Pike extensions stiffness

[AstraVlad]

Hi!

I'm looking forward to ordering Pike Extensions to create a lightsaber pike, but to make it really a pike and not some sort of "lightsaber Dadao" I'll need to combine at least 4 15'' extension tubes. I'm a bit worried about the stiffness of the whole assembly. Will it hold it duel? Wouldn't it wobble or even break apart from hits and quick movement?

[Death Cyborg]

Could you assemble the pike sections, then run a single piece of thin walled PVC pipe up the center to provide extra stength ?
Or would that add too much weight to move effectively  ?
Now that I think about it, it might help to counter balance the weight of the saber at end.


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[Rapine]

I have a pike.  I only used three extensions, and it's over 6ft tall with a blade in. 


I have a Dark Initiate on top.  It's a beast:


The extensions are extremely solid - feels like one solid piece.  I wouldn't say that you need any extra strength.

Weight is there.

[AstraVlad]

The extensions are extremely solid - feels like one solid piece.  I wouldn't say that you need any extra strength.

Many thanks! I'm going to use Dark Initiate for the spear as well, by the way.

But I calculated that with 3 extensions and 3 couplers I'll get 3 * (15+1,5) = 49,5 inches of length and the saber itself will give another 9,8'' resulting in 59,3 inches or 1,5 meters total. And I'm used to medieval spear with 2 meters (about 80 inches) shaft.

And considering weight problem... probably I should just take a wooden shaft and somehow attach a lightsaber to it .

[Rapine]

Very cool.

Don't forget the 24"blade.

I wouldn't say that you'd need to counter-balance it though, since your hands are spread a good distance apart. 

Looking forward to seeing.

+1

[DavidYaw]

I have four extensions.

There are a couple issues with using all four extensions:

• It's taller than you think it is: the martial arts school where I train has a 10 foot ceiling, and when this stands upright, it almost touches.
• It's heavy: That's a lot of aluminum to swing around.

The combination of those two: My martial arts instructor tried to use it with the Long Pole form: because it's so much mass being slung around, and he was doing a lot of sharp movements with it, he was afraid that it would end up bending. (The Long Pole he uses for martial arts is wood, and has some flex to it so it doesn't break.) I don't know how realistic it is for him to bend aluminum, but I trust his judgement.

Here's my instructor doing the Long Pole form with 2 extensions, a Shock RGB hilt (which is longer than the regular Shock), and a 36" blade. For comparison, my instructor is 5'6". https://www.facebook.com/thegatheringofsabers/posts/1862861917341736 If you're planning on using an Initiate hilt and a 24" blade, then 3 extensions will get you about the same length as the 2 extensions in the video.

[Infinit01]

I have a pike.  I only used three extensions, and it's over 6ft tall with a blade in. 


I have a Dark Initiate on top.  It's a beast:


The extensions are extremely solid - feels like one solid piece.  I wouldn't say that you need any extra strength.

Weight is there.

Wow, that is beautiful, Lord Rapine!  Do you have any pictures of it on and blade in?

[Rapine]

Thanks I1.

I don't right now (I did on PB  ), and it's an Obsidian LITE as well, so I have to get some batteries...

BR with FO flash.

[AstraVlad]

Don't forget the 24"blade.

They have 16'' blade for pikes . And I can always cut it down to a shorter length.

I wouldn't say that you'd need to counter-balance it though, since your hands are spread a good distance apart.  

When you thrust with a spear you often have to slide it through the "forward" hand and hold it with two fists held together. So, weight and balance ARE important.

Here's my instructor doing the Long Pole form with 2 extensions, a Shock RGB hilt (which is longer than the regular Shock), and a 36" blade. For comparison, my instructor is 5'6". https://www.facebook.com/thegatheringofsabers/posts/1862861917341736 If you're planning on using an Initiate hilt and a 24" blade, then 3 extensions will get you about the same length as the 2 extensions in the video.

Nice video, thank you! I plan to use it in a more European way without that whip-like movements. Like that:

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L9waXpKp9jo" target="_blank" class="aeva_link bbc_link new_win">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L9waXpKp9jo</a>

And while we usually practice outside (until autumn) I do not have to worry about ceiling .

[Rapine]

They have 16'' blade for pikes . And I can always cut it down to a shorter length.

I was thinking of that right after I posted...lol

When you thrust with a spear you often have to slide it through the "forward" hand and hold it with two fists held together. So, weight and balance ARE important.

Right.  YOU decide, when you get one.  I don't find a balance issue.

[DarkSideBlues]

I'm looking forward to ordering Pike Extensions to create a lightsaber pike, but to make it really a pike and not some sort of "lightsaber Dadao" I'll need to combine at least 4 15'' extension tubes. I'm a bit worried about the stiffness of the whole assembly. Will it hold it duel? Wouldn't it wobble or even break apart from hits and quick movement?

Wobble possibly, but I’d be surprised if it broke apart. I do agree with running a thin piece of pvc up the inside of it to give it a little more rigidity and strength.

When you thrust with a spear you often have to slide it through the "forward" hand and hold it with two fists held together. So, weight and balance ARE important.

Yes, although I would say that it depends on where along the shaft your hands are when you begin the thrust. I cannot say I would ever end up with both my hands next to each other on the shaft, but I also don’t have training in Western spear usage, so that’s probably why. And I absolutely agree that weight and balance are important.

I don't find a balance issue.

All that means is that your spear is already balanced to you personal taste, without the need for further modifications. Attach a different pommel to it, or add some additional weight to either end and you’ll see the difference. Add just an ounce or two in weight to the hilt end and you’ll feel the difference in how the spear moves.

[AstraVlad]

Wobble possibly, but I’d be surprised if it broke apart. I do agree with running a thin piece of pvc up the inside of it to give it a little more rigidity and strength.

Yes, it does make sense.

I cannot say I would ever end up with both my hands next to each other on the shaft

It is like this (sorry could not find a larger picture):


This way you can hit incoming opponent long before he can hit you and probably he will not even be ready to your attack, 'cause from his POV you are totally out of range.

[Samhain138]

I’d be legit surprised if it wobbled at all.  I put together an extended hilt saberstaff and found myself thinking, remove the blades and this is a dangerous weapon.  If it’s uisng the stunt saber flush coupler, those things are crazy solid.

[Infinit01]

If it's a bit wobbly, I'd check all pikes to make sure that they're are securely tighten.  I recently wielded a buddy's pike staff and it was really solid without it being wobbly one bit.  It will definitely do damage to whatever it's used to strike with