, not the mask.

It's people like you (and any beginner who would propane their barrel) that kept Johnathan Swift gainfully employed. I've got a bridge with your name on it.


Just because a beginner did not respond, does not mean they did not take any of your suggestions seriously.

Yeah, that's the best part. Who'd admit to torching their barrel? Ha! Did you? Is that why you're so miffed? Sucker! You're the winner of my "Sucker for Life" Award. You must have been barrels of fun during the Y2K panic.


I have never said I was an expert or good. In fact, whenever I introduce myself, I always say I am only the 3rd best armorer within 100 miles and I don't even consider myself in the top 20 in the U.S. When I write about myself as an armorer it is with a small a. When I talk about other Armorers, I use a capital A. I don't consider myself an expert and as you can see I am a senior member, just like you.

Huh? What? I wasn't paying attention, can you repeat that?


I like good practical jokes that would not hurt anyone. When they were first considering electric Sabre, I made the suggestion that they just plug the fencers directly into 220 volts.

Gosh, darn it! That's not funny. No, sir! WARNING, WARNING! Don't take this suggestion seriously, unless you're a cyborg, in which case it's okay.

[Catal]

Sorry to interrupt the verbal ripostes but.... it still hasn't answered the question:


Oh, yeah- I knew there was a reason we were here. Counter, the blow dryer idea is to prevent rust from occuring. Essentially, you're drying the mask as quickly as possible to keep the metal from oxidizing. Anyway, here's a handy-dandy link for you:

http://www.fencing101.com/armory/ The answer to your question resides there.

[DHCJr]

The idea of using a dish washer is interesting. A washing machine would be out of the question, because the movement of the tub would damage the mask. I don't have a dish washer, so I can not try it.

I would not worry about Cascade damaging the mask. I would be more worried about it leaving a insulating film on the lame material. I would make sure that the rinse cycle completely rinsed the mask.

I believe they talked about the hair dryer being used to dry off the mask.