Check my logic on this Epee Problem

[Pepster]

Okay folks, another issue with an Epee...

(The epee gods don't like me)

I've had intermittence issues with this blade from about Day 1. It'll work, then not, then if I hit REALLY hard it'll register (not just a full tip depression, but a solid thud against the floor)

So I take it to my trusty bench vise, and remove the tip. I take out the pressure spring, and drop the tip back in so I can check the contact spring length. if I press the tip all the way in, it'll spring back a bit, so I know it's long enough to reach the contacts.

So testing:
Touch the contacts (lightly) with a scredriver - No light
PRESS the contacts (firmly) with the screwdriver - Light
Touch again - light
Add Tip - Light
Press tip a-la a firm touch - light, then no light
hold tip down, Rap blade foible with a screwdriver lightly - Lights intermittently with screwdriver rapping

Diagnosis: Contact has come undone from wire, but not by much. Pressing the cup down restores the contact until the assembly is jarred again.

Prognosis: Rewire...

- Anything you folks can think of to spare this blade an acetone bath?

-Pep

[CvilleFencer]

Turn the whole thing upside down and fill the botton of the point with a soft conductive solder compound? I have never had a problem quite like that before. Best of luck and do let me know if you try the above suggested crazy idea and rather or not it works! :-)

[ReverseLunge]

Originally Posted by Pepster

Okay folks, another issue with an Epee...

(The epee gods don't like me)

I've had intermittence issues with this blade from about Day 1. It'll work, then not, then if I hit REALLY hard it'll register (not just a full tip depression, but a solid thud against the floor)

So I take it to my trusty bench vise, and remove the tip. I take out the pressure spring, and drop the tip back in so I can check the contact spring length. if I press the tip all the way in, it'll spring back a bit, so I know it's long enough to reach the contacts.

So testing:
Touch the contacts (lightly) with a scredriver - No light
PRESS the contacts (firmly) with the screwdriver - Light
Touch again - light
Add Tip - Light
Press tip a-la a firm touch - light, then no light
hold tip down, Rap blade foible with a screwdriver lightly - Lights intermittently with screwdriver rapping

Diagnosis: Contact has come undone from wire, but not by much. Pressing the cup down restores the contact until the assembly is jarred again.

Prognosis: Rewire...

- Anything you folks can think of to spare this blade an acetone bath?

-Pep

stick a point setter down the barrel and lightly tap it with the handle of a screw driver. That should make the two contact points flush. Also take some sand paper and sand out the inside of the barrel a bit. Finally take 2 asprin and call me in the morning.

[DangerMouse]

If this is one of your competition weapons, go straight to a rewire. If you just use it for practice, you might have some fun trying the other methods, but the only sure fire fix is to rewire.

Oh yeah, you can save it from the acetone bath by stripping out the wire and then using a wire brush or dremel to clean it

[Purple Fencer]

Originally Posted by DangerMouse

If this is one of your competition weapons, go straight to a rewire. If you just use it for practice, you might have some fun trying the other methods, but the only sure fire fix is to rewire.

Oh yeah, you can save it from the acetone bath by stripping out the wire and then using a wire brush or dremel to clean it

Without stripping the insulation? Neat trick...I'd say your diagnosis was correct. Just rewire it...less aggravation.

OR....if you have a really narror soldering iron, heat it up and stick it agaiunst the contacts momenterily. You MIGHT be able to make the solder joint reconnect (saw Don Clinton or Dan Dechaine do it...and if you're looking at a reqire, you've got nothing to lose...)

[EricS]

The contacts in your tip may also be corroded. I usually take a short length of brass rod, and I roughen up the end and use it to scrub off the contacts. Don't forget to clean the end of the spring, too. The rust remover blocks normally used for cleaning blades work well for this.

[D+F+P=Hadouken!]

I would say rewire, since the last rewire damaged the wire.