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wbowman · 11-21-2005, 02:19 PM

I have a (fairly new) foil barrel that is either dented or out of round. It's not apparent to the eye, but the tip sticks and does not move freely. (same with a couple of attempted replacement tips).
Does anyone know a way to fix this that does not involve having to re-wire the blade to put on a new barrel?
It's a German-style barrel and tip, by the way, in case that makes any difference.

Morion · 11-21-2005, 02:23 PM

Sorry, to the best of my knowledge the only thing you can do is replace the barrel. Try cleaning it out first to see if it is just dirty but if the barrel is truly dented then it is highly unlikely you would be able to get it back to proper shape.

D+F+P=Hadouken! · 11-21-2005, 02:32 PM

You need to send it to the electric buddha. Send the weapon, $10, and a 6 pack.

neal white · 11-21-2005, 02:40 PM

At the Miami NAC, one of the old-time armorers fixed the same problem with a mandrel. I am not sure where to get one but I was going to get one for myself.

Purple Fencer · 11-21-2005, 03:05 PM

If it's a German barrel it CAN be fixed....

A mandrell is basically a steel rod just big enough to fit into the barrel....you rap it in with a hammer, then lay the barrel on top of something hard like an anvil or a closed vise (you can do this with the barel onthe weapon), then you rap on the barrel to beat iut back into round.

A reemer also fits into the barrel, but it's got a set of blades running along the length of the reemer....tap it in and turn it clockwise to cut away any dents.

I would try the reemer first....sometimes the mandrell use can be tricky. Drop Mergs a PM....he's in your area...

Morion · 11-21-2005, 03:34 PM

Seems like more effort than the barrel is worth!

Wouldn't it be cheaper and easier to just rewire the blade and replace the barrel?

HDG · 11-21-2005, 03:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Morion

Seems like more effort than the barrel is worth!

Wouldn't it be cheaper and easier to just rewire the blade and replace the barrel?

Where's the fun in that?

wbowman · 11-21-2005, 03:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Morion

Seems like more effort than the barrel is worth!

Wouldn't it be cheaper and easier to just rewire the blade and replace the barrel?

More a time issue than anything else. I have two blades I've needed to re-wire for months and have not gotten to them. Was hoping for a shortcut. The irony is, this was SUPPOSED to be one of the new barrels that SUPPOSEDLY don't dent as easily. Wish I could remember who I bought it from.

Purple -- Is Mergs back in VA? I haven't seen him for a while so i thought he'd gone back to Texas.

Robert Smith · 11-21-2005, 05:40 PM

I have a mandrell bought from The Fencing Post some time ago, and it's a really handy thing to have around. If it works, then it's a five minute job to do; if not, then you're rewiring anyway so nothing lost. I haven't usually bothered with the whack-it-on-an-anvil part; just belted it in with whatever's to hand and pulled it out again. The pulling out tends to be easiest using a wrench - the tool has a flat section, which helps - and "unscrewing" in a clockwise direction. Don't unscrew anticlockwise as you'll take your barrel off. If you have two wrenches to hand, then you can use one to stabilize the barrel while you unscrew with the other.

Been tempted to try with a sawed-off nail punch, just to see if it works. Insert and whack, same brute force principal, to force the neck into round, in the hope that the body will follow suit. Probably not as effective, but if you're of the just-in-time approach to maintenance (or more likely the just-too-late school) at least you can pick up a nail punch at your local hardware store. Haven't tried it, so OYOHBI.

Purple Fencer · 11-21-2005, 05:42 PM

Mergs moved just after Hurricane Rita (being reassigned, as I recall, not directly related the the hurricane)

As for Morion's question....if it's clearly a dent I'll usually do the reamer first..takes about 30 seconds or so once you have the tools out....rewiring definitely takes a LOT longer.

The barrely WILL eb a little weaker after the reaming ('cause you're cutting material away), but it'll getg a little more life out of the barrel before a reqire's necessarry.

