Abstract: A braiding-machine strand-guide arm has an outer end provided with a strand guide and an inner end formed as a pivot eye. The arm further has a body formed of spaced-apart outer layers of a hard material and a very low-density mass between the outer layers. The outer layers are formed of a plastic laminate reinforced with fibers of carbon, glass, boron, or metal. Whisker fibers can also be used as reinforcement. Preferably the laminate includes textile reinforcement. Alternately the hard material of the shell of the arm can be made of cast metal. The low-density mass is normally a solid material. It is a foamed plastic, typically a light polyurethane foam.