Jugger "Pompeys" - searching for core material

[Linus05]

Hello all you experienced toy makers,
we're trying o build the next generation "Pompfey" in Brisbane for a game called Jugger.

What we lack is a good core material.
We already tried various timber and bamboo core rods, but they tend to brake and splinter after heavy usage.
The recommendation from the german players is a "glass(fibre) reinforced plastic" (grp) rod, but we can't find a shop selling them in Australia.

Does anyone know where to buy GRP rods or rods made out of a material with similar attributes?

I know this is supposed to be a forum for woodworker, but I hope to find others who encountered a similar problem and found a solution. We used wood for most pompfeys and we're still using it for shields and other parts.


Short introduction:
Jugger is a teamsport where a "ball" has to be carried to the opponents "goal". Both teams are equipped with various heavily!!! padded weapons (the pompfeys).
The pompfeys have to be light, slightly (as much as bamboo) flexible and indestructible (as close as it can get).

A breaking bamboo or timber core might eventually injure a player and a thick timber core doesn't leave much room for padding, because the pompfeys have to be thin and fast.

for images:
[/URL][url]http://www.jugger.org.au/ (http://www.jugger.com.au/)

I really hope, someone can help us for we don't know where else to search.

[tea lady]

Your link doesn't go anywhere, but is this what you meant.

http://www.juggerblog.net/

Looks fairly crazy and a lot of fun and ridiculousness.:cool:

What about something similar to fiberglass sailing boat masts. I think most things would break though. Maybe kevlar in it or something. :shrug: Try the boat building forum though. They might know more about making masts.:U

[Linus05]

true,
it's
http://www.jugger.org.au (http://www.jugger.org.au/)

oops

I might give it a try :-)
Thanks for that


and yes... it's a lot of fun ... oh yes

[Juffy]

The recommendation from the german players is a "glass(fibre) reinforced plastic" (grp) rod, but we can't find a shop selling them in Australia.

Does anyone know where to buy GRP rods or rods made out of a material with similar attributes?

First thing that springs to mind (being a white-water paddler myself) is kayak/ski paddle shafts - you can get them made from ally, GRP-ish material or full carbon fibre.

Find yourself an outdoor store and see if they suit. A specialist paddling store is more likely to have the shafts separate from the blades, as paddlers tend to break them a bit. :U

Edit: dunno about anyone else, but I'm not fighting this guy (http://www.jugger.org.au/gallery/20080810html/content/bin/images/large/IMG_2431.jpg) for a ball. :)

[bsrlee]

Like an old SCA game 'Norse Stick (it to 'em) Ball, but smaller teams & no armour :o. I haven't seen it played locally for years.

HobbyCo in Sydney sells lengths of fiber reinforced GRP rod for kite making, and I know there is a wholesaler around somewhere as SCA fencers use the stuff for some of the outrageously long late 1600's rapiers they have been playing with.

If 32" lengths would suit, then try Abbey Archery as Carbon reinforced hollow GRP is used for medium/high level target arrows.

You could also try a search for LARP - Live Action Role Play, who use 'weapons' similar to your bats.

Rattan is used by the SCA for full power contact weapons precisely because it doesn't splinter at all or break readily - one layer of good quality fiberglass reinforced strapping tape and a layer of grey duct tape over that & they last for a couple of years pounding on armour before they get too mushy & get re-cycled as parts. Victor A Leggo (or Leggo A Victor - can never get it right) are major importers of rattan in various sizes - or look for old rattan furniture being thrown out for some cane to experiment with - cane lounge places want obscene amounts for small offcuts.

[Billy]

have you thought about using second hand or discarded fishing rods, fibreglass, flexible ( depending on style of rod ) and easy to get hold of ?

[Linus05]

Hm,
we thought a couple of these things through.

The Rattan solution might actually work, but by now we're sure that we want the grp rods.
They have been tested for 15years and so far, non broke through (intensive usage).

The problem with other rodtypes is usually the diameter and the flexibility. A really thin rod needs to much padding to get the right size and flexing weapons aren't good to use.
Hollow weapons are usually to light and carbon... is really expensive of what I heard, isn't it? (Some players thought about creating there own "deluxe" carbon-core pompfey :-)

But we'll try to squeeze something out of the sca fencers :-) That sounds promising.

Did you know that DHL would charge 600 to 1600 Bugs to ship 20Rods from Germany to Oz? Great. Don't ask me what causes the enormous gap between the prices. 2 Phonecalls, two answers.



HEy, it seems like we found something. The SCA Fencer website guided us to Permex.
THEY SELL WHAT WE NEED!!!

cool. We'll try one of them and see if it's any good. But seems to suit the purpose.
Hey thanks a lot :-)
Great.


At Juffy: That guy with the ball is usually the one the media picks for photos. Believe, he doesn't look that scary on the field :-) And after you go hit by the ball once, you know there's no need to fear it. Quite soft :-)

At Bsrlee: Thanks for the hint. Looks great. Well, armour is not needed. The padding is good enough so that nobody gets hurt. Jugger is a low risk game, even though it looks painful :-) All about the fun and the speed