SDC Handmade Blades

[hipnotic]

Yeah, I get the frequency thing!!

The last pair you made for me were circa 980Hz!!

I think the one you made for me with Hinoki was about 1050Hz, from memory.

Blades in the photo, great work as per usual, regarding the lack of bounce, is it the type of balsa, physical properties of the balsa used that is the main factor in the reduced bounce? Balsa cores can be used for fast or slow blades, what is it that you look for, or is this a trade secret!!

Balsa has a reputation for being fast, but in reality it's really slow. There is a lot of variation in density of course, but generally, Balsa is a lot lighter than any other wood used it TT blades. The reason why it's associated with fast blades, is because it's often used in thick cores paired with some sort of composite. You can only do that because of the light weight. But if you use it as usual in a 3mm core, it's reeeally slow, it just doesn't have the mass to push the ball. You want the slowest, but still playable, blade ever? Easy, just build a relatively thin 5 ply balsa blade. Well, maybe not Balsa top because it's really fragile, but Kiri would be a nice choice too.

 

[hipnotic]

There's a lot going on with this one. People often ask me for a slower Viscaria, and normally I recommend I-C, but that's still not that slow. Here I'm using a Diolen-Carbon fabric, it only has Carbon running vertically and Diolen horizontally. Diolen is basically polyester, so you get all the stiffness from the Carbon, but with a really soft feeling from the Diolen. This gives us the traditional crisp and direct feeling from Vis, but without the speed.

The handle is also something out of the ordinary, it has built in slots, which feel a little weird at first, but reduce the weight and provide a great grip and ventilation if you sweat a lot.

Available FS.

- Koto / D-C / Ayous / Kiri / Ayous / D-C / Koto
- 77.5g
- 5.85mm
- 157x150mm
- ST (102x29x23mm)
- 1400Hz
- Balance: 3.5cm (Med)

 

[Lazer]

You can put a small heater inside if You get cold

Cheers
L-zr

 

[hipnotic]

You can put a small heater inside if Your cold

Cheers
L-zr

That's the next step, build it out of steel and put a small heater inside for the winter days. I will make millions 😂

 

[lodro]

It doesn't have to be rubbish, it may play amazingly well,

you are correct, it is actually playing well and has a mighty cracking sound to it too. A bit fast for me but i learn to play it with very soft hands and then i can manage it .

 

[bobpuls]

Balsa has a reputation for being fast, but in reality it's really slow. There is a lot of variation in density of course, but generally, Balsa is a lot lighter than any other wood used it TT blades. The reason why it's associated with fast blades, is because it's often used in thick cores paired with some sort of composite. You can only do that because of the light weight. But if you use it as usual in a 3mm core, it's reeeally slow, it just doesn't have the mass to push the ball. You want the slowest, but still playable, blade ever? Easy, just build a relatively thin 5 ply balsa blade. Well, maybe not Balsa top because it's really fragile, but Kiri would be a nice choice too

Try to use 5mm medium density or harder balsa core, closed with 180g/m2 twill weave carbon and some thin hard wood on top ( mahogany for example ) and you will see how speed monster it is (and the sound will sound like glass )...... for handle you can use heavy wood for better balance and power. One downside is that in this combination the balsa core after some time and smashes breaks. So no money back guaranty on this blades . ;-)

 

[damszelfly]

These ones were probably the slowest blades I've ever built, virtually no bounce. Hinoki / Kiri / Balsa / Kiri / Hinoki, 5.2mm and 1076Hz. One of those cases where the frequency is very misleading.

I can remember, that you created an even slower (flexier) blade - that was an all-Walnut one with just 970 Hz (if mistaken and not that number, it was still under 1000Hz), you said, it was a truly experimental piece with a kind of fun factor, but way too flexy to use in general.

 

[BaRanchik]

There's a lot going on with this one. People often ask me for a slower Viscaria, and normally I recommend I-C, but that's still not that slow. Here I'm using a Diolen-Carbon fabric, it only has Carbon running vertically and Diolen horizontally. Diolen is basically polyester, so you get all the stiffness from the Carbon, but with a really soft feeling from the Diolen. This gives us the traditional crisp and direct feeling from Vis, but without the speed.

The handle is also something out of the ordinary, it has built in slots, which feel a little weird at first, but reduce the weight and provide a great grip and ventilation if you sweat a lot.

Available FS.

- Koto / D-C / Ayous / Kiri / Ayous / D-C / Koto
- 77.5g
- 5.85mm
- 157x150mm
- ST (102x29x23mm)
- 1400Hz
- Balance: 3.5cm (Med)

This must be the coolest handle I've seen so far!
(Although wait until I finish designing mine and place an order )

 

[hipnotic]

I can remember, that you created an even slower (flexier) blade - that was an all-Walnut one with just 970 Hz (if mistaken and not that number, it was still under 1000Hz), you said, it was a truly experimental piece with a kind of fun factor, but way too flexy to use in general.

