What spare tip parts to keep on hand?

[Purple Fencer]

Originally Posted by Mergs

What do you mean 'USED to'? Who do you think paid my way out to see you last month?!??

I was talking about when the govt. owned you, bird-shoulders!

[TodG]

Well, I am finding this discussion illuminating. I'm getting back into fencing after a several year break.

After digging through my gear I found a bunch of Leon Paul foil tip assemblies (as in about 20) so I'm inclined to use those for the time being. I usually take a number of weapons with me, so I've never had to rewire or do much in the way of repairs in the field. But since we formed a new club here in town it looks like I will end up being the armorer.

I like the idea of the nextgen barrels, and I am definitely going to recommend German points, since our other experienced fencer has German.

In the mean time, I'll keep the LP points for myself.

Next question:

Do you glue your barrels? I've been a gunsmith and am used to using blue or red loctite on screws where appropriate Seems like a simple solution to loose screws.

[Mergs]

I'd use the blue Loctite for your barrel. The red is basically for a permanent fix. The only issue you might have is if you use too much, it may affect the conductivity of the connection of the barrel to the blade. I'd make sure that if you use either one, that after you set the barrel, you check it with an ohmmeter.

[SJCFU#2]

Originally Posted by TodG

After digging through my gear I found a bunch of Leon Paul foil tip assemblies (as in about 20) so I'm inclined to use those for the time being. I usually take a number of weapons with me, so I've never had to rewire or do much in the way of repairs in the field. But since we formed a new club here in town it looks like I will end up being the armorer.

You might want to take a close look at those LP points - I seem to recall them once using different sized tip screws for foil and epee however that that was decades ago so you might be all right (and if I'm wrong then I'm certain that Alex or Barry will waste no time correcting my error).

Originally Posted by TodG

Do you glue your barrels? I've been a gunsmith and am used to using blue or red loctite on screws where appropriate Seems like a simple solution to loose screws.

I'll second what Mergs has already said about blue Loctite. Technically the use of Loctite may violate rules m.12 or m.20 since AFAIK the SEMI Committee has never approved Loctite as a a means of affixing the barrel however no one is ever likely to care so long as it doesn't interfere with conductivity (or even be able to tell unless you use so much Loctite that it runs down the blade beyond the barrel and you don't clean it up).

[Purple Fencer]

Originally Posted by SJCFU#2

You might want to take a close look at those LP points - I seem to recall them once using different sized tip screws for foil and epee however that that was decades ago so you might be all right (and if I'm wrong then I'm certain that Alex or Barry will waste no time correcting my error).

Or someone else...the LP screws made todayare the same for both foil and epee.

I'll second what Mergs has already said about blue Loctite. Technically the use of Loctite may violate rules m.12 or m.20 since AFAIK the SEMI Committee has never approved Loctite as a a means of affixing the barrel however no one is ever likely to care so long as it doesn't interfere with conductivity (or even be able to tell unless you use so much Loctite that it runs down the blade beyond the barrel and you don't clean it up).

I'm not so sure about that...the method of actually AFFIXING the barrel is by screwing it on....Loctite is used as an aid to keep the barrel from coming loose, but that doesn't really violate the rule.

If the tip of the blade was not threaded and the ONLY thing keeping the barrel on was Loctite, then I could see a violation.

[SJCFU#2]

Originally Posted by Purple Fencer

Or someone else...the LP screws made todayare the same for both foil and epee.

I'm well aware that LP now uses the same screw for foil and epee. I'm not sure that was the case twenty or thirty years ago (bear in mind that the OP has stated that he has been away from fencing for a while). If his barrels are old enough then he might have problems finding replacement screws.

The method of actually AFFIXING the barrel is by screwing it on....Loctite is used as an aid to keep the barrel from coming loose, but that doesn't really violate the rule.

If the tip of the blade was not threaded and the ONLY thing keeping the barrel on was Loctite, then I could see a violation.

While I'm inclined to agree with you that the Locktite is merely a supplement to the threads there is a line in m.20 that says "Only solder of very easily melted tin, used with a soldering iron, to prevent the tip from coming loose, is authorized." I suspect this was originally intended to keep people from doing silly things like welding the barrel onto the end of the blade (which would almost certainly alter the temper of the blade) however I can see how that same restriction might be applied to Locktite as well (not that it should be but that's what happens when rules are poorly worded).