Pool Noodles and 1000 Denier Cordura Plus

[Gary Dillard]

Notice the response to this post in 2008 Q&A. (Note that the previous part of this thread was posted in 2006 but I didn't find any recent discussion)

The bumper material swatch in the kit of parts (by the checklist, I don't have the swatch in front of me) shows "Seattle Fabrics, Inc.", but their website just lists 1000 denier Cordura®, not Cordura Plus® as indicated on the checklist (and as shown in Figure 8-1, although rule R08 only says "1000 denier Cordura Plus® strongly recommended). I know they have been generally lenient about bumper material in past years, I just wondered if putting a swatch in the kit meant they would enforce it more closely to the letter. It appears that is not the case - I doubt the cami pants in question were made of Cordura Plus®

[Dick Linn]

If you can't find pool noodles, call the source: http://www.tundrafoam.com/water_toys...oys_index.html

[MrForbes]

We usually find pool noodles at our local Walmart about this time of year. weird, huh?

[Dick Linn]

Originally Posted by squirrel

We usually find pool noodles at our local Walmart about this time of year. weird, huh?

I was just about to launch into a tirade about FIRST and the requirement for pool noodles in the middle of winter. Since you are from AZ, I guess that is one of the few places that might have a use for them this time of year. (I know, AZ has a very diverse climate, from SW to NE.)

(The link I posted before says that the original pool noodles originated in Canada, like they have a long pool season to use them. I wondered about other things made in unlikely places...so I checked my fleece jacket. Made in Vietnam! Now I want to check out my furnace and see if its made in Florida, or my air conditioner in Alaska. This deserves a separate thread...)

[Gertlex]

Pants are in.
http://forums.usfirst.org/showthread.php?t=8156

[Vikesrock]

Originally Posted by dubious elise

Be prepared to either replace the fabric or sew your bumpers back together. This tear was just one of many that I tied back together with dental floss over the course of the WI regional (Boilermaker was nowhere near this rough).

What where your bumpers made of? We were one of the teams doing a lot of roughing up and ours never tore. We used the 1000 Denier Cordura from Seattle Fabrics.

[GaryVoshol]

Originally Posted by squirrel

We usually find pool noodles at our local Walmart about this time of year. weird, huh?

They were not available at the Walmart in Michigan - we checked. For any SE Mich teams still looking, we found ours at Pools-n-Spas A-Go-Go on 12 Mile in Berkley. 5 for $10.

[Lawry Goldstein]

I quick note on bumper coverings:

Two years ago we used a black nylon that was very thin; it took no damage during the Midwest regional. We had our name on them with stickers which were replaced at least one per day and were still getting destroyed, so these were taking at least a few hits, even if we fell over most matches.

Last year we used pleather, and it got destroyed by a wooden insert that was in the shape of our name (Warbots), however it survived as you might expect pleather to.

In generally, as long as you get any nylon product it will be very strong and nylon is also generally very smooth, so other robots being required to have bumpers in a similar area, on 2/3rds of their robot, and not being allowed to play defense shouldn't be a problem at all. Just keep your plywood to spec and don't include any weird, sharp objects in the middle.

On weight, if you’re looking only to fit in the 15 pound bumper limit, don't be too worried. Two years ago we had 3/4 sides covered (one wide was partially open) and we used 1.5 in square tube with 1/8th thick sidewalls for mounting, it all still came in underweight. If you’re looking to come in underweight just look for a decently light/strong nylon fabric and use it with nothing weird inside the bumpers themselves.

[Gary Dillard]

Originally Posted by Dick Linn

I was just about to launch into a tirade about FIRST and the requirement for pool noodles in the middle of winter.

I guess I hadn't really thought about that problem since it's such a common item down here. As long as FIRST doesn't require using snow chains on the robot we'll be OK.

btw, we had a cold front come through yesterday. Dropped down to almost 60 degrees last night and it's supposed to be in the 50's later this week. I better get out my thermals.

[Jeff Pahl]

Originally Posted by Gary Dillard

I guess I hadn't really thought about that problem since it's such a common item down here. As long as FIRST doesn't require using snow chains on the robot we'll be OK.

You can't find pool noodles in Atlanta until about mid-March. Since they now require that you ship the bumpers in the crate, that's a little too late. You also can't find snow chains in Atlanta, I've tried

I've ordered them from this place in the past http://pooltoy.com/waternoodle.html before I started stocking up at the end of the summer.

[ShortBang]

The past two years, our team has decided not to use the cordura, and just went to the local junkyard, and cut out the airbag material. Its just as strong, and alot cheaper. but we do get stuck on colors, seeing as nobody makes flashy airbags...

[Dick Linn]

I think northern teams should be able to use long-johns stuffed with wool socks for the bumpers. Or we alternate, and require pool noodles one year, and snow chains or studded tires the next.