Need some info re: rewiring

[aikijohn]

Greetings, All...

This may seem a fundamental question, but I have no experience rewiring my own blades; the question is: when you purchase a "bare" blade, is the tip already tapped to accept the point barrel, or must you tap the tip end? I've noticed that many fencing suppliers sell tap and dies; are these for the tip as well as for the tang? Also, if I were to buy a Leon Paul bare blade, and if the tip is already threaded, would that be metric (to use German/French barrels) or in English units of measure for an English tip?

Thanks...

[telkanuru]

Blades should come fully prepared for wiring. this includes all relevant tapping, but you may have to cut the tang to fit a pistol grip (if neccessary)

[The Armourer]

Bare blades come all ready to wire - I only sometimes have to extend the thread down the tang to avoid having to have a stack of spring washers under the locking nut.

[DieterS]

When I get a new foil blade, I run a dremel along the groove to clean out grease and corrosion. The glue won't hold otherwise. If necessary, I also widen the groove near the tang to accept about 1/2 inch of spaghetti tubing. Then, I round off the sharp corners of the upper, non-threaded portion of the tang and clean off the slag for better electrical contact with the bell guard. Finally, I inspect the threaded area at the tip of the blade to make sure that the groove widens slightly and doesn't present a sharp edge to the wire (that could strip the insulation when threading the wire through the barrel of the point).

I also use a vice and a T-shaped metal pipe, to put the desired cant angles to the tang.

It's a bit of work but worth it in performance and reliability.

Dieter

[aikijohn]

Thanks, all, for your helpful info. There is another thread here re: types of wires and that was helpful too... I didn't know there was any difference between French and German wires. As everything else in fencing, there seems to be a fair amount of subtlety in the more technical aspects.