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The Great Throwzini Newsletter: Issue #4

by Scott Gracia
sgracia@wi.rr.com
http://www.throwzini.com


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=======================================
IN THIS ISSUE

1. Opening Letter
2. Light Throwers- Part 3 of 4
by K.E. Sackett
3. New 13.5" Dragon Knives
4. Preventive Maintenance
5. Contact Info/Reprint Guidelines
=======================================

1. OPENING LETTER

Hello fellow throwers and welcome to the first knife
throwing newsletter of the year 2000! I hope the New Year
is treating everyone great and I wish the best of luck
to all!

Now on to the fun stuff! There's a few new things to tell
you about so let's get started.

NEW LOOK
There's a new look at The Great Throwzini web site. Nothing
major. I just did a little updating to the home page. I
combined a few links to make the site easier to navigate.

There was also a submission from Dennis Beever about getting
your knife throwing designs "laser cut" by professionals.

This article has lots of great information so be sure
to check it out. You can find it under the "Custom Designs"
link.

http://www.throwzini.com

Thanks to everyone that submitted their info/pics!!!

========================================

2. GUEST COLUMN:

LIGHT THROWERS -- Part 3 of 4
by: K. E. Sackett

Continued from Issue #3

LIGHT THROWING TARGETS
This is where the light approach is particularly
attractive: you can use cheap materials for targets.

Don't get me wrong: If you want to, go ahead and
build a heavy plank target for throwing light knives.

Or you can pile up some massive tree discs of the
sort used for tomahawks and timber cruisers' axes.

But I think you'll agree that this is overkill, and
instead make your targets out of Good Old Cardboard.

As I mentioned, my first light target all those years
ago was a square of laminated cardboard. It was about
eight layers thick, and it absorbed a fantastic
number of punctures before it wore out.

Material of this type is worth hunting for and
glomming onto whenever you get a chance. Appliance
stores frequently throw away large pieces of heavy
cardboard, and will gladly let you haul some away.

When you go scrounging, take along a light saw or
large bread knife for reducing big chunks of corrugated
cardboard to manageable sizes; an ordinary knife will lose
its edge too quickly to be of use.

If you can't score any inch-thick cardboard, layer some
ordinary sheets (ten layers is a good average number) and
fasten them together securely with wide plastic tape.

Use dry, undamaged cardboard that's as little warped as
possible. When taping the sheets together, apply plenty
of weight, to compress the material and reduce
springiness.

I suggest laying it on the floor and kneeling on it;
my two hundred pounds (but it's all muscle, honest!)
do a fine job of flattening cardboard.

An extra advantage of casually layered cardboard targets
is that they're forgiving of bad throws. My rather heavy
key-stock throwing spikes, even when they strike at a
steep angle, can be relied on to go through the first
few layers of cardboard and then be held in place by
friction.

Sure, they hang down or flop upward; sure, it's not as
satisfying as a straight, solid stick -- but what the hay,
at least they don't fall to the ground and lie there
mocking me.

A cardboard target must be solidly backed before it can be
used. Mount your target on a sheet of half-inch or thicker
plywood, or on an old door, or on a backing of planks.
Plastic tape is adequate for fastening the cardboard to
the backing, but use it generously.

As with any kind of throwing-to-the-mark, your target should
be big, to catch those wild throws. Even for short half-turn
distances, use a target fully thirty inches wide.

The height of the target can be more variable, but I think
it's fun to stick knives from ground-level up to seven feet,
and with cardboard targets so easy and cheap to make, and if
you have the headroom, why not?

OTHER TARGETS
Other soft materials besides cardboard can be used for
light targets.

STYROFOAM
Large blocks of Styrofoam work well when taped or glued
to a plywood backing.

CEILING TILE
Discarded sheets of ceiling tile, layered two or three
deep, can also be used, although they may not last as long as
other materials.

BALE OF HAY
A tight bale of hay is suitable if you don't mind a bit of
shedding.

