Fencing.Net - Your Guide to Fencing & Fencing Equipment

Psi Shadowdark · 08-12-2002, 09:31 PM

do i have to tape my tip? and if so, how do i it? and with what?

btw thx to all that have answered my questions i just got into fencing and its been so great and you all have been a big help =)

Gav · 08-12-2002, 09:41 PM

From your profile I see that you do Foil. As that's the case the answer to your question is "yes" - if you're fencing electric. Can't remember the exact amount but if I remember right it's 1/3 of the length.

peircer · 08-12-2002, 11:10 PM

veeco · 08-13-2002, 01:34 AM

From the USFA 1999 rule book:

(h) The insulation of the button, the blade and the grip
m.13 The body of the button and the foil blade for a length of 15 cm from the button, as well as the pommel or the rear extremity of the handle, must be entirely covered with insulating material (insulating tape, gummed paper, Sellotape, plastic material or varnish).

So it's not 10 cm, but 15 cm

How to do it:

Go and by tape. You can use pretty much any kind of tape although you probably will want something robust enough to last more than a few bouts.

Most people by tape at the fencing store, by you can use any electric insulating tape (a.k.a. chatterton, or a tape that is made out of some kind of fabric, I guess).

Cut a length of 15cm, and tape the blade, taping one edge of the blade along its length, starting from the top of the barrel, and folding the rest around the blade. Another way to describe it would be to wrap it in its length around the blade.

Then cut another short piece (about 2cm (that's a little less than one inch for all of you imperial system users)) and wrap it around the barrel. You're all set.

Repeat after the previous tape has worn out. You need to remove the old tape before applying any new one to the blade/tip, of course.

[ 08-13-2002, 04:39 AM: Message edited by: veeco ]

engardemisami · 08-13-2002, 07:03 AM

Duct tape works well but not as good as the regular fencing tape. It does last a few weeks before I feel I have to re-tape. My local hardware store has 4 or 5 different colors of duct tape and is much cheaper than fencing tape which is not available locally.

sallearmourer · 08-13-2002, 08:34 AM

Duct Tape is a major no no. The glue on it will melt and get into the tip and really gum up the works. I perfer the tape from Blade or Tripplett
myself.

Tim

engardemisami · 08-13-2002, 09:25 AM

It is a bit gummier than regular fencing tape but have never experienced any melting. Been using it for months now. One does have to be careful not getting the tape near the tip and tip gap with the barrel.

mifencer · 08-13-2002, 09:48 AM

I agree with Tim, duct tape is a no-no. Getting off the gummy residue duct tapes leaves behind sucks. Electrical tape is not good either. In a bind use athletic tape, otherwise try to get the tip tape from the fencing suppliers (the best is tiger tape).

engardemisami · 08-13-2002, 10:43 AM

Is tiger tape a brand or a type of tape?

neevel · 08-13-2002, 10:45 AM

I'm using camera tape (which is what they call gaffer's tape in the 1" width). It's nearly identical to the big rolls of Prieur tape, but instead of costing $20 per roll, it costs $6 from a theatrical supply place (or $1.75 from the surplus place where I get it). The adhesive is much less gummy than duct tape or the racquet-head tape (Gosen) that many vendors sell.

The reason for the tape is that, if the exposed metal of the blade (which is a circuit ground) contacts your opponent's lame, it will prevent you from registering a touch. Without tape, this can easily happen if you make a hit where the blade bends sufficiently that the side of the barrel touches the lame, or of the blade is sliding along your opponent's lame and then catches with point.

-Dave

foodle · 08-13-2002, 12:33 PM

FWIW, I've been using colored duct tape (just make sure to not get the normal silvery kind) for a while and not experienced any problems. Although I haven't been fencing that much lately...

Sometimes the official tip tape from fencing supply places is just tennis/racquetball head tape. So that should serve well also (and is usually cheaper from a tennis place).

Avoid the standard vinyl electrical tape and the gauze-like athletic tape. The gauze-like athletic tape can get really gummy and can be a real bear to get off.

[ 08-13-2002, 03:40 PM: Message edited by: foodle ]

engardemisami · 08-13-2002, 01:03 PM

Neevel,
Thanks for the tip! Gaffer tape available 5 blocks from where I work. $8 for 1'x60 yards. Not bad although I'd like to know what surplus stores you go to.

DamedEscrime · 08-13-2002, 04:35 PM

In english the last 6 inches of the foil must be taped.

Zelda · 08-13-2002, 05:04 PM

I saw some interesting looking tape yesterday, I wont say where, but I seriously considered buying it but I thought at 7.50 and I dont know if it would work it would be a waste of money. I could have possibly put it to the use it was intended......

Psi Shadowdark · 08-13-2002, 11:10 PM

what kind of tape are u talking about zelda?

Zelda · 08-14-2002, 01:57 AM

Its like a non sticky stretch plastic. It looked good (bright pink), but I couldnt justify the cost.

DamedEscrime · 08-14-2002, 07:18 AM

No, Zelda...that is no more than plastic electrical tape. As soon as it is hit, it will tear. It's ok in a pinch, but I wouldn't recommend it. There is pink foil tape around. Tim uses it for his daughter's weapons. I'm sure he can tell you where to get some.

[ 08-14-2002, 10:19 AM: Message edited by: DamedEscrime ]

Purple Fencer · 08-14-2002, 10:52 AM

<blockquote>quote:<hr />Originally posted by engardemisami:
Neevel,
Thanks for the tip! Gaffer tape available 5 blocks from where I work. $8 for 1'x60 yards. Not bad although I'd like to know what surplus stores you go to.<hr /></blockquote>I sell and use the 1" gaffers tape as well...$10 x180 ft. in a variety of colors. Works REALLY well. Doesn't gum up the works like duct or racquetball tape, is robust enough to last a while, and comes off easily.

veeco · 08-14-2002, 04:01 PM

<blockquote>quote:<hr />Originally posted by DamedEscrime:
In english the last 6 inches of the foil must be taped.<hr /></blockquote>No, not in English. In English, you would use centimeters, just like any reasonable human being.

Only in America are people crazy enough to use imperial unit of measures. Even the English/British have stopped using those.

Sorry, I am just touchy about the whole units of measure thing. For me, there's only one unit of measure system that's good enough, and that's the metric system.

Gav · 08-14-2002, 04:08 PM

The whole metric thing is still a bit of a sore point for some in the uk too. Witness the idiot stall holder who is potentially going to jail for refusing to put up metric measurements in addition to his imperial ones.

I was taught to do science and Maths in metric yet I can't judge distance or describe my height and weight unless I think in 'Imperials'.

Then there is the whole 'Euro' issue... Sheesh! Why are people are so attached to the pound?