barrel loose

[WhipLash]

this is getting rather tiresome.

i bought a bf blue maraging foil blade a few months ago. It was not wired and so wired it with LP GT foil wire kit.

for some reason, the barrel kept coming loose and breaking the wire. first time, i simply rewired the blade and screwed on the barrel tighter (it screws on fine).

second time, i thought it was the barrel threads, so i rewired the blade with a new barrel, screwed on the barrel as tight as i dared, used tape to prevent it from unscrewing, and it still came off first point into a bout after a rather strong counterparry exchange. had to use another foil for the rest of the com.

so, what could be the reason for the barrel coming loose? having changed barrels i'm suspecting it's the threads on the blade, but i don't have a die and dunno how to use one anyway.

was thinking of using loctite red threadlocker. i know it requires heat to remove but i don't see myself removing the barrel unless it has come loose on its own and i have to rewire. over here in singapore loctite blue threadlocker is unavailable.

any suggestions?

thanks!

ps: i need it for novices in a week, so any lengthy solutions would not be suitable (though might be useful for future use)

[DHCJr]

One item, but not the only one, that causes what you describe is a shoulder on the blade. Look at where the threads end. Does it suddenly get bigger at that point? If so, then you can not tighten the barrel. It will stop where the shoulder is, especially if you use barrels that have threads that do not start at the bottom. If this is the case, file off the shoulder.

[HDG]

A die set is a worthwhile investment, and loctite blue should be available online (probably gets mighty costly, though).

[WhipLash]

thanks guys!

loctite blue IS available but it costs way too much. the die set costs like 20 to 30 pounds from LP, since i can't seem to find the correct size one over here in S'pore.

DHCJr, i'll check the shoulder thing. that could be the problem.

[wiwf]

Crush the last one or two of the threads (end towards the guard) with a small punch and hammer. 1/32 or 0.5mm? I usually punch it in three places, opposite wire groove and the two sides, just enough to flatten the thread ridges. However if you do this don't tighten the barrel as hard as you can. You should feel it gradually tighten, maybe a half turn after you feel it start to tighten.

Also I doubt if you used the red loctite that you would have to heat it up, as much as you would use, it should just twist off. The intended purpose for the red is for larger bolts that have a couple of inches of threading. I always used the blue myself.

[Morion]

Don't beat me up if I'm wrong but I always thought red loctite was for automotive and high vibration use. Much more difficult to break. I've had good results using it for the barrels of my blades.

[fencerbill]

If it is really bad, consider supergluing the barrel to the blade BEFORE you put the wire in. If necessary later, you can heat the tip to break it loose.

[WhipLash]

thanks guys. looks like DJCJr was right...it was the "shoulder" of the blade, coupled with the extra couple of mm LP GT barrels have after the screw threads. i simple filed 1mm off the end of the barrel and it screws in nicely now. used a little superglue as a precaution.

thanks again!

[Purple Fencer]

See??? Armory isn't that tough once you understand what can go wrong!!

Often times it's the simplest explanation that's the correct one...

[HDG]

See??? Armory isn't that tough once you understand what can go wrong!!

Often times it's the simplest explanation that's the correct one...

Ockham's Razor: the armorer's best friend.

[Purple Fencer]

Ockham's Razor: the armorer's best friend.

That, plus Guinness and a Danbox!