How to Make Fencing Dummies

Fencing is a sport that demands physical fitness, precise moves and swift reflexes. Appearing in every Olympic program since 1896, it allows participants to demonstrate their techniques and skills with three weapons -- the foil, epee and saber. Fencing dummies provide one way to practice the movements required for the sport. Fencers with basic carpentry skills can build a fencing dummy with adjustable arms and arm locations to help them perfect their technique.

Things You'll Need

  • Four-by-four post 5 1/2 to 6 feet long, or as long as the desired height of dummy
  • Drill press
  • Two-by-four pieces of lumber
  • One-by-four pieces of lumber
  • Jigsaw or router
  • Clamps
  • 6 U-bolts, nuts and washers
  • 8-inch long carriage bolt, nut and washer
  • 4-inch long carriage bolt, nut and washer
  • Epee
  • Cloth or rubber scraps
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Instructions

    • 1

      Drill a hole through the four-by-four post, about 6 inches from the top, using the drill press.

    • 2

      Cut the two-by-four lumber into eight pieces, each 2 to 2 1/2 feet long. Use these to make the base support for the fencing dummy. Lightly sand any rough edges on the boards.

    • 3

      Stand the four-by-four post on end. Place one two-by-four piece along one side of the four-by-four, aligning the short edge with the side and the long edge with the bottom of the four-by-four. Nail the two-by-four into place. Hold a second two-by-four at an angle, with one top corner touching an outside top corner of the horizontal two-by-four and the other top corner touching the far edge of the four-by-four. Mark lines for cutting off extra wood beyond the corners. Cut off the extra wood and use a piece of it as a template for cutting the remaining angle braces. Nail the angle brace into place on the first two-by-four and the four-by-four.

    • 4

      Repeat step 3 for the remaining sections of base support. When completed, the support will resemble a whirligig around the upright four-by-four post.

    • 5

      Prepare the parts to make an “arm” for the fencing dummy. Cut pieces of one-by-four, one piece about 15 inches long, one piece about 12 inches long, one about 6 inches long and one about 4 inches long. With the jigsaw or router, round the edges of each piece to remove any sharp corners. Sand any rough edges. Clamping 15-inch pieces together, drill a hole about 2 inches from one end. Turn the pieces around. Add a 4-inch piece to the stack and clamp it into place. Drill another hole through all three pieces, also about 2 inches from the end. Drill a similar hole in one end of 12-inch piece. Drill holes for two U-bolts in the other end of the 12-inch piece, 1/2 inch and 1 1/2 inches from the end. Drill holes for the four U-bolts in the 6-inch piece, 1/2 inch and 1 1/2 inches from each end.

    • 6

      Assemble the “arm” for the dummy. Determine the desired side of the dummy for the arm. Push an 8-inch carriage bolt through the four-by-four post, toward the desired side. Place a 4-inch spacer pieces between the 15-inch one-by-fours; align the holes; slip all three pieces onto the carriage bolt and hold them in place with a washer and nut. Place a 12-inch one-by-four between the 15-inch pieces at other end; align the holes and hold it in place with a 4-inch carriage bolt.

    • 7

      Assemble the “hand” for the fencing dummy. Cut the hooks off a large spring. Attach one end of the spring to a 12-inch piece of wood with 2 U-bolts. Attach the other end of the spring to the 6-inch piece with 2 U-bolts. Leave several inches of spring free between the wood pieces. Attach the tang of the epee to the hand with the remaining U-bolts.

    • 8

      Wrap the torso and arm of the fencing dummy with the cloth or rubber scraps. Leave the “joints” uncovered to allow for future positioning.