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by Scott Gracia sgracia@wi.rr.com http://www.throwzini.com ======================================= This newsletter is a FREE service you requested. You are on this list because: * You subscribed at our Great Throwzini web site * You inquired about our products or promotions * You requested our free knife throwing tips or other information. If you'd like to be removed from this list, simply reply to this message with 'remove' in the subject. ======================================= 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 It's free, and there's no obligation. |
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