#3.5 equivalent nail

[Paul Knight]

I wanted to open a dedicated thread to this so it doesn't fall through the cracks. Some may have missed the mention of a #3.5 equivalent nail because it's burried in the Gold nail thread. Below is my post in regards to a #3.5 equivalent.

I think the Gold Nail should stay as it is and in addition to the Gold Nail, perhaps the next step (like Andy mentioned) should be a #3.5 equivalent.

Randall, can your steel supplier get 11/32nd stock? That would be half way inbetween the Red Nail and the Gold Nail as far as diameter and maybe the length could also be somewhere in between like 7.5" or 8". This is where the "Black Nail" finally comes into play to complete the cert trilogy like the gripper certifications. Whatcha think?

Thoughts? ....

obviously, I'm all for it.

[Mike Rinderle]

I would be incredibly excited about this if it came to pass. 11/32 X 7.5" would be a huge bend, but attainable by some of the better benders with some focused work. My old man shoulders will never get to the point I could bend the Gold at 8.375", but I would put all my other banding goals on the back burner to get this nail. I have been starting to shift away from unbraced bending in my training, toward braced, barehand, and grip but this would light the fire again for sure. This would be a very short list of people that could accomplish this under cert conditions, but that would make it that much more special to accomplish it.

I give it a big

[David Wigren]

I'm all for it!
If you take the Gold nail and cut it to 7" it calibrates 750-800lbs, maybe even a tad more. That is almost twice as hard as a 7" red at circa 420lbs. It seems fitting to have something inbetween that was upper 500 to lower 600 at 7". Which 11/32 would probably land at if it was of similar CRS as the Gold. I also like the suggested 7.5" length of it. It would also help with the transition to the 8 3/8" of the Gold.
I only see about 3-5 guys certing on the potential 11/32x7.5" within the first year. So IMO it would very much be like the 3.5 equivalent

[Andy Thomas]

I think this would be an amazing addition. 11/32" CRS at 7.5" would be a huge bend in IMPs. In IMPs and in 1min it would be a tall order for all but the most powerful benders.

IMO, even though the Red roster was an ultimate goal for me, I trained specifically for it, and was 100% dedicated to achieving that goal. Once I did achieve that goal I realized that the Red roster isn't an end, it's actually more like an official beginning. An arrival if you will, into the world of unbraced bending. If IM did a #3.5 type bend, coupled with the Gold, serious benders would have be all, end all type bends to shoot for, career defining bends, ultimate achievements.

I think it's a fantastic idea!

[Trevor Laing]

Hey guys, great stuff! I love the idea of a No.3.5 equivalent nail. The Red Nail was something I really worked hard to perfect and master. I think with new levels of nails, it really opens the door to see what the best are capable of and its very exciting. Paul Knight's video bending that gold nail was simply amazing - blew my mind. A 3.5 nail would certainly be something to challenge any individual and set the bar even higher and the progression is distanced nicely between gold and red. I would like it to be the black nail, as I've heard others suggest.

[Randall Strossen]

Well, I don't want to get ahead of myself, but the elves at IronMind have been working on something I think you guys will like - at least we hope you will. Need about another 2 weeks before I can say much more, but didn't want you to think we'd forgotten about this idea.

Thanks much for kicking this around - anyone who's feeling kind of limp about their training should hang out with you benders for a while.

[Andy Thomas]

Well, I don't want to get ahead of myself, but the elves at IronMind have been working on something I think you guys will like - at least we hope you will. Need about another 2 weeks before I can say much more, but didn't want you to think we'd forgotten about this idea.

Thanks much for kicking this around - anyone who's feeling kind of limp about their training should hang out with you benders for a while.

This is great news Dr. Strossen! I can't wait to see what y'all have come up with! I would like to thank-you and IronMind for showing SO much support for the bending community. The Red rules, the Gold Nail, and another possible addition in the near future, it's been fantastic for bending. It's also bringing some of the elite benders out of "semi-retirement" and back into the fold. Thanks again!

[Chris Rice]

Anyone know where Dave Morton is these days - I still remember him doing 50 straight Reds way back when.