Getting Up To 4.0 With Lead Tape
 

Another method to get up to 4.0 really quickly and easily is lead tape. You can find this in most any golf shop, tennis shops have it too. It's simple to use, cuts with scissors, appx. one inch equals 1/2 gram in weight.

Apply it to the bottom of the players platform, you can trim off the extra if you are a little heavy with an exacto knife. You can also add the weight where ever you feel it will perform the best, left side, right side, back or front, etc...

We are playing 4.0 total weight, the player and base are not weighed apart and this is a quick and easy way to get up to weight.

I have to thank Eric Robinson and Dave Campbell for turning me onto this. I used to use the putty method, but I personally find this to be easier, that's just me, no offense to anyone using the putty method.

Here are some pics as I experimented with some RB and WR weights tonight.

If you play in different leagus the stuff peels right off and you are back where you started.

There should be no reason to cry foul about getting a team up to weight, between the blue putty and the lead tape, they are painless and removable.

Jimbo and I have mentioned this to each other in a previous post, I like linemen at 4.0 but other positions between 3.5 and 3.8, of course there are a lot of variables, but you get the picture.

Going 4.0 is a breeze, so you will have to come up with other reasons for not liking it now. :rtfl:

It works
 

I used the same exact stuff this year - worked great.

Curious?
 

I know Tron mentioned this in another post a while back but are there any health concerns about handling lead tape? Do you guys take any pecautions while using it? Not trying to sound any alarms but I'm interested in trying it and wondered about any potential hazards.:confused:

DC

R U Asking...
 

...if it puts any lead in your pencil? :rtfl: lffng$ mgngcrz

:rtfl::rtfl::rtfl::rtfl:

Leave it to you bro...leave to you!:D

I have no qualms about the handling of lead tape, there is no dust to inhale, there is paper on one side that you pull off to expose the adhesive. If you are careful you could do this without actually touching the lead itself, but then where's the fun in that....:rtfl: Live a little will ya! :rtfl: Plus you are working with a very small amount of lead anyways.

On the back of this particular brand there is only one warning , as follows:

"This product is known to the state of California to cause cancer"

This exists only because of some bill that got passed out here, you will find just about everything in California has this warning on it. I was actually shocked that there is no warning tell you not to ingest the lead tape.

Liken it to a guy who spends the weekend fishing or the guy who balances tires (they both use lead weights), if you shoot firearms or reload your own ammo, wadcutter or SWC ammo is lead, etc...these activities expose you to more lead the MF will ever do.

We are talking small amounts of lead exposure, not enough to be harmful.

With all the lead paint and asbestos we were exposed to as kids, this is nothing.

It cost $3.99 for three feet of tape.

That was too easy, very funny though! :rtfl:

That's good to know Shabby J. I could walk out of the house and get hit by a car. If I gotta go I'd rather go playing MF (or uuhh...in the saddle).
BTW, where in the heck can you get 3 feet for $3.99. I've seen it for almost 9 bucks out here!

DC

Thanks Shabby for the pictures. thmbsp$ I have the lead tape and have it applied oon the base, but I like how you've done it. Another similar technique I've seen to yours is the way Jimbo places the thin magnet material under the player platform in the exact same way as you've show. I think the lead tape is slightly thinner than the magnet and obviously more dense. With the putty AND the lead tape, the nice thing is that you are putting weight low in the base which makes the figure more stable (and more balanced).

It is definitely great to see you 4.0ers making it happen!
 

I don't think I have played with 3.2 grams in more than 10 years and I was just wondering when were some of you guys gonna come along?

Now, it is great seeing this discussed regarding weight distribution. Also, it must be pointed out that the placement of the weight will cause the athlete to perform differently. So whenever you add the additional weight, remember that the placement can make it do different things as well.

Reg

Sports authority
 

is where I found some this past fall. I also ordered some from tennis warehouse.com - 2.99 for three feet. Plus shipping of course.

I get mine from Chick's Sporting Goods, I am in Southern California, not sure where all of their stores are in the rest of the country.

Artlax seems to have found a great spot to buy some online, tenniswarehouse.com, $2.99 for three feet. You will use more of it than you think, I am working on a 30 plus man roster and have gone through two packs, getting ready to open my third.

I want to be sure you guys know I learned this from Eric Robinson and Dave Campbell at their Open Run, I believe in giving credit where credit is due.

I just wanted to post it because it is so easy to do and will the take of going 4.0, with the college series guys can get up to weight and not make any permanent damage to their squad should the desire to drop back down to another weight.

