barrel loose

[neal white]

Ive been using an alloy foil barrel for durability, but it seems iimpossible to keep it tight on the threads. Any ideas? glue?

[yeoldearmourer]

Lock tite or threadlock red no glue it will insulated the barrel from the circuit

[Epee Scherma]

Yeah a drop of locktite works best. Whatever you do, don't really crank the barrel on because you can crack it if you over tighten. Just use the locktite and tighten it like normal. It shouldn't get loose for a while.

[DHCJr]

Another problem, which was illustrated on another thread is the differences in the finishing of the blade. If there is a shoulder on the blade, take it off so there is a taper. The problem with this suggestion is you will have to wait till you rewire to do this.

[mollusk]

Originally Posted by Epee Scherma

Yeah a drop of locktite works best. Whatever you do, don't really crank the barrel on because you can crack it if you over tighten. Just use the locktite and tighten it like normal. It shouldn't get loose for a while.

There are three common types of Loctite: Red, Blue, and Green. Red "locks" stronger and you sometimes need some localized heating to get the parts undone. Blue is designed to not lock the threads together as strongly as Red does and so hand tools are usually sufficient. I often use some Blue if the base and foil threads just seem a wee bit loose on a rewire. Green is very low viscosity and is drawn into the thread by capillary action and then locks the threads. You can use this on a foil with a good wire, but a barrel that just keeps coming loose. My experience is that Green locks the threads together somewhere between Blue and Red, so be cautious in its use.

[parrythis]

Originally Posted by mollusk

There are three common types of Loctite: Red, Blue, and Green. ... Green is very low viscosity and is drawn into the thread by capillary action and then locks the threads.

I've used green on blades that I want to stop the barrel from coming loose, but I don't want to rewire it yet. When the barrel is loose, apply a drop or two of the green Loctite to the threads that are visible, (it will wick into the threaded portion of the barrel), then tighten the barrel fairly quickly.

I've found it to be quite effective.

[counterattack]

Originally Posted by mollusk

There are three common types of Loctite: Red, Blue, and Green. Red "locks" stronger and you sometimes need some localized heating to get the parts undone. Blue is designed to not lock the threads together as strongly as Red does and so hand tools are usually sufficient. I often use some Blue if the base and foil threads just seem a wee bit loose on a rewire. Green is very low viscosity and is drawn into the thread by capillary action and then locks the threads. You can use this on a foil with a good wire, but a barrel that just keeps coming loose. My experience is that Green locks the threads together somewhere between Blue and Red, so be cautious in its use.

Thanks for this great info! I frequently screw and unscrew my loose barrel by a quarter turn while keeping the epee point down to try and draw the red loctite into the threads. With this info I will haed to the store for green!