Taping the foil blade?

[Victor]

What's the best way (clear/concise) to describe the purpose of taping the top part of an electric foil blade?

[neevel]

The blade of the weapon is part of the ground for the weapon circuit. If your blade isn't insulated and you depress your point against your opponent's lame, but the side of your blade or barrel also comes into contact with the lame at the same time (due to the blade bending or sliding a bit before catching), you won't register a touch. The tip tape insulates the blade and prevents this from happening.

-Dave

[Victor]

Thanks much.

I also poked around the USFA rules (pdf) and found the official text.

[EricS]

And the FIE specified 15cm happens to be about the length of a dollar bill.

[Purple Fencer]

Yep...US paper money = 6 inches long (a handy measureing device)

Keep in mind that the MAX length of the insulation is 15 cm...no knowedable armorer is going to ding you for having it too short...they don't penalize you for hurtiung yourself!

[Dave]

Taping the blade may have just become much more important, have a look at this.


http://fencingforum.com/forum/showth...&threadid=3125


Dave

[DHCJr]

I agree with Barry on the need to check the tape. I disagree on the type of tape, but I believe that is because of location. In Southern California, the problem with tape, is those with too much glue, rather than too little. In the trunks of cars, the PVC tape glue has a tendency to migrate. If fencers would travel with the Foils untape and only tape it at the competition, I believe his suggestion would be a very good one.

He made another point, the 15cm rule and as he stated it is poorly written as it has no tolerences. It is generally considered less than 15cm as Barry noted it hurts the fencer who does not properly tape. In M.5.4 there is a note on excess glue.

[TheArmourer]

I have used PVC electrical insulation tape on the point for years and never had any problem with migrating adhsive. But I'm in the UK and it rarely gets that hot so that's not to say it won't happen in 30+deg. For the blade itself I recomend gaffer / duct tape: it's tough as old boots, easy to get hold of and cheap.

When taping the point, it can be beneficial to tape it clockwise (looking from the point end of the weapon) as it can help stop the point loosening. Idea courtesy of DHCJr

When removing the old tape do not use any type of craft knife on the top surface of the blade - if the wire is near the surface of the blade, it is possible to damage the insulation.

[Purple Fencer]

GAAHHHH!!!! Not duct tape! That the WORST stuff to get off!

Gaffer's tape works very well for me (that's why I sell it as well as use it). It's sticky enough to stay on the blade, but not so sticky that it leaves a large glue residue onthe barrel or inthe screw heads like duct ir raquetball tape does. 1" is the perfect width.

[TheArmourer]

I thought what we call gaffer tape in the UK was called duct tape in the States?
If not, then I agree.

[DHCJr]

Gaffer tape is used the world over and depending on the width is sometimes called camera tape (1" and 3/4"). It was designed to be easily removed and not leave a residue.

Duct Tape on the other hand goes by the old addage, if it doesn't move WD-40, if it moves Duct Tape. Duct tape has a heavy waterproof outside and glue that will hold a battleship.

[TheArmourer]

Minor thread hijac, so sorry.

... glue that will hold a battleship.

Old quote form a very very very old Apple print server (long story) Duct tape is like The Force - it has a drak side and a light side and it holds the universe togeather

BTW (Rhetorical). Not sure why gaffer tape is called camera tape when a Gaffer is an electrician

[Purple Fencer]

BTW (Rhetorical). Not sure why gaffer tape is called camera tape when a Gaffer is an electrician

Possibly because a vommon use for it is for cameras/the film industry...you visit a film set and you'll see a guy with a bandolier of gaffers tape in a wide variety of colors for marking actor and camera marks

[TheArmourer]

Yeah, but a gaffer is an electrician. And he certainly won't be telling actors where they should be - the union wouldn't let him.
BTW rhe·tor·i·cal ( P ) Pronunciation Key (r-tôr-kl, -tr-) a. ... concerned with effect or style of writing and speaking; "a rhetorical question is one asked solely to produce an effect (especially to make an assertion) rather than to elicit a reply

[DHCJr]

BTW (Rhetorical). Not sure why gaffer tape is called camera tape when a Gaffer is an electrician

The tape a Gaffer uses is 2 to 3" wide. They do not normally use the thinner tape. Professional Photographers needs tape with the same requirements, but not as wide. It might be to tape a shade over lens, color-code a canister of film or similar. I did not know this, I had to ask also.