Quick Review of a Game Changer

[scifidude79]

OK, this isn't quite going to get the grandeur of my Electrum Wind review, but I got my new coupler today.  Yes, it's the quick release.  I've gotta say, this is a game changer.  I don't see any other saber smiths being able to touch this bad boy anytime soon.  It literally takes a second or two to detach or re-attach your staff parts, not the couple minutes it takes when fooling around with the unscrewing and screwing a standard coupler.  (I'm sure speedy people can do it in less than a minute, but still not as quick as the QR coupler)  Anywho, onto the pics:

I'm sure somebody was going to request seeing the Electrum Wind coupled to something.  If not, I'd have been disappointed because I sure wanted to see it.

I also got one of these cool circle blade plugs with this order.  Since I don't want to start a thread just for that, here it is:

So, yeah, this coupler is freaking amazing.  Not only that, but mine was free, because I paid for the order mostly with reward points.  I paid nothing for the coupler and $1 for the plug. (or the opposite, depending on your POV)  I cheaped out on the shipping and went with the $6 USPS option.  I guess, when you do that, you don't even get a shipping notification.  But, no worries.  It was a nice surprise when I got the mail today. 

[Landen Se-Sentien]

Good info on the new coupler, SFD.

How freely do the sabers rotate when using them for strikes, spins, etc.?

[scifidude79]

Thanks Landen.  It rotates really freely.  The slightest touch makes the hilts rotate.  And that's just twirling the hilts around in my hands with no blades in them.  I have to get ready to go to work in a few minutes, so I don't have time for extensive testing right now, but I'd imagine it would rotate even more when handling a staff in battle or spinning.

Oh, and the sound is LOUD.  I have a piece of cloth stuffed in the pommel of my Electrum Wind so that I don't disturb others while messing around with it, of which I've been doing a lot.  (first time with sound)  So, when I put the QR coupler on and activated it, it startled me.

[Samhain138]

Thanks Landen.  It rotates really freely.  The slightest touch makes the hilts rotate.  And that's just twirling the hilts around in my hands with no blades in them.  I have to get ready to go to work in a few minutes, so I don't have time for extensive testing right now, but I'd imagine it would rotate even more when handling a staff in battle or spinning.

That's disappointing to hear.  Looks like I'll be skipping over this.

[Landen Se-Sentien]

That's disappointing to hear.  Looks like I'll be skipping over this.

Yeah, that was my concern to.

Thanks for the info, SFD.

[scifidude79]

No problem, guys.  Sorry it was bad news.  But, it's always better to find this stuff out before you buy.  The connection is made with ball bearinga that go into a channel in the skinny part. So, even though the connection is strong, it rolls around.  With the way you spin, Samhain, it would definitely be moving a lot.  And, I'd imagine it would also move around on you in combat, Landen. 

[Landen Se-Sentien]

No problem, guys.  Sorry it was bad news.  But, it's always better to find this stuff out before you buy.  The connection is made with ball bearinga that go into a channel in the skinny part. So, even though the connection is strong, it rolls around.  With the way you spin, Samhain, it would definitely be moving a lot.  And, I'd imagine it would also move around on you in combat, Landen. 

Yeah, I have experience with couplers like this, but it's mostly through hoses. When the hoses are under pressure, whether it be with fluid or air, the pressure holds the two pieces together very strong, and they don't move as much. When there's no pressure, they move a lot. In the product video Emory did, I thought they moved very easily.

But, if going for a quick change from staff to dual wield is what you're after, then this hits the mark beautifully.

[scifidude79]

But, if going for a quick change from staff to dual wield is what you're after, then this hits the mark beautifully.

Indeed.  I'm certainly not a martial artist like you or a spinner like Samhain, so it's cool to me.  I'm more of a single wielder anyway, I just got it because I can and because it looks cool and is a great piece of engineering for the saber world.

The cosplay benefits of being somewhere with a staff you can easily detach are obvious.  It's certainly better than lugging a couple pommels around with you at a party or con.    Plus, as Emory pointed out in the video, it's easy to line up those switches for photo ops.

