DIY Padded sticks

**blindside** · Posted On: 8/11/2012 3:19pm

Originally Posted by Fuzzy

So one of the guys at our gym's made us some really awesome sticks with wooden dowels inside some sort of really light metal sheathing inside pipe insulation wrapped in duct tape.

If you find out what kind of "metal sheathing" he used, could you share it?

I am betting with the hardwood in the middle these don't flex very much which is an improvement over PVC or thin nylon rod as those can get whippy. My concern with hardwood is them shattering, but if they can be contained in the metal, that might be a good answer.

**Fuzzy** · Posted On: 8/11/2012 4:14pm

Originally Posted by blindside

If you find out what kind of "metal sheathing" he used, could you share it?

I am betting with the hardwood in the middle these don't flex very much which is an improvement over PVC or thin nylon rod as those can get whippy. My concern with hardwood is them shattering, but if they can be contained in the metal, that might be a good answer.

Sure, I'll ask him on Monday

**Fuzzy** · Posted On: 8/15/2012 3:27am

Right, so apparently the metal sheathing is some plasticized metal tubing that he found in the garden section of Sainsburys (big UK supermarket chain).

**Twobits** · Posted On: 8/20/2012 7:25pm

You guys already posted some options but I found this with a quick google search and I thought I'd share:

http://www.southbayfmaclub.com/Artic...nditioning.pdf

It has a bunch of FMA dyi projects including a big tire dummy.

**Fuzzy** · Posted On: 8/21/2012 3:34am

Originally Posted by Twobits

You guys already posted some options but I found this with a quick google search and I thought I'd share:

http://www.southbayfmaclub.com/Artic...nditioning.pdf

It has a bunch of FMA dyi projects including a big tire dummy.

Dude, that's awesome!

Now if only I still lived at home and had access to my dad's garage and tools.

**hungryjoe** · Posted On: 8/21/2012 6:11am

Has anyone considered/tried polycarbonate rods in lieu of nylon for the core material?

It is stiffer than nylon yet resistant to impact.

http://www.plasticsintl.com/polycarbonate-rod.html

http://metalworking.mscdirect.com/CG...610+4292833362

I'm currently immersed in R&D design work for a sports safety company, but would consider this as a sideline if anyone is interested. You're out only the cost of materials.

**Diesel_tke** · Posted On: 8/21/2012 1:04pm

Originally Posted by Twobits

You guys already posted some options but I found this with a quick google search and I thought I'd share:

http://www.southbayfmaclub.com/Artic...nditioning.pdf

It has a bunch of FMA dyi projects including a big tire dummy.

Thanks for that. Theres some pretty cool ideas in there.

**Permalost** · Posted On: 8/21/2012 1:29pm

Originally Posted by Twobits

You guys already posted some options but I found this with a quick google search and I thought I'd share:

http://www.southbayfmaclub.com/Artic...nditioning.pdf

It has a bunch of FMA dyi projects including a big tire dummy.

Hey, that DIY section is from Marc Lawrence's book The Basics of Filipino Martial Arts. I recognized the pics so checked my copy to be sure. Picked it up at a seminar where I met him and Steven Dowd, the editor of that newsletter. Good info to be had there, and I'll be using it when my gf gives me the thumbs up to make a cool garage studio.

**blindside** · Posted On: 8/21/2012 10:30pm

Originally Posted by hungryjoe

Has anyone considered/tried polycarbonate rods in lieu of nylon for the core material?

It is stiffer than nylon yet resistant to impact.

I just ordered some 1/4 inch, will update when it arrives.

By the time you get to 1/2 inch nylon the flex is pretty minimal, at least at standard 28-30" stick lengths.

**hungryjoe** · Posted On: 8/22/2012 5:06am

Originally Posted by blindside

I just ordered some 1/4 inch, will update when it arrives.

By the time you get to 1/2 inch nylon the flex is pretty minimal, at least at standard 28-30" stick lengths.

I'm afraid 1/4" may be small and was thinking 1/2" when I wrote the previous post. I should have included that.