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Post by fox on Dec 19, 2007 9:14:59 GMT -6
I have heard, off & on, references to a newer type of grounded strip that is more like carpet. Does anyone know more about it? A link to a vendor?
I am also curious if anyone has had much experience with it and could note some pros and cons. It sounds intriguing.
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Post by fox on Dec 20, 2007 9:09:39 GMT -6
Hold it down, folks. Let's not have everyone try to answer at once.
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Post by kd5mdk on Dec 20, 2007 9:58:15 GMT -6
Leon Paul and Athos are the two manufacturers I've heard of. The Athos ones had problems with the rubber backing delaminating from the conductive surface. This may have been a manufacturing defect which was corrected.
The ones I saw at Summer Nationals in Atlanta in 2006 had several small holes in it after one week. I believe that was an Athos provided by Absolute.
The impression I got was that they're not durable enough for continuous use. I wouldn't use them for a club. They do have the substantial advantage of being light compared to metal strips - I heard that the USFA could afford to replace them all every year from the savings it would have in shipping them over metal strips. On the other hand, I'm not sure they'd last through a year of NACs and Summer Nationals.
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Post by D on Dec 20, 2007 10:53:54 GMT -6
I never heard of it.
All i know is that Leon Paul now is selling Rubber conductive strips. (no covering/the rubber is conductive) You have to go to the International Leon Paul website though. There not for sale at the Leon Paul USA site.
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Post by schlager7 on Dec 20, 2007 19:41:09 GMT -6
I did not respond because I have no experience with what fox described. I did, however, email a number of folks, drawing their attention to the query and here were their responses. I hope this helps.
=================================== [glow=red,2,300]Sam Signorelli[/glow]
Hmmmm....that's one I haven't heard of before....Dan or Ted might be the best in the know. I'd be interested in hearing the answer myself, if there is one.
=================================== [glow=red,2,300]Rudy Volkmann [/glow]
Hi, all--
I think he’s talking about the strips that Leon Paul was touting a few years back (as I recall, one other vendor was doing so as well—maybe TCA?).
They are made of some sort of dense, but thin, foam with a fabric covering that conducts electricity.
When you’re done, you just roll them up and carry them off — easy to do, as they are extremely light-weight.
The ones I have experience with have had a fatal manufacturing failure, though. The fabric is less flexible than the foam underneath, and therefore tends to separate, leaving you with a very thin and slippery piece of cloth over a pad.
If they ever get the kinks out of that it will be a hot item, indeed.
=================================== [glow=red,2,300]Dan DeChaine[/glow]
Dear Mr. Trojanowski: I just wrote an e-mail to Sam Signorelli at H.O.M. Fencing on the same subject. My answer to him was that the first times that these things were used, in the Leipzig World Championships and then alter at the Athens Olympics, the reports that I received indicated that they were not durable. I know nothing about the new all-rubber Leon Paul strip, since I have not seen one nor received any information on them. Sorry that I could not be more helpful. So far, these things seem still to be exotic.
=================================== [glow=red,2,300]Ted Li[/glow]
There are a number of grounded carpet strips available. BG and Absolute are two of the vendors who have them. BG carries the Artos strip made in Germany, which weighs about 70 lbs. There have been some problems with them delaminating (as seen at the USFA Summer Nationals two summers ago). The Absolute version is manufactured in China, and weighs considerable more. The price is about $2500.00/strip. The conductivity is very good, and they don’t seem to have the curling problems that the rolled “copper” strips have. Just roll them out, and tape the ends, and go fence.
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Post by D on Dec 21, 2007 14:41:11 GMT -6
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