Repair Small Lame Dead Spots

[victord66]

Here’s a neat fix that I just discovered.

I have a very old Allstar foil lame that I hadn’t used in 30 years. When I started fencing two years ago I resurrected it and surprise surprise it still worked great. (still fit too!)

Well after two years of constant use, it developed a small dead spot right where most of my opponents like to hit me. Murphy’s law, I guess. It’s about 2 cm. square. I really didn’t want to try patching it as I think patches on lame look a bit lame. (Pardon the pun.) I was visiting my mother yesterday who does a lot of bead work etc and I noticed she had a spool of very fine metallic thread. Well the light bulb went on and I took some home and sure enough if you have a bit of patience you can thread this through the lame over the dead spot and voila, no more dead spot.

I did say you need a bit of patience, but I fence foil so that’s just the kind of guy I am.

Thought I should post this so it can be tucked away for future reference.

[KD5MDK]

There's a fencing in I believe Western Canada who sells this thread too. He posts here from time to time.

[erooMynohtnA]

http://members.shaw.ca/ubik/thread/index.html

[Inquartata]

I've done the same thing using metallic threads unravelled from old lamés. I even patched worn spots on sabre mask bibs...which is REALLY a bear on the edges of the cheeks, where the lamé material is stretched taut over a hard surface and often glued down.

But then, I still darn holes in my socks, stingy barstid that I am.

[CvilleFencer]

But then, I still darn holes in my socks, stingy barstid that I am.

I think that is the first time I have ever heard Darn used in it's proper, original intent in a modern setting... I can't really say much as I still use don, as to don masks or jackets, as a verb. Funny how antiquated words work themselves into our modern vocabulary...

Oh, and so I don't get yelled at by the topic police, for those of us that aren't good with a needle and thread or have no patience for it (a patient foilist? They must do things different in Cananda...) there is a sliver paint that you can get from Allstar, Swordmasters and a few others that is as easy to use as whiteout or nail polish. It can look tacky if you do gobs of it, but with practice you can "paint" over the threads so that it is much less noticable.