[Samhain138]

I can for sure see the cosplay benefits for this.  If I ever do an OC character cosplay I'd probably want this for my DSI set.  But for a spinning demonstration I don't think I'd use this to switch it up on the fly.

[Benji]

OK, this isn't quite going to get the grandeur of my Electrum Wind review, but I got my new coupler today.  Yes, it's the quick release.  I've gotta say, this is a game changer.  I don't see any other saber smiths being able to touch this bad boy anytime soon.  It literally takes a second or two to detach or re-attach your staff parts, not the couple minutes it takes when fooling around with the unscrewing and screwing a standard coupler.  (I'm sure speedy people can do it in less than a minute, but still not as quick as the QR coupler)  Anywho, onto the pics:

I'm sure somebody was going to request seeing the Electrum Wind coupled to something.  If not, I'd have been disappointed because I sure wanted to see it.

I also got one of these cool circle blade plugs with this order.  Since I don't want to start a thread just for that, here it is:

So, yeah, this coupler is freaking amazing.  Not only that, but mine was free, because I paid for the order mostly with reward points.  I paid nothing for the coupler and $1 for the plug. (or the opposite, depending on your POV)  I cheaped out on the shipping and went with the $6 USPS option.  I guess, when you do that, you don't even get a shipping notification.  But, no worries.  It was a nice surprise when I got the mail today. 

We really want to see the Electrum Staff, but that there looks pretty freakin' sweet as is!  QR coupler is definitely on my list of wants now. Think I would use it in spinning or combat in spite of the rotation thing at least to see how it holds up and get an idea for how the hilts turning would affect things.

[Landen Se-Sentien]

Indeed.  I'm certainly not a martial artist like you or a spinner like Samhain, so it's cool to me.  I'm more of a single wielder anyway, I just got it because I can and because it looks cool and is a great piece of engineering for the saber world.

The cosplay benefits of being somewhere with a staff you can easily detach are obvious.  It's certainly better than lugging a couple pommels around with you at a party or con.    Plus, as Emory pointed out in the video, it's easy to line up those switches for photo ops.

I can for sure see the cosplay benefits for this.  If I ever do an OC character cosplay I'd probably want this for my DSI set.  But for a spinning demonstration I don't think I'd use this to switch it up on the fly.

I agree with both of these.

[Deep]

No problem, guys.  Sorry it was bad news.  But, it's always better to find this stuff out before you buy.  The connection is made with ball bearinga that go into a channel in the skinny part. So, even though the connection is strong, it rolls around.  With the way you spin, Samhain, it would definitely be moving a lot.  And, I'd imagine it would also move around on you in combat, Landen.  

I'm not sure if users have actually tried spinning with this coupler or just make posts about it.  But myself and numerous other have used this coupler both in spinning and in combat and the ability for the hilts to turn effect both 0%.  We make combat ready products, we wouldn't have released this coupler if it was not made for combat.  If you plan to use your double sided saber as a baseball bat then perhaps this will get you jammed up at the plate.  But if you plan to use it like a staff then you will have no issues at all and the quick release will be a joy.

[scifidude79]

Well, like I told Landen earlier, I didn't have much time to test it this morning.  I can put some blades in and give it some swings when I get home.

[Landen Se-Sentien]

I have every confidence in its ability to stand up to combat without breaking or becoming detached.

I've used couplers like that on my scuba gear and trusted them with my life in 100+ feet of water. I know the technology is solid.

I think we need to get some videos of people dueling and spinning with a shot of the button alignment before and after, and that would help a lot of potential buyers.

[Samhain138]

I didn't mean to question its durability or like if the saber would go flying off or something ridiculous.  I only meant the hilts rotating on the coupler sounds like something that I wouldn't be crazy about if it's as sensitive as Scifidude79 made it sound.  I look forward to seeing some demonstrations of it once enough people have gotten their hands on one.