armorers' tools

[zhenqing]

In "Magnum Libre d'Escrime", Rudy Vokmann includes the following among the list of necessary tools (Section VI-A, Pg. 218):

Medium rat-tail file
Medium mill bastard file

Does anybody know what a "rat-tail file is" and what use would be the purpose of having this file, as well as a mill file?

I would also like to know what attachment I should use with a Dremel tool to remove dried-out glue from the wire channel. Cut-off wheels are too thick, even the ultra-thin model is 0.33" thick and the channel on my BF/FIE blade is ~0.3" thick.

Lastly I wonder if those of you who use a volt/ohm meter to check your weapons prefer a digital or an analog model. I think it's easier to detect fluctuations in voltage with the latter but I don't believe analog meters come with a continuity tester that gives an audible signal.

Thank for your feedback on these issues!

[cleghmor]

Hi zhenqing

Rat files are basically filed rods. When you use them they leace a semi circular groove. Mostly used to clean or open the groove wher the wires go in bell guards. The bastard file is used for taking metal off the tangs if your grip needs a little more room. However
electric grinding wheel is much faster. As far a taking the old glue off the blades there are skinny attachments out there, you just gotta find them. An easier way is to use the acetone bath route. take something like a pipe, the length just so the tang sticks out, fill it with acetone, dump the blade over-nite and in the morning all the glue will be dissolved by the acetone.

good luck

clegh

[neevel]

The standard cut-off wheels will do fine-- between the wheel grinding the groove a bit wider _and_ abrading away as it's used, you'll get it down in the groove no problem. Many blades have the groove just a bit narrower than the wheel when new.

-Dave Neevel

[BarryTice]

My analog meter (Radio Shack, about 15 years old) includes a beeping continuity tester, so I know they're not limited to digital meters. But I prefer the digital meter I have now (smaller than a pack of cigarettes, including lead storage) just for its size.

[neevel]

Digital meters are generally preferable for weapons checking because they pick up small or quick changes in voltage better than analog meters; the galvanometer needle in an analog _does_ have a longer response time than a digital meter, and will often miss quick breaks in the circuit that can be useful in diagnosing problems. One area where analog meters can be preferable to digital is in lame testing-- the slower response time of the display needle won't cause it to make sudden jumps just because the test weight lost contact with the lame for a fraction of a second when dragged over a wrinkle or fold.

-Dave Neevel

[Lumberg]

You don't necessarily have to get the exact files that you mentioned. Just get ones that you know will do the filing that you want to do. All I have is a flat bastard file.
You can do with an analog volt meter, which is what I have. We aren't dealing with airplanes and space ships so the analog gauge can tell you enough to test the wiring and lames.

------------------
Lumberg.
"...yeah...did you get the memo about the TPS reports?"