jwl@ucbvax.ARPA (James Wilbur Lewis) (03/20/85)
This came up yesterday in a fencing class that I'm taking...it started a fairly interesting discussion and maybe someone out there can help us answer this question: Sometimes it's necessary to bend the blade of a foil back to its proper shape. Our instructor said the best way to do this is by stepping on the blade, then bending the blade and drawing it rapidly between your shoe and the floor several times. (Kind of hard to explain without pictures, sorry about that!) She said the reason for doing it this way is to warm up the blade so that it doesn't break. The question: is the temperature change large enough to have this effect on a steel blade? It does get quite warm, but certainly the change is on the order of tens of degrees. If the temperature change is insignificant, then why bend the blade this particular way? (Apparently just about everyone learns this technique; there must be *some* advantage!) so how about it, net.physicists? I, and the rest of the class, anxiously await your responses! -- Jim Lewis U.C. Berkeley ...ucbvax!jwl UUCP jwl@ucbernie ARPA hoser@ucbcmsa Bitnet
iles@hplabs.UUCP (03/21/85)
I was taught to bend a blade that way just because it is an easy way to curve the whole blade (or the whole 1/2 - 1/3 of the blade). There was no mystery physics involved, but try to evenly apply that much pressure all along the blade any other way--you can't do it with your hands.
iles@hplabs.UUCP (03/21/85)
I was taught to bend a blade that way just because it is an easy way to curve the whole blade (or the whole 1/2 - 1/3 of the blade). There was no mystery physics involved, but try to evenly apply that much pressure all along the blade any other way--you can't do it with your hands. I don't think the temperature change is signifigant. When you score with a foil, you can bend the blade rather considerably, and it will not break. This would seem to negate the temperature argument. - Dan Lieman iles%hplabs.csnet@csnet-relay.arpa hplabs!iles or, for you berkeley persons, mail to me at :c50pb-bt@agate, but PLEASE make the subject "To Dan." Thanks.