checking quipment on strip

[frenzl]

i have an epee that constantly loses screws. My question is that it when the director check my weapon for shims and weights and notices that a screw is missing what happens. Do i have to use another epee of do i just continue with the same one?
-thanks

[rtran]

Originally Posted by frenzl

My question is that it when the director check my weapon for shims and weights and notices that a screw is missing what happens. Do i have to use another epee of do i just continue with the same one?
-thanks

You will get a yellow card and must present another epee for testing. I typically check my tip screws in between bouts. It's a very quick problem to resolve unlike most other weapon failures. If you find your tip screw keeps falling out you might have stripped the threads on your tip.

[D'Artagnan1673]

Originally Posted by frenzl

i have an epee that constantly loses screws. My question is that it when the director check my weapon for shims and weights and notices that a screw is missing what happens. Do i have to use another epee of do i just continue with the same one?
-thanks

You have to swtich epees. I've noticed the real sharp epee fencers, those who compete a lot, check their shims & weight after each victory. I assume that they also check screws as well. The thing to do is check this epee after each engagement that way you don't come to the strip and have this problem.

[frenzl]

If you find your tip screw keeps falling out you might have stripped the threads on your tip.

i'm pretty sure i did this, i'll bring it up in the armoury

[D'Artagnan1673]

Originally Posted by frenzl

i'm pretty sure i did this, i'll bring it up in the armoury

I keep spare tips in my toolkit to where I can switch tips in between bouts. The only problem is that my nerves always get to me in tournaments and I usually have to find a steady hand to do this for me.

[frenzl]

sound goo i'll put that on a list of things to buy -more tips.

[D'Artagnan1673]

Originally Posted by frenzl

sound goo i'll put that on a list of things to buy -more tips.

Be careful, buying all that excess stuff can really become expensive I spend nearly $200.00 to convert my three foils to german point and have extra parts

[R. Exnicios]

It's a good practice to test your weapon and check the screws before you leave the strip after a bout is over. If you have a problem tip you can try a little glue of lock tight on the screw. Not the best solution but works in a pinch.



Cheers

[telkanuru]

If you do loc-tite, use the blue, not red. You have been warned.

[rtran]

Originally Posted by R. Exnicios

If you have a problem tip you can try a little glue of lock tight on the screw. Not the best solution but works in a pinch.

I generally try to avoid this since there's a chance of the glue or lock tight getting into the barrel and jamming up the tip. I do remember one time when this happened with the blue lock tight. It was impossible to get the tip off even when teh screws had been unscrewed It took me a while but i eventually heated the barrel up enough with a lighter to dissolve most of the lock tight (Not recommended, although the entire blade was salvagable).

[Artisan]

Originally Posted by telkanuru

If you do loc-tite, use the blue, not red. You have been warned.

and...very very very very hard to NOT get any of whatever you are putting on that "oh so tiny" thread onto the sliding part of the tip and making it gummy (at best) and non-functional (at worst).

[edew]

According to an NWFC epee fencer, anyone from NWFC who gets carded for a lost screw must do two hours of vacuuming/cleaning at the club.

Sounds like a reasonable chore.

Checking for screws is about as easy as one can do. With weights and shims, one must have the required tools (which some people might not have). But for screws, jeez, just take a look.

And if your tip keeps losing screws, get a new tip. After a while, the number of lost screws will cost more than a new tip. Not to mention all the unnecessary yellow cards.

[R. Exnicios]

Whenever I fence epee people tell me I must have a screw loose?


I just could not resist

Cheers

[Army Fencer]

Originally Posted by D'Artagnan1673

You have to swtich epees. I've noticed the real sharp epee fencers, those who compete a lot, check their shims & weight after each victory.

Most of the "sharp epee fencers" you refer to spend a lot of time beforehand adjusting the weights and shims to be just barely legal. I used to do it, until I realized how much time I was wasting on it. If you refine your techniques enough, you don't need to worry about making your weapons barely legal and risk a card or two.

[DHCJr]

And to Army Fencers good advice 'Barely Legal on Whose Weight and Shim'. If you use your own, make sure it is illegal, too heavy. If you have an absolutely perfect weight and the weight on the strip is a little heavy, maybe even illegally heavy, whose weight hold presedence? Not yours! You can't even complain if the weight is illegal? Do you carry a scale with you? Is your scale certified accurate? Is it worth the effort?

Take 4 quarters or even 8. Would if it was that much to heavy? I don't think you would know the difference. You be surprised what 4 quarters would add to your weight.

[telkanuru]

Not to mention temperature and humidity differences will soften or strengthen the springs. I personally pick the stiffest spring I can find when fixing a tip.

[great bowyer]

Originally Posted by DHCJr

If you have an absolutely perfect weight and the weight on the strip is a little heavy, maybe even illegally heavy, whose weight hold presedence? Not yours! You can't even complain if the weight is illegal?

one tournament i was to, the weight that the director use had tape wraped around it. it was very obvious that it has been tampered with since it was manufactured. i complained, but the director gave me a bad look and told me that i will notice there are differences between weights and shims. after a few bouts, he did switch the weight with one that look more legit.

[Artisan]

At a recent NAC I had a ref produce her own shims from her pocket, with a comment "these are mine I have to be sure not to lose them" The .5 was brown with age and looked vaguely homemade. Three of my weapons failed - fortunately not in the same bout! Later the same weapons passed my shim, which I later tested with a micrometer and found to be spot on.
At the same tournament before a DE, a different ref displayed his right pinky finger and declared "this is 1 cm - I will be the judge of how much bend is legal, and this finger will be the gauge"

So the point is, the ref's test equipment is THE test equipment. Period. If his stopwatch runs fast, be ready to fence a shorter bout!

[DHCJr]

How do you know the new weight was legal? Looks mean nothing. Maybe he got a heavier weight. I have tape on some of my weights for a reason, to get them up to legal weight. The only thing is, ALL my weights are within 1/10 gram of 500/750 grams except one

That last weight that LOOKS legit and is over the 500/750 grams plus 4 quarters I mentioned before. 4 quarters is slightly less than 30 grams.

For those who are going to PCC, the weights of the section, even the ones with tape are within 1 gram of legal. I am also offering to the referees, clubs and fencers the opportunity to check their weights and shims.

If I saw someone complain to a referee, like you did, I would offer the referee my special weight. The only way, you have a legitimate complaint is if the referee checks each fencer with different weight and shim. As long as the referee is using the same weight and shim, you and your opponent are on a level playing field.

Also, before, Great bowyer you try that again, you might read T.82 and T.83.

Artisian is correct, his response was faster and more precise

[great bowyer]

m.19 states-"This weight of 750 g, which is supplied by the Organizing Committee, may have a tolerance of ± 3 g, i.e. 747–753 g."

all the weights manufactured should be within this range, infact i have noticed on some weights that they even drill small amonts of metal out to make it more precise (precision made, a process that is often don to labratory weights) if this is the case, how am i to know, as a fencer that the weight is still in the ± 3 g tolerance. a weight that has not been changed like this, i would be more confident that it is within these limitations. i may be wrong, but as being the first time i have seen this, i had to question the practice.