Plus you will learn a lot about the weight placement and how it will benefit your tweak and increase the performance of the athlete overall.

Michigan Joe, seeing your pics of the putty and getting up to weight inspired me to post some of another method.

They are both good as long as you are getting up to 4.0!!!

Curious!
 

Reg (and Joe), how much will it impact performance if you're placing it on the platform as ShabbyJ demonstrated? I ask because it appears to be evenly distributed on that player's platform.

That tape is PERFECT
 

To get your guys up to 3.2 or 4.0,......... much cleaner then 10 coats of gloss or modge podge, why it's not allowed in most leagues I don't know :confused:

Norbert Revels

Great Observation
 

You would SEE the difference with just 10 experimental runs, DC.

1. Take ANY figure and put him on any base (tweaked or untweaked) and run him on a 40yd Dash.
   
2. Now add a strip of lead tape or magnetic tape cut out to fit the platform entirely. Run the 40 again.
   
3. Cut the strip in half longways and remove the left half. Run the 40.
   
4. Now put the left half back on and remove the right half. Run the 40.
   
5. Now put both halves back on and cut the tape in half again sideways, creating 4 pieces. Remove the 2 rear pieces. Run the 40.
   
6. Run the 40 with the front 2 pieces.
   
7. Try it with just one of the 4 corners on.
8. Corner 2.
9. Corner 3.
10. Corner 4.

Did you note any differences? Now crashtest him against another player and note the actions. After that, run him into the back of another base that is facing forward against a siderail and notice the action: stick or slide. After that do it again with your entire squad. thmbsp$

Tricks of the Trade
 

Lead and the type of metal Joe shows are two different things. While I think the metal has great innovative principles, if you know the ropes, there are ways of cheating to create an advantage. It deals with the magnet principle and players push together with magnetic strength to create an advantage.

However, I recommend lead tape or puddy because no one can question either material whether on wood or metal.

Another guy here uses metal plates under his player and it makes for an easy exchange out to another player when you are using magnetic tape.

Reg

Thanks Shabby_J for the great how-to.

As for the safety of lead tape, it shouldn't be a problem to handle it. But if you have small children in the house, be sure to keep it out of reach.

bump
 

bumpppls$ ppls$ ppls$ ppls$

Bump again
 

For league and tournament suits to see.

Norbert Revels

This thread has earned a spot in the "best Posts For Rookies section. I think lead tape should be the MFCA officially sanctioned weighting material for all events. Of course we don't officially sanction anything but if we did I would put my vote in for this.

BAM 2009
 

IN THE BAM FOR 2009 THE LEAD TAPE IS LEGAL....AGAIN I STRESS THE LEAD TAPE....NOTHING MAGNETIC WILL BE ALLOWED...FOR BRINGING FIGURES UP TO 4.0 THE ONLY PLACE MAGNETS WILL BE ALLOWED ARE ON IMMOBILE QB'S AND KICKERS....THAT'S IT....

Zeek, to be honest...
 

I would not even allow it on kickers or QBs. Lead Tape should suffice.

They are equal players to every other player. If the QB shake in the pocket with lead tape on him, he just got happy feet. If the kicker shakes, he's just a little scary!

But really, this is what has not been discussed for many years with stationary figures with magnets.

On QBs, even if you put him 15 yards behind the line of scrimmage and a defensive team has a bull rusher who is being blocked by an o-lineman right into the QB. Once the O-lineman is forced back into the QB, the DL can not penetrate anymore because of the force of the magnet. That stops a potential "sack situation". Guys hide behind the stationary argument (at least in the DFW) so just having wisdom and knowing when someone trying to run a game on me, I just want to point this out.

Lead tape should be used on every player or even putty. In the CBSMF, we will have a magnet test to ensure that magnets are not being used in any manner.
Reg

So we will be able to use lead tape or putty in the CBSMF??? drl$$

Magnetic affect??
 

So Reggie, being new to playing at this level or working on getting there and looking to buy some "stuff", how does a magnetic field cover affect play/players if any?

Joe

OSHA House Call......
 

Fellas,
Lead tape is great! BMEFA went weighted this year to 4.0. Application is easy compared to lead strips, putty or clay. Washers and Nuts (1/8" I think) also work great on TTC's with the lead tape. Caution!!! remember to wash your hands and donot eat while your handling any type of lead. Lead is a very toxic subatances and causes I wide range of health problems. It's easily absord through the skin. It's ok to use just remember to wash your hands and keep your kids away from it. :dohdh: