Can superglue be conductive?

[ejemyr]

This has happened to me twice now:

Last night I rewired an epee (LP wire) using two-component (epoxy glue). Left about a centimeter from the shoulders unglued in order to have the spaghetti tube protrude some from the guard.

Tested the blade and all worked fine.

Then I used superglue (Casco Express) to “tack” the spaghetti to the blade groove at the unglued centimeter described above.

Mounted guard, socket and handle. And guess what, now the wiring is “grounded” meaning that there is circuit between the blade itself and (one of) the wires.

Dismounted everything and managed to “chisel off” the wiring from the superglued area and voilá, the wiring is ok.

Conclusion; the superglue must be conductive.

Comments please?

[SJCFU#2]

More likely there is a break in the insulation somewhere in that last cm which only makes contact with blade when you glue the wire down (or somewhere else between the blade and the guard socket).

IIRC cured cyanoacrylate is a form of acrylic plastic - not a particularly good conductor.

[Mergs]

I agree. There is nothing in the makeup of CAs that would provided conductive properties.

[Tomas N]

My experience with LP wires has not been good in the past. The insulation moves around way too much making it very easy to get contact between the blade and wire. You have to be super careful.

Tomas

[ejemyr]

My experience with LP wires has not been good in the past.

Tomas

What brand do you recomend?

[Nolano]

I like german wires, myself. In addition to a silk coating, there's also a shellac coating which is much more durable. Don't forget to remove it on the socket ends, though.

[Rockstar44]

Mounted guard, socket and handle. And guess what, now the wiring is “grounded” meaning that there is circuit between the blade itself and (one of) the wires.

Dismounted everything and managed to “chisel off” the wiring from the superglued area and voilá, the wiring is ok.

Conclusion; the superglue must be conductive.

Comments please?

My conclusion would be that when the hardware is tightened the pressure somewhere on the wire is causing the wire to short to the bell or socket bracket. Thus, when everything is dismounted, the wiring is OK.

Not all that uncommon of an occurrance.

[fencerbill]

I have definitely had problems with white glue (I believe it is water based) having finite but low conductivity. I believe some of the older scoring machines were more sensitive to this.

Superglue would not be expected to be conductive but everyone can have quality problems.

[erooMynohtnA]

My experience with LP wires has not been good in the past. The insulation moves around way too much making it very easy to get contact between the blade and wire. You have to be super careful.

Tomas

+1 to this. I just had the same thing happen a couple nights ago with LP wires, and I'm pretty sure the wire is the cause, because other wires work fine for me.