10-01-2008, 09:17 PM
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#1 | | Just Joined
Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Täby, Sweden
Posts: 24
| Odd eppe point failure
Hi,
I'm by no means an accomplished armorer, but skilled enough to buld or re-build an epee or foil now and then.
Today I’ve experienced a first. One of my son’s epees was failing, grounding out (only) when point was pressed. After much searching, I found out that when one of the point screws was unscrewed half way, problem disappeared. Solved it quick-and-dirty by putting an itty-bitty (0.5mm sq) piece of plastic tape on the bottom of the epee screw.
Is this a common or odd problem?
BTW, this was a Leon Paul, size 2, non FIE blade with standard (non-coated) point.
Regards, | 
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10-01-2008, 09:43 PM
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#2 | | Admin
Join Date: Dec 1999 Location: Atlanta, GA
Posts: 4,665
| Is the problem still there with a new/replacement point screw?
Craig | |
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10-01-2008, 09:53 PM
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#3 | | Just Joined
Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Täby, Sweden
Posts: 24
| Nope, this seems to "insulate" the screw. | |
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10-01-2008, 11:16 PM
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#4 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: MD
Posts: 1,093
| Sounds like a screw worked its way through the layer of plastic insulation sandwiched between the metal core and outer jacket of the epee tip. When the tip is pressed down the contact spring touches the contacts at the base of the barrel and the core portion of the tip becomes part of the circuit. Normally the plastic keeps current from leaking out into the outer jacket however when the insulation failed the screw provided a path for current to get from the core to the outer jacket, the barrel and eventually the blade (hence the grounded weapon). Backing off on the screw will break its contact with the core of the tip, which is why the ground went away when you started to take the screw out.
While it's not what I would consider a common problem it's certainly not unheard of. It sounds like the tape you added is taking the place of the faulty insulation so the problem has gone away for now but you will probably have to replace that tip sooner or later. | |
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10-01-2008, 11:36 PM
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#5 | | Just Joined
Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Täby, Sweden
Posts: 24
| Thanks!
A luxury to have experts so nearby!
I may perhaps have to learn to be less forceful when screwing in epee point screws...
Regards, | |
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10-02-2008, 04:38 AM
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#6 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: London UK
Posts: 669
| Yep, diagosis correct by the aforementioned experts.
If screw really hard or tighten the screws very regurlely you can drill the screw through the nylon. Leon Paul screws don't tend to work their way loose as much as some others so once they are in you shouldn't need to worry about them. | |
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10-02-2008, 12:57 PM
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#7 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Eugene, OR
Posts: 750
| This is a problem I've only had with LP points and screws. Of course, it's really rare and the benefits of the LP screws far outweigh this problem.
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10-02-2008, 05:28 PM
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#8 | | Member
Join Date: Dec 2006
Posts: 81
| Yes I've also had this problem with LP regular tips and screws, not with Germans.
I think it was Cville who gave me the advice to paint some nail polish on the ends of the screws to insulate them. I got this to work eventually, but now that I'm aware of the problem I will be more careful when tightening the screws and it shouldn't happen again.
Are the LP GT tips subject to this problem as well? | |
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10-04-2008, 01:03 AM
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#9 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: near Boston
Posts: 3,308
| Quote:
Originally Posted by ejemyr  Thanks!
A luxury to have experts so nearby!
I may perhaps have to learn to be less forceful when screwing in epee point screws...
Regards, | Screwing too hard can get you in trouble in a multitude of ways.
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10-04-2008, 01:15 AM
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#10 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Pacoima, ca USA
Posts: 5,993
| Quote:
Originally Posted by fencerbill Screwing too hard can get you in trouble in a multitude of ways. | Not even TOUCHING that one!!!  | 
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10-04-2008, 03:19 AM
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#11 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Boston, MA
Posts: 4,878
| It's really bugging me that epee is spelled with 2 ps. | |
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10-04-2008, 01:27 PM
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#12 | | Senior Member
Join Date: May 2003 Location: Arlington, VA
Posts: 4,420
| Quote:
Originally Posted by telkanuru It's really bugging me that epee is spelled with 2 ps. | If you can't even manage to make a joke out of it, you should go to sleep............
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10-04-2008, 02:07 PM
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#13 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: London UK
Posts: 669
| Quote:
Originally Posted by XanderHal Are the LP GT tips subject to this problem as well? | Yes, the insulation on both serves two purposes firstly insulation (obviously!) and secondly to push the screw back into the threads locking it and helping to keep it in place. If we make the plastic harder to prevent the chance of screwing through it then you also lose the additional benefit of it acting as a lock. | |
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10-05-2008, 01:25 AM
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#14 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Boston, MA
Posts: 4,878
| Quote:
Originally Posted by MyrddinsPrecint If you can't even manage to make a joke out of it, you should go to sleep............ | I can't be on top of my game all the time, sadly. | |
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