LP Epee

[Downtown]

I have a Leon Paul ( non-FIE) epee that constantly fails the small shim test.

I take it apart and adjust the small spring and replace the big one. I clean it out with a dry swab. I test it on my "buzz box" with my LP shim. It works

I go to a tournament and it either fails right off the bat or after a I fence with it once.

This has happened for a bout 5 tournaments in a row now and each time I go through the procedure above.

Is it just cursed or am I not doing something right?

I hate it. It is one of my favorite weapons.

[KD5MDK]

Have you considered your shim might be too thin?

[Rockstar44]

You don't say what kind of tip you have on the blade.

Believe it or not, the contact spring actually gets longer as you fence due to the heat buildup. It's such a tiny amount, but it happens. That's probably why the tip fails shims after a couple of bouts. The only answer is to turn the spring down enough to compensate for this.

This holds true for the German variety, I assume that it is also true for the LP tips.

[Downtown]

Well.... now I have. Thanks!

[Downtown]

The tip is the standard non-FIE Leon Paul type. I cannot look that information up at this moment, but it is most likely the least expensive.

Thanks for these suggestions.

[Purple Fencer]

It also could be that the shim at the strip is too thin....I've had ones i tested with MY shims -- which are narrower than the specs -- and they've still failed at the strip.

Unfortunately, the testing gear at the strip is the official stuff.

[SJCFU#2]

You might consider using a set of automotive feeler gages (the type with several metal sheaves of varying thickness) when you set your travel, rather than a standard test shim (which has a tolerance of +/- 0.05 mm). That way you can determine exactly what your tip is set to. Given the tolerances that exist for shims you definitely don't want it set higher than 0.45 mm, and probably not above 0.4 mm, just in case someone has a shim that is out of spec (edit - which, as PF has pointed out, it not unheard of).

If it continues to fail shim test after having initially passed then it probably means that the contact spring is working its way loose. The contact spring may not be properly set onto the tip (one end of the LP contact spring is supposed to lock into place when it is properly set) or the spring may be fitting a little too loosely and popping off the threads. You can try carefully threading on the spring until it the end "clicks" into place, or try putting a drop of glue or clear nail polish on the spring where it threads onto the post to help hold it in place. If all else fails, replace the spring (they're cheap) and maybe the tip (they really aren't that much more expensive, especially compared to the cost of a blade).

[CvilleFencer]

There are a couple of things you can try. The first is to know that LP contact springs are different than the French/German in that they are supposed to be tightened down until they "lock" into place and then stretched back out if needed. If that does not work for you, try replacing the LP spring with a German one. I usually do this on my LP tips once they start to go bad just cause I have a zillion of them laying around and not many spare LP epee parts. I also think they tend to last a bit longer. Finally don't try to set the spring "just right". It really does not make a difference and leaves you vulnerable to old/bad shims at the strip.

[Downtown]

Thanks Cville, I will print all this info off soon and have at the beast one more time. I need to order some German parts for an Allstar weapon anyway.

[Nolano]

I can't find it now, but there was at one point a guide to doing the Leon Paul tips. Cville is correct about how they're adjusted. I adjust mine in such a manner, and I have yet to have it fail on me.

[LeonPaulUSA]

Please email me at sales@leonpaulusa.com and I'll send you the data sheet for adjusting the contact spring in LP epee tips.

Thanks,

Bill

[Craig]

...I'll send you the data sheet for adjusting the contact spring in LP epee tips.

Thanks,

Bill

Or you could just post the URL (Which Alex posted on this thread in 2006):
Adjusting Leon Paul Epee Contact Springs pdf file

Cheers,
Craig

[Alex_Paul]

You both beat me to it.

There is so much misunderstanding of how to set up our tips in the USA that we are thinking of either beefing up the contact spring or the ID on the insulation.

Trust me, if you set them up as per Craigs link above you will get 6 months use out of them before you fail shim test.

Alex

[TrainingDummy]

Whoa, I just had this contact spring problem at my last tournament! Since both my epees were LP and it happened to both of them simultaneously (they had seen heavy usage, so I'm not complaining) I had to borrow an epee. Thanks for the pdf. Since we're on topic, I had to replace a tip screw on my LP tip tonight, but a generic French screw (don't know where my clubmate got it), wouldn't screw down very far. Another clubmate gave me an LP screw and it went in just fine. I am ordering some more LP screws so this is purely out of curiousity, but can I use non-LP screws in LP tips?

Alex, why not just put in a little card with instructions when you send out a new epee, tip, or bag of contact springs? Or, for your online customers, you could add an attachment to order confirmation e-mails. I think your customers would appreciate it.

[Nolano]

I've used non LP screws in my LP tip. The LP screws are far superior, however. They're better cut threads, and the screws are hardened.