Glossary

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This section contains definitions for all the lesser known terms that you will see in BofferWiki.

Blade - The blade of a weapon refers to the part that will be used to hit your opponent. Regardless of what type of weapon it is, the section is called the blade. The blade should always be fully padded and in safe working condition.

Camping Mat - A wide, thin mat of closed cell foam sold as a portable bed for campers. It is very useful in detail work, and many boffering societies use it as the main or only foam used in boffer construction. It can be found in sporting goods sections of many stores, and Wal-Mart is known to carry a cheap light blue version that is widely used.

Core - The term core is used when referring to what gives a boffer its structure. Cheaper boffers use a core of PVC pipe, while more expensive boffers use a core of graphite shafts.

Courtesy Padding - Padding on a part of a boffer weapon that is not intended to hit an opponent, but could. Usually made with a single layer of camping pad or Pipe Insulation.

Foam (Closed Cell) - Pool noodles and camping mats are examples of closed cell foam. It is made up of tiny bubbles that withstand pressure. Because air cannot pass through it, closed cell foam doesn't compress very well. Instead of squishing, it bounces. Closed cell foam is good for weapon blades and parts that don't need heavy padding.

Foam (Open Cell) - Open cell foam is a type of foam where the cells will allow air to pass through them. This foam is the kind used in couch cousins. Open cell foam compresses much better than closed cell foam making it very soft. The down side to its great compression is that hard objects can easily pass through them so open cell foam should only be used in thick layers. Open cell foam is also more expensive than closed cell foam. You can buy it at most fabric stores. It's used on shields, and thrusting tips.

Graphite Shafts - One the the most ideal cores of a boffer are graphite shafts. They are very light and very sturdy. They can usually be purchased from kite manufacturers.

Guard - A structure found on most swords and some other weapons at the top of the hilt. commonly cross or disk shaped, they protect your hands. they are also used to help parry an opponent's weapon. in boffering guards are usually made of only foam, but are usually attached to the core with more glue or tape to strengthen them, as they suffer more punishment than the rest of the weapon.

Grip - The grip of a weapon is the part you hold. Because grips are generally not padded you should be very careful not to strike anyone with them and not to use weapons with a large unpadded grip unless you know how to use one safely. Hilts are often taped over with athletic tape or electrical tape to make a nice comfortable grip.

Hilt - The 'friendly' end of a weapon, generally composed of the guard, the grip and the pommel. although there are many fighting styles that use this area of the weapon in attacks, in most cases this is not allowed in boffering.

Pommel - The pommel of a weapon is usually on the opposite end of the tip. It is usually a small knob just below the grip. They are important in keeping your hand from slipping off the weapon. The pommel should be properly padded to make sure that people don't get injured in close combat.

Pool Noodles - Pool noodles are long tubular strips of closed cell foam. They make excellent cheap boffer blades. They can be purchased in most department stores and pool stores in the summer.

PVC Pipe - PVC stands for polyvinylchloride, it's a fairly light weight white plastic tube used in plumbing. It makes a useful core to boffers because it's very sturdy and light, as well as cheap and easy to procure.

Tape (Athletic) - This is the type of tape used on hockey sticks, baseball bat grips, etc. It's a cloth tape that give nice grip and is usually used on the hilt of a weapon.

Tape (Duct) - Duct tape is a heavy duty tape made from a grid of adhesive soaked fabric with a plastic backing. It is a very common tape that is incredibly useful in repairs. In boffering it is used mainly to attach padding to the core of most weapons and protect the padding from the elements and abuse. it is most commonly sold in a silver color to imitate the metal it would normally be repairing, although it is also sold in other colors. It is also well known to be awesome. (Blackwater57: Hell yeah!!!)

Tape (electric) - a soft vinyl tape used to insulate exposed wires. used in boffering as a cheaper version of athletic tape. usually black, it can be found at almost any store.

Tip - The tip of a weapon is the area of padding that extends past the core. it is the area that receives the most abuse as it is not supported by the core and a very common striking point. often the end of the core will dig through the sides of the tip, making it dangerous. this is probably the most common reasons for repairing a weapon.

Thrusting Tip - In some boffering societies thrusting tips are not allowed or must be specially constructed and marked due to concerns of safety. These specal thrusting tips are most commonly made by attaching open cell foam to the tip. By adding softer foam to the tips of weapons they are safer to fight with.