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Post by lamtab on Apr 18, 2017 11:42:17 GMT
Hello guys. I practice my swordplay using beach matts, newspaper rolls, pool noodles and some other equivalents. I am able to perform a clean cut when my target is positioned and stroke with a certain way. For example when hanging I can cut my target it with a zornhau but not with a zwerhau, as it offers no resistance horizontally. Is this to be expected or do I need to improve? Thanks in advance
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pgandy
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Post by pgandy on Apr 18, 2017 12:12:36 GMT
Don’t expect the same results on all targets with all cuts. Some will be more efficient than others. To what degree is something else.
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Post by lamtab on Apr 18, 2017 12:20:17 GMT
I was just wondering if I should be able to cut an object that offers no resistance. It turns out that I cant
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pgandy
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Post by pgandy on Apr 18, 2017 12:23:24 GMT
Right, the target must offer resistance, and sufficient resistance at that.
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Post by lamtab on Apr 18, 2017 12:58:22 GMT
Thanks. I watch so many videos of people cutting and they make it look so easy that I thought that my technique or blade cant cut.
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Post by Lancelot Chan on Apr 18, 2017 13:49:13 GMT
In short, you need 3 factors to cut well, regardless of technique. They are blade alignment, speed and sharpness. Things that don't resist takes even better blade alignment, faster speed and keener sharpness to cut. :)
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Post by 28shadow on Apr 18, 2017 14:11:24 GMT
A proper stand can help with horizontal cuts. What kind of stand do you have constructed?
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Post by lamtab on Apr 18, 2017 21:13:10 GMT
Well I use half a coat hanger stand without anything to hold the target on it. The target is not fixed on it, thus if u just touch it, it will fall. Sometimes i hang the targets from the ceiling using a rope. By the way I have only once managed to get a perfect clean cut and it was a horizontal cut on a newspaper roll that was hanging.
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SeanF
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Post by SeanF on Apr 18, 2017 21:35:37 GMT
It's fully possible do horizontal cuts like the zwerchau against targets that are sitting unsupported, it just becomes significantly harder. The edge alignment has to be that much better, and the blade will be more demanding in terms of sharpness. For learning I wouldn't call it advisable.
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Post by wazikan on Apr 20, 2017 16:01:15 GMT
In short, you need 3 factors to cut well, regardless of technique. They are blade alignment, speed and sharpness. Things that don't resist takes even better blade alignment, faster speed and keener sharpness to cut. :) you can cut slow. I do it all the time
but alignment is key in my book.
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Razor
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Post by Razor on Apr 20, 2017 16:15:41 GMT
In short, you need 3 factors to cut well, regardless of technique. They are blade alignment, speed and sharpness. Things that don't resist takes even better blade alignment, faster speed and keener sharpness to cut. :) you can cut slow. I do it all the time
but alignment is key in my book.
Yeah it's possible to cut slow, but it still depends on the type of target, what cut you are doing, is it the long edge or short edge, bad sharpness.
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Razor
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Post by Razor on Apr 20, 2017 16:25:07 GMT
Hello guys. I practice my swordplay using beach matts, newspaper rolls, pool noodles and some other equivalents. I am able to perform a clean cut when my target is positioned and stroke with a certain way. For example when hanging I can cut my target it with a zornhau but not with a zwerhau, as it offers no resistance horizontally. Is this to be expected or do I need to improve? Thanks in advance I hate pool noodles. The technique needed to cut them will give you bad habits. Are you using single beach mats for targets? I find doubling the beach mats is a good cheap target. Three beach mats.rolled together is even a better target. How sharp is your sword?
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Post by lamtab on Apr 20, 2017 16:49:55 GMT
I use single beach mat rolls, and about 3 inch newspaper rolls. I dont know how to measure sharpness. You wont cut yourself by touching the edge but it feels sharp and it can cleave when swung.
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SeanF
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Post by SeanF on Apr 20, 2017 17:30:53 GMT
Basic sword sharpening tests, roughly in order of increasing sharpness: - Put the blade on your fingernail at an angle and see if it 'catches' when you try to slide it sideways.
- Cut paper with it
- Hold the edge up to a light and try and see if you can get a thin bead of light forming along the edge. If you can then the two edges aren't perfectly together. This one takes some practice.
- Shave with it
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Post by lamtab on Apr 20, 2017 17:43:25 GMT
1st test works 2nd test fails didnt try the rest
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SeanF
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Post by SeanF on Apr 20, 2017 23:26:29 GMT
Yes, if it can't cut paper then it isn't all that sharp.
Sharpening videos, if you are interested:
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Post by Faldarin on Apr 21, 2017 0:26:25 GMT
Thanks for this, Sean. As someone who's just starting to attempt to sharpen swords after practicing on knives for a while, these are invaluable. They also have some things I'd not thought about when it comes to refining an edge.
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Post by lamtab on Apr 21, 2017 9:49:04 GMT
I wanted to avoid the work sharp ( mainly cause of the cost ) but I see I have no other option, as I cant seem to get my edges sharp enough using whetstones. Thanks for your advices
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pgandy
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Post by pgandy on Apr 21, 2017 13:23:38 GMT
I wanted to avoid the work sharp ( mainly cause of the cost ) but I see I have no other option, as I cant seem to get my edges sharp enough using whetstones. Thanks for your advices This looks like what Edelson was using. It looks like over time he had stripped his down making it better suited for his use. I’ve avoided the Work Sharp also, but this looks tempting. I estimated the cheapest Work Sharp w/spare belts would cost me about $200 after importing. That plus the fact that I get satisfactory results with my technique has prevented me from buying. I’ll have to admit that my way is slow and laborious, especially with a new blunt edge. This jobby looks promising and will cost me $100, estimated. I’m thinking, hard. www.amazon.com/Generic-Mini-Belt-Sander-3400/dp/B004D96ZCG/ref=sr_1_2?s=hi&ie=UTF8&qid=1492779771&sr=1-2&keywords=belt+sanders
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Post by lamtab on Apr 21, 2017 16:02:21 GMT
Well the truth is that honing and polishing on your own is a lot more satisfying than using power tools, but for someone inexperienced as I am it might be good. Just a thought: I was under the impression that with the correct edge alignment and proper technique a medium sharp blade can cut easily ( which I've done a couple of times ). I guess I was wrong.
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