Joe biebel · 11-21-2005, 06:01 PM

Any barrel that is dented or slightly out of round can be "fixed" with a drill bit or a reamer. Since drill bits are easy to come by, all you need to do, is find one that is a tad smaller than the diameter of the barrel. You chuck it into a drill and mark the drill bit with a magic marker (or put some tape on it) so you don't go deeper than you need and risk destroying the contact. In the case of a visible dent, you may only need to "ream" the spot affected by the damage. An out-of-round barrel may need a little more patience. Their are reamers available at equipment companies for the German tips, but I'm not sure about the other brands.

Purple Fencer · 11-21-2005, 10:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joe biebel

Any barrel that is dented or slightly out of round can be "fixed" with a drill bit or a reamer. Since drill bits are easy to come by, all you need to do, is find one that is a tad smaller than the diameter of the barrel. You chuck it into a drill and mark the drill bit with a magic marker (or put some tape on it) so you don't go deeper than you need and risk destroying the contact. In the case of a visible dent, you may only need to "ream" the spot affected by the damage. An out-of-round barrel may need a little more patience. Their are reamers available at equipment companies for the German tips, but I'm not sure about the other brands.

I don't think I've seen one for anything other than an Uhlmann/Allstar type or a good knock off....the frenchies tend to come in differing sizes....Sport 7 and Prieur parts are not the same,

Mergs · 11-21-2005, 11:02 PM

Wayne, Yes I am back in VA. As for the mandrel vice reamer thing, if you get an old drill bit, as Joe suggests, you can either cut it off at a length longer than the barrel, tap it into the barrel and round it out and then take a pair of vicegrips and twist it out (if it is still jammed in the barrel), clockwise or use a reamer. Checking my notes from Armorers college, I think that they range from 4.16mm to 4.5mm, or at least that was the sizes of Dan D's mandrels. I'd go with the 4.5m reamer if you can find it. Also check with Uhlmann. I think they sell mandrels, too.

Barry Paul · 11-22-2005, 03:40 AM

It has continued to amaze me that firms have been able to sell a point top which is so easily damaged that they have to offer a mandrel so the base can be hammered back into shape.

You of course just have it rewired with a Leon Paul point which is almost twice as strong.

ReverseLunge · 11-22-2005, 04:14 AM

Have you guys at Leon Paul thought about designing a screwless tip?

Gav · 11-22-2005, 04:17 AM

It amazes me that someone would waste so much time attempting to fix the barrel. They are not that expensive, even if you are a poor student, that just getting a replacement isn't affordable. In terms of effort, time and the cost of sundry bits and bobs you could have just gotten a barrel sent you. Of course that means rewiring the blade - which can be time consuming in itself. I suppose it depends on how confident you are repairing them.

ReverseLunge · 11-22-2005, 04:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gav

It amazes me that someone would waste so much time attempting to fix the barrel. They are not that expensive, even if you are a poor student, that just getting a replacement isn't affordable. In terms of effort, time and the cost of sundry bits and bobs you could have just gotten a barrel sent you. Of course that means rewiring the blade - which can be time consuming in itself. I suppose it depends on how confident you are repairing them.

Its not about the time or money. Its about the disrespect. For a company to make a product that gets messed up within the first few uses is a spit in the face.

Gav · 11-22-2005, 04:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ReverseLunge

Its not about the time or money. Its about the disrespect. For a company to make a product that gets messed up within the first few uses is a spit in the face.

In that case: take it back and complain. If they ignore your complaint then don't buy anything from them again.

ReverseLunge · 11-22-2005, 05:01 AM

The problem is this guy is buying the french tip system.

yeoldearmourer · 11-22-2005, 09:26 AM

Yes it can be fix using a reamer and mandal but it the long run your better replacing it You will weaking thbarrel and it will dent again in the same palce. I have used both mentods included using a dermal and cutting a touch out of the barrell. But you will find out it will do it again. Using a mandal and a reamer is just a temponary fix.