The copper threads in my lame...

[michaelm]

... has developed a nice green tinge!

I hang the thing up as soon as I get home to air-dry, and I have washed it a few times in the Woolite / Windex mix as advertised elsewhere on the site, but the green "ring around the collar" is still there and getting worse with use. And it ain't looking purty.

Any ideas on how to minimise / eliminate the problem?

[KD5MDK]

Solutions:
1) Post in the Armory, where the experts read
2) Buy steel, not copper
3) Test it with an ohm meter and worry about conductivity, not looks.

[tbryan]

Originally Posted by michaelm

Any ideas on how to .... eliminate the problem?

Buy a new lame?

[OROD]

There was a previous thread about Fabreeze, but I think my advice there would serve you equally well. Here you go bud, this'll solve yer problem:

http://www.fencing.net/forums/post368735-3.html


.

[Craig]

Originally Posted by michaelm

... has developed a nice green tinge!

...

Any ideas on how to minimise / eliminate the problem?

Your problem is that it is a copper lame. Once they develop the discoloration, you're not going to get it to go completely away.

If you are going to stick with fencing for more than a year and you're not growing through your clothes every 6-9 months, then you may want to invest in a stainless (INOX) lame, or one of the various Ultralight models that are made by Leon Paul, FWF, and Triplette.

(Leon Paul ranks highest on quality, the FWF lame is new to the market but looks really good, and Triplette has had some issues in the past with the cut of their clothing, but they are working on improving that.)

In terms of the INOX (stainless steel) lames, the Leon Paul ones tend to be the most durable, followed by the Uhlmann/Allstar (though I haven't heard reports on Negrini's).

Hope that helps,
Craig

[yeoldearmourer]

You can always replace the collar or you can send it to us for repair.
www.yeoldearmourer.com but ss is the best. I have some old Santelli SS lames that is going on 15 years now and still pass the test. Now FWF use to make Unlmann lames and they are still useing the same lame SS. Negrini lames is up then with Uhlmann lames as well.

[KD5MDK]

Estoc lames are extremely durable; I know a national armorer who says he's never seen one presented to him that didn't pass. They have a metal content of 60%, while my Allstar has 55%.