|
Post by thessalonian on Feb 22, 2013 1:37:30 GMT
Hey everyone. I'm new here, and overall to sword fighting. I came across ARMA and I'm considering membership. on the site it mentions cutting as not just something to do for fun, but as an integral part of practice. I also saw (I cant remember where) Japanese cutting mats for something like $80. I have a hard time spending that much money on something i'm just going to cut up.
Can you guys here let me know how to make my own cutting things. Thanks.
|
|
|
Post by chrisperoni on Feb 22, 2013 2:55:17 GMT
water bottles are the cheap standard. $3 for a case of 24 is the regular price; when cases go on sale stock up for even cheaper. Or save recycling, ask friends and family, set out a box at work for bottles, hit up the neighbours before garbage day- all are free options.
In summer pool noodles and beach mats sell at dollar stores for $1-$2. treat the beach mats like tatami- roll, soak in water, hang from a tree or make a stand. Rolled up newpaper works too- soak this in water as well.
There are lots of other options I'm sure more will be mentioned.
Be aware paper and cardboard tends to dull a blade a bit faster than some other mediums. Not by much but worth noting.
|
|
|
Post by Onimusha on Feb 22, 2013 4:23:47 GMT
Let me know how that ARMA membership goes.
|
|
|
Post by johnwalter on Feb 22, 2013 4:41:48 GMT
Bamboo is the harder target side of things. Also if you dont mind a little work and if you have it growing near you,you can harvest "broom grass"and make your own bundles by tying handfuls together and soaking in water. Welcome to the forum.
|
|
|
Post by Onimusha on Feb 22, 2013 8:58:41 GMT
dollar store tennis balls, whiffle balls, etc. You can hang them on a string and start them swinging. Learning to cut a moving target will help you on the fighting end.
|
|
|
Post by thessalonian on Feb 22, 2013 16:18:40 GMT
I will do so. It has been a few days since i submitted my app. I'll post when i find out.
Thanks for the suggestions. I like the grass idea. I moved onto a hobby farm, and I'm going to keep an acre section of long grass where i want to make an outdoor training ring. I will have lots of grass I can cut:). What is the reason for soaking everything in water? Does it prevent dulling?
I can't wait until summer. It's going to be fun.
|
|
|
Post by MOK on Feb 22, 2013 22:17:15 GMT
Possibly a little, but the real reason is just that it makes stuff softer and heavier and more like flesh, i.e. the material swords are actually designed to cut.
PS. More importantly than dulling, soaking your cutting material decreases scratching. Touching up the edge is a matter of minutes, but polishing out ugly scratches left by dry straw etc. can be a real pain.
|
|
|
Post by ninjedi on Feb 25, 2013 14:33:16 GMT
$80?? Single roll tatami mats are only $5 to $10
|
|
|
Post by thessalonian on Feb 25, 2013 15:04:31 GMT
Hey, thanks for making me do a double check. I couldn't remember where I had seen that, so I did a google search to see if I could find the site, and I did. Your right. I saw it here, www.swordnarmory.com/Sword-Test- ... 20a017.htm. In my curiosity of the picture and the price, I failed to see the large bold print at the top that said "12 Pcs". I just seen the $84.96 and the Qty box of 1. It turns out per matt, it's just over $7. Sorry everybody. Please don't anybody look at me, I'm a moron. Can't read the big 12 at the top of the ad. Allow also to apologize to the good people at SwordNArmoury.com, for my misinformation. Please, check it out and buy a mat. (I am however still a cheapskate and would rather not spend money on something to cut up
|
|
hhmoore
Member
Sneaking around once in a while
Posts: 656
|
Post by hhmoore on Feb 25, 2013 15:31:30 GMT
I know that feeling...especially considering how easy it is to go through 12 targets. Nothing like blowing $84 (or more, if there is a shipping charge) on an afternoon's worth of cutting.
|
|
|
Post by ninjedi on Mar 5, 2013 17:25:27 GMT
lol, same goes for gun ammo, if you are a handgun enthusiast. Pretty easy to drop $80 on several boxes of ammo at the range and then blow through them in 20 minutes....
at least with tatami you can maybe cut a roll two or three times.
|
|
|
Post by thessalonian on Mar 5, 2013 18:21:53 GMT
Ya tell me about it. I don't have a handgun...yet(its one of the seven deadly sins of Canada), but $40 for a box of 7mm mags doesn't last too long. I have bought some of the equipment to load my own, but its pricey too (the equipment). I thought that with swords it was a weapon I didn't have to continuesly buy ammo for, but I guess just practice material. But like Reliks.com says "in the case of a zombie apocalypse, you don't need to worry about running out of ammo with swords".
|
|
|
Post by LSUninja on Mar 6, 2013 17:31:09 GMT
Watermelons are usually pretty cheap, and if you can stand it up on it's end, you could make several nice cuts to a good sized melon. And afterwards enjoy the spoils with some thirst quenching watermelon as a snack.
|
|
hhmoore
Member
Sneaking around once in a while
Posts: 656
|
Post by hhmoore on Mar 6, 2013 20:35:31 GMT
Oil and watermelon do not mix - clean thy blade first
|
|