NEWSPAPERS
A large bundle of newspapers, tied firmly and turned to
present the edges of the sheets to the thrower, will absorb
a lot of hits from light blades.

A unique advantage of soft targets is that they won't damage
delicate throwing weapons. Thin, narrow throwing knives with
heavyish handles can bend when they hit a wooden target,
especially if you make them from untempered steel.

If you run them up in aluminum or brass -- strange things
happen in the shop, now don't they? -- you can count on a
lot of bending and breaking on impact with solid wood,
even when the blades stick fair and square.

Cardboard or other resilient target materials cushion a
penetrating knife, slowing it to a stop more gradually than
even soft end-grain wood, with the result that easily-bent
metals stay straight.

Conversely, hard-tempered steel will develop work
embrittlement more slowly when used with soft targets,
putting off that evil day when your beautifully balanced
light thrower goes ping! and leaves you with two pieces of
nothing in particular.

Aiming-marks should be small circles of paper or light
pasteboard, taped, gummed, or glued to the surface of the
target. The heavier aiming-marks you can use with full-size
knives -- bottle caps or tin can lids -- will defeat your
light knives even if you stick them squarely.

Part 4 of 4 continued in our next issue.

Article contributed by . . .
K.E. Sackett sackett@dbo.eng.wayne.edu
http://www.crl.com/~mjr/knife_lite.html

=============================================

3. RECREATIONAL KNIFE THROWING VIDEO

If you want to learn the insider SECRETS, TIPS and TRICKS that the masters use to hit their mark every time, then John Bailey's Recreational Knife Throwing Video is for you.

Here is a taste of what you'll get:

- 9 inexpensive target designs
- 11 demonstrations
- How to eliminate the most common throwing error
- Master grips, stances and throws

and so much more!

For a limited time, you can have the ultimate knife throwing video for only $19.95. By acting now, you'll save 33% off the regular price of $29.95

For a full description and ordering details, follow this link:

http://www.throwzini.com/tgt_video.html

AOL USERS LINK

=============================================

4. PREVENTIVE MAINTENANCE

The problem with throwing in Winter where I live is that
when it actually warms up enough to throw outside, it
gets REALLY muddy! Let me tell ya... I just love picking
dried mud out of the handle slabs, (or what used to be
handle slabs before I impaled other knives into them!).

Until the time comes when I don't have to worry
about any of my knives "touching" the ground after a bad
throw... I guess I'm stuck cleaning them. ;-}

So here's a few tips and reminders for everyone:

* Clean your knives with soap and hot water to
get mud and dirt off. (You can use a non-abrasive scouring
pad for the stuck on dirt.)

*Dry them thoroughly. You don't want your
knives to rust.

* If you are going to store them add a light coat of
machine oil.

* A fine-grained file or sandpaper can be used to smooth out
slight nicks in the handle slabs or on the blade.

* Store them in a dry place.


Follow these simple rules, and you will be much happier
down the road with your throwers.

http://www.throwzini.com
=============================================

If you have any questions about throwing that you would
like answered in one of our upcoming issues, simply
send an e-mail to:

sgracia@wi.rr.com

with QUESTION FOR NEWSLETTER in the Subject Line,
and your name and question in the body.

=============================================

(Copyright 1999, Scott Gracia, The Great Throwzini.)

Reprint permission granted in part or whole when the
following credit appears in full:

Reprinted with permission from Scott Gracia's
The Great Throwzini Newsletter.
Get your FREE 101 KNIFE THROWING TIPS and
Newsletter, filled with throwing tips and ideas to help
you with your throwing game, at The Great Throwzini website
http://www.throwzini.com

=============================================
Scott Gracia,
The Great Throwzini,
5321 4 Mile Rd.
Racine, WI 53402-9791
Phone 262-681-7942,
Email: sgracia@wi.rr.com
http://www.throwzini.com


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