Epee screw loose...

[Miguelito]

To work on point control, when I'm home I sometimes whack away at a tennis ball hanging from a length of string. Trouble is the epee screws require frequent tightening or they soon pop out and I'm either looking for them on the floor or putting in a replacement. I've been tightening them right up (this weekend I even over tightened one and stripped the thread!) Is this normal? Am I doing something wrong?
Thanks in advance for any advice/feedback.

[damianip]

I replace about one épée screw per month on my weapons. I replace about three per week on my son's.

Yes, they strip and fall out. It's clichéd to say it, but it seems that the German tips are better in this regard. I use French and am paying the price of penny wise dollar foolish (although it takes longer to equalise than with foil tips).

I'm tempted to Lock-Tite™ them, but I'm afraid of gunking up the tip, not being able to remove them or addidng resistance to the circuit (not sure if that one is valid).


Paolo

[flik]

If you're using french tips and they're new, the problem is most likely with the tips themselves. Newer tips are made with a softer metal and tear out frequently. I figured this out after replacing screw after screw after screw...
With some of the tips I can even de-thread them with my fingernail!

I'm of the opinion that it's a conspiracy to get us to buy more screws and tips, but this seems a little odd - the things aren't that expensive.

The older french tips don't have this problem and neither do german tips. You can use the german tips/screws with french barrels... in most cases they actually fit better than the french tips. You gotta love german engineering...

[attila]

Hola Miguelito

You could start a new routine of tightening your screws more often. Or do the foil trick and put some tip tape around the barrel to catch those pesky screws. Or better yet use a dry epee for your practice sessions. I use a really bad russian epee with an old french barrel that I supper glued a french tip onto. Works gr8 for me.

i wouldnt recommend taping the barrel because then you hinder the travel of the tip... however i agree with flik in that the newer tips strip easier... see if there is an older, but still functioning tip floating about and try that... the german point in a french barrel trick is a good one too.