SDC Handmade Blades

[SDC]

#1442 - 5+2 Inner - OFF

This is a blade that suffers from personally problems. It behaves like a inner 5+2, but it feels and sounds like a 3+2. The structure in this blade is a bit different than usual, the second layer (medial) has the grain oriented vertically, not horizontally like we normally do, and it's also slightly harder than the outer layer. It's like the outer and medial are one, which would make it a 3+2 and explain the characteristic sound and feel. However, it does not have a linear feel, this blade has possibly the most gears I've ever felt on a blade. The soft Ayous outer really tames the speed on passive strokes, so it feels much slower than what it really is, but as you start to accelerate, the springiness of the Spruce comes in. Then you have the kick from the fiber. Normally, on a 3+2 that's about it, but this blade is thinner, and thus more flexible, so you also get some of that inner fiber kick as well. But... This blade also has an Ayous core, which is denser than the Kiri (normally) used on 3+2 blades, so you also have that extra effect. Honestly, it's a surprising composition and I don't know why I didn't think about it before.

Available FS.

- Ayous / Spruce / A-C / Ayous core / A-C / Spruce / Ayous
- 90.1g
- 6.2mm
- 159x149.5mm
- FL (25.7-22.8x100mm)
- Balance: 3.7cm (High)

 

[SDC]

#1443 - Inner 5+2 - ALL+/OFF-

Thin looping blade, like the reinforced version of #1441, if that one is similar to the Violin, this would be similar to the Violin carbon inner.

Available FS.

- Koto / Ayous / Vectran-Carbon / Kiri core
- 87.6g
- 5.5mm
- 149x156mm
- ST (22.7x28.9x100mm)
- Balance: 3.0cm (Med)

 

[SDC]

#1454 - 7 Wood - OFF

A 7 ply that follows the same principle as #1432 which I posted a few days ago, but thicker and faster. This time I've replaced the "heavy" Ayous core for a much lighter Balsa layer, and used very dense thermo treated Ayous on layers 3 and 5, but other than that, it's a straightforward composition. It's a fast, solid blade with a moderately soft feel, which will probably work very well with SP.

Available FS.

- Limba / Ayous / Ayous / Balsa //
- 87.6g
- 6.9mm
- 150x157mm
- FL (24.5-22.9x100mm)
- Balance: 3.7cm (High)

 

[SDC]

#1464 - Inner G-F - OFF-/OFF

This one is based on the SK Hybrid AC but with a a few twists, the most notable one being the very big handle. It's not a blade I can make often, a Limba/Limba inner fiber blade with a Ayous core, larger head size and a big handle, with "just" 92g and a low balance? This required a very careful layer selection and very precise gluing and lamination as well. This combination of factors is very hard to find in the wild on inner fiber blades, not the weight per se, but combined with such a low balance. Not to speak of the big handle...

Available FS.

- Limba / Limba / Glass-Carbon / Ayous core
- 92.1g
- 6.0mm
- 160x151mm
- FL (26.3-23.6x105mm)
- Balance: 2.7cm

 

[SDC]

#1451 - Outer B-S - OFF-/OFF

Black tag Vis feels different than newer models because of two things: firstly, I'm pretty sure that the big B did things a bit differently back then, it's purely conjecture but there is a significant visual difference to how the composite sits between the wooden layers. Then there's the fact that all used and old blades feel different than a new one. With age, wood oxidizes, there are countless expansion and contraction cycles due to environmental changes (temperature and humidity) and, especially in the case of composite blades, the glue degrades, so they usually feel softer and more flexible. With this blade, I tried to recreate that effect, by changing how I bond the fiber to the wooden layers.

The other significant aspect of this blade is the head shape. I've said it before, I don't use this shape simply for aesthetic reasons, I use it because of its true purpose. Despite all the marketing behind it, the main feature of this shape is to raise the center of gravity of the blade, by redistributing the mass further away from the geometrical center. This means we can have a more head heavy blade without a significant increase in weight. This causes a bit more flexibility too, which in turn lowers the frequency of the blade, but it's exactly why I did it.

All in all, it's one of the softest and most flexible Vis I've made, and in terms of frequency we are in Inner territory here, with a peak frequency of ~1335Hz. However, it's not just flexible, it's elastic too, and you get a bigger hold and release sensation. I would say it's a more Fh and spin oriented version of Vis.

Available FS.

- Koto / Blue-Stuff / Ayous / Kiri core
- 92.0g
- 5.8mm
- Cyber 157x150mm
- FL (25-22.7x100mm)
- Balance: 2.9cm (Low/Med)

 

[Faker]

#1451 - Outer B-S - OFF-/OFF

Black tag Vis feels different than newer models because of two things: firstly, I'm pretty sure that the big B did things a bit differently back then, it's purely conjecture but there is a significant visual difference to how the composite sits between the wooden layers. Then there's the fact that all used and old blades feel different than a new one. With age, wood oxidizes, there are countless expansion and contraction cycles due to environmental changes (temperature and humidity) and, especially in the case of composite blades, the glue degrades, so they usually feel softer and more flexible. With this blade, I tried to recreate that effect, by changing how I bond the fiber to the wooden layers.

The other significant aspect of this blade is the head shape. I've said it before, I don't use this shape simply for aesthetic reasons, I use it because of its true purpose. Despite all the marketing behind it, the main feature of this shape is to raise the center of gravity of the blade, by redistributing the mass further away from the geometrical center. This means we can have a more head heavy blade without a significant increase in weight. This causes a bit more flexibility too, which in turn lowers the frequency of the blade, but it's exactly why I did it.

All in all, it's one of the softest and most flexible Vis I've made, and in terms of frequency we are in Inner territory here, with a peak frequency of ~1335Hz. However, it's not just flexible, it's elastic too, and you get a bigger hold and release sensation. I would say it's a more Fh and spin oriented version of Vis.

Available FS.

- Koto / Blue-Stuff / Ayous / Kiri core
- 92.0g
- 5.8mm
- Cyber 157x150mm
- FL (25-22.7x100mm)
- Balance: 2.9cm (Low/Med)

Nice handle, which wood type did you use for the bottom of the handle?

 

[SDC]

Nice handle, which wood type did you use for the bottom of the handle?

Wenge