Broken Blade

[ebonylevin]

Hi, I have just broken by favourite blade (I'm so depressed) but only 5mm from the tip thats about a quater of an inch. and I'm wondering if it is possible to rethread it and stick another barrel on the tip. I tried to rethread it but the groove keeps getting in the way. I was wondering if it is possible to fix it and what to do about the groove. Could I use putty or something to block it up?
Any suggestions would be most helpful as he is my favourite foil and I love him very much. IT'S NOT WEIRD!!!!!!!!!

[Inquartata]

Have a tiny gold wedding band made for him, and marry him in a tasteful private ceremony.

But his fencing days are over.

[mrbiggs]

Have a tiny gold wedding band made for him, and marry him in a tasteful private ceremony.

But his fencing days are over.

Nah, if you get a die, you can do it, but you have to fill the groove first, otherwise it won't work.

[ebonylevin]

Nah, if you get a die, you can do it, but you have to fill the groove first, otherwise it won't work.

Whats a die? and what should I fill the groove in with? Is there anthing that sets hard but will be able to be scraped out afterwards?

[mrbiggs]

Whats a die? and what should I fill the groove in with? Is there anthing that sets hard but will be able to be scraped out afterwards?

Well, I shouldn't have started giving advice because I've never actually done this.

But a die is the thing that threads the blade. It's availible from most fencing retailers, and you can get one at a hardware store if you know the measurements.

I'll go find a thread with this...one sec.

re-threading epee blade tip

There you go. You'll have to scroll a bit to get all the information, and keep in mind that you want the foil measurements, but I think you'll be set. DHCJr's post 1/2 way down the first page has most of the info.

[ebonylevin]

Cool thanks so much! Would it matter that its an FIE blade? I am so unlearned in thse types of things. I normally say "Daddy do this please". but daddy's not here at the moment.
So thank you for your help it sounds great. Also thanks for the link its very helpful, just what I needed. So a pin would work?

[Craig]

For the pain-in-the-ass factor and other assorted difficulties, you should probably just buy another blade.

Getting a new blade and working it in will take much less of your time and effort than attempting to "fix" this blade. Plus, a new blade won't put you at a reach disadvantage. (Yes, it's only 1/4 inch, but every bit makes a difference.)

If you want to go down the route of fixing it, then be prepared to do all of the work and still need to buy a new blade since this will be your first time attempting this kind of repair.

Craig

[yeoldearmourer]

You can always send the blade to me to do sec thought buy a new blade because it will be easier like Craig said. because you can twist the blade and several other things can happen

[mrbiggs]

Would it matter that its an FIE blade?

Not to my knowledge.

[Fencergrl]

Would it matter that its an FIE blade?

Yes, when you get tired of messing around with trying to fix it, the numbers you see on the invoice for your newly purchased blade will be much higher.

Upon seeing how much you paid for your new shiny blade, you will feel okay about spending endless hours swearing like a drunken sailor from trying to fix your old blade.

Soon your old blade will be forgotten, as you unwrap your new one and set it up just the way you like it. As you gaze upon those wonderful stamped letters "FIE"... you'll feel something stirring inside of you... yes, the feeling of falling in love.

And all will be right with the world again.

[Mr Epee]

Hey on a side note:

I've been having a lot (at least 4) club weapons snap in the threads over the past few months.

All were non-FIE StM Blades 1 Epee and 3 Foil... all purchased from FencingPost....

Has anyone been having a similar problem with these blades?

To be fair the blades get used by a fair number of noobs who have a variety of technical errors, but all the blades were fairly new when the break occured.

I have not changed building technique.

[swordsen]

I have done this before. It is a pain in the butt. Luckily, the second time is easier becasue youm already have the stuff and the knowladge. Now if you can just get only the tip to break off again......

[HDG]

Hey on a side note:

I've been having a lot (at least 4) club weapons snap in the threads over the past few months.

All were non-FIE StM Blades 1 Epee and 3 Foil... all purchased from FencingPost....

Has anyone been having a similar problem with these blades?

Same problem twice now (foil blades), only difference was that they came from another vendor.

[DHCJr]

FIE does matter in a way. I would make sure and get a high-speed die which will cut better, especially the maraging steel.

Now the how. Use a pin and place it in the groove. Keep it in place with solder. Use a grinder to take down JUST the end (1/8" - 1/4") tapered so you will have a round stock when you use the die. If you have done it right you should be able to cut the threads. As has been mentioned, watch that you do not twist the blade.

After a long night, I rethreaded a blade and put a 360 in the groove, but I was still able to rewire it.

[mrbiggs]

Hey on a side note:

I've been having a lot (at least 4) club weapons snap in the threads over the past few months.

All were non-FIE StM Blades 1 Epee and 3 Foil... all purchased from FencingPost....

Has anyone been having a similar problem with these blades?

I got one of those blades at JOs and it broke in a week. Not at the threads, but that's an unusually short life span.

[Beowulfman6]

What about safety issues? Isn't there a chance that in rethreading the blade without knowing exactly what your doing you might damage it in such a way that it could be unsafe?

I tend to agree with Craig, that it is easier and cheeper to just buy a new one. I also would coution agianst falling in love with foil blades; they are flimsy, fickle creatures that can will give you nothing but headaches. They all break sooner or later, best to just have plenty of backups and consider them semi-disposable.

[ebonylevin]

I'm just going to get my dad to do it he's an experienced armourer but he didn't know what to do about the groove.
I could get a new blade but they are expensive (getting stuff freighted to the other side of the world is costly y'know) and its my favourte foil it has won me so many competitions. it will be only retired when it snaps in the middle of the blade or the fixing screws up. So for the moment "'tis just a flesh wound".

[Mergs]

If you read the thread that MrBiggs linked to, you'll see a reference from Purple about my frustration at unknowingly grabbing an FIE blade at Armorer's college and having hell trying to thread it. Was very frustrating because I think I'm an OK machinist (and didn't want to discrace the ghost of my Grandfather who was a tool and die maker!), but after fighting this b******d for about 15 minutes and finally got it, Dan looked at the blade and gave one of his knowing Aha's and pointed out the FIE mark. Quite funny, actually.

But to answer the original question, yes, it does make a difference if it is an FIE blade.

[yeoldearmourer]

Once you have done one the next one is easy But having the right die for a FIE blade is a must a regular die just will not do the job. Make sure it is in a vice as close to the tip as possible to prevent the blade from twist at the tip. I normal just put solder in the grove but the pin is a good way of doing it. It takes me on the average of 5 to 7 mins to do one.

[fencerbill]

Would it matter that its an FIE blade?

The difference for an FIE blade is the replacement FIE blade costs $100 US instead of $60 US. More incentive.