foil tip question

[glowstix]

ok...i have a french tip foil and when its plugged into the box, the off target light is on constantly (this happened at a tournament so i was forced to change foils). anyway, i took the tip tape off and the screws are not fitting into the grooves at all, i.e. they can't tighten. i got this from the vendor like that. i took the tip out and put the screws into the movable ring thing on the bare tip(not sure what its called) and the screws were able to tighten that way but not when in the barrel. is there a way to fix this without putting in a new tip or screws??

interestingly enough, my second foil for that bout was producing intermittent off target light even when i hit target. that was a llooooonnnggg DE bout. i feel like i scored over 30 touches but 15 counted since off target was going on half the time.

[Purple Fencer]

Possibility: there was a mixup when the weapon was put together. Prieur and Sport 7 parts have slightly different barrel thicknesses, and correspondingly different screw lengths. Short screws may have been used with a thicker barrel (I don';t remember who makes what).

However, the fact that your tip didn't shoot out like a bullet means there was SOME contact...who'd you buy the weapon from??

[geezer]

First, when in doubt, stretch your spring. It could be that contact is broken by a wimpy tip spring...they SUCK and always need stretching. Stick it over a toothpick and stretch one spiral at a time. Next, see what your tip shaft looks like...is it all metal or plastic, (between the tip and the screww collar)??? All metal is a Sport-7 tip and takes the longer screws. White plastic is HPC or Prieur, try short screws,(or if these screw holes get worn try a Sport-7 screws). Use a magnet to magnetize your screwdriver tip (for less grief) and stash your screws on the magnet when not in use.

Have a nice bout.

non illigitimi carborundum

[glowstix]

i got the blades from physical chess. the other ones i had from them were fine but the screws on this particular one does seem a bit short. and thanks for the idea with the magnet. it really is a lot of grief with those almost microscopic screws