Yes, that one had a lower frequency reading, but despite that, these ones were even slower.

 

[hipnotic]

I really need to start posting all the cool stuff I've been making 😅

This must be the coolest handle I've seen so far!
(Although wait until I finish designing mine and place an order )

 

[BaRanchik]

I really need to start posting all the cool stuff I've been making 😅

Please do! This kind of art is always fun to see.

 

[hipnotic]

And now the inner fiber version with the Diolen-Carbon fabric. Because the fiber layers have less relative distance between them, you get much less increase in stiffness compared to the outer version, but it's still more than you usually have at this speed range. This helps to control the throw angle, making it not excessively high, which can be a problem for some players with these types of blades. You also get a bigger sweetspot, which gives extra stability, making it more suitable for blocking than common blades in the same category.

The "sabre" handle has a straight half, and a flared half, and feels very natural to hold.

Available FS.

- Limba / Ayous / D-C / Ayous / D-C / Ayous / Limba
- 88.0g
- 5.9mm
- 157x150mm
- FL/ST (105x24mm)
- 1250Hz
- Balance: 2.8cm (Low)

 

[hipnotic]

Faster but softer, that's what everyone wants, right? S-AxC is the fabric on my stock with the biggest speed/softness ratio, comparatively speaking it's slower than SZLC but softer, about the same speed as SALC but slightly softer too.

Available FS.

- Koto / S-AxC / Ayous / Kiri / Ayous / S-AxC / Koto
- 86.0g
- 6.1mm
- 157x150mm
- FL (102x24mm)
- Freq.: 1442Hz
- Balance: 2.8cm (Low)

 

[Attitude]

Faster but softer, that's what everyone wants, right? S-AxC is the fabric on my stock with the biggest speed/softness ratio, comparatively speaking it's slower than SZLC but softer, about the same speed as SALC but slightly softer too.

Available FS.

- Koto / S-AxC / Ayous / Kiri / Ayous / S-AxC / Koto
- 86.0g
- 6.1mm
- 157x150mm
- FL (102x24mm)
- Freq.: 1442Hz
- Balance: 2.8cm (Low)

Nice looking blade.

How does the characteristics change through swapping Limba with Ayous?

 

[hipnotic]

Nice looking blade.

How does the characteristics change through swapping Limba with Ayous?

Outer blades are usually built with Ayous next to the core, not Limba, so I think your question would be better put the other way around. Limba is heavier and harder than Ayous, so you get a heavier blade obviously (all else being equal), slightly harder touch but a bit more power on harder shots.

 

[Attitude]

Outer blades are usually built with Ayous next to the core, not Limba, so I think your question would be better put the other way around. Limba is heavier and harder than Ayous, so you get a heavier blade obviously (all else being equal), slightly harder touch but a bit more power on harder shots.

I just put it this way because i used Viscaria SALC as reference not to question your decision.

So the crispier feeling of Vis is generated through the Limba-ply?

 

[hipnotic]

I just put it this way because i used Viscaria SALC as reference not to question your decision.

So the crispier feeling of Vis is generated through the Limba-ply?

But Vis SALC also has Ayous in the medial layer, most Butterfly outer blades do...

In this case the crisper feeling comes from the fiber (and lamination method), as I've mentioned, this feels softer than SALC.

 

[Attitude]

But Vis SALC also has Ayous in the medial layer, most Butterfly outer blades do...

Wait, that confuses me.
Isnt classic Viscaria Koto, ALC, Limba, Kiri, Limba, ALC, Koto?
And therefore shouldnt Super Viscaria just have a different composite layer, but the same wood plies?

A quick search gave me that it should have Limba as inner ply too: https://www.megaspin.net/articles/1598/butterfly-viscaria-super-alc-review

In this case the crisper feeling comes from the fiber (and lamination method), as I've mentioned, this feels softer than SALC.

Ah alright. Still intrigued, because that sounds like something that could fit my game...

 

[Haraold]

man i hate that i play anatomic handel.....

 

[hipnotic]

Wait, that confuses me.
Isnt classic Viscaria Koto, ALC, Limba, Kiri, Limba, ALC, Koto?
And therefore shouldnt Super Viscaria just have a different composite layer, but the same wood plies?

A quick search gave me that it should have Limba as inner ply too: https://www.megaspin.net/articles/1598/butterfly-viscaria-super-alc-review

Ah alright. Still intrigued, because that sounds like something that could fit my game...

Nope, it's wrong... Ayous, not Limba.