Paul bayonet socket woes.

[rudd]

I'm using the current (black plastic, raised metal lip) Paul socket on all my foils. Does anyone else find it has a tendency to come part easily, or at least deform enough to affect the integrity of the connection.. This is an issue I never had with the older red sockets.

While we're on the topic weren't Paul supposed to be brining out a smaller, lighter bayonet, or socket or both, or did I dream that.

[Mergs]

First off, if you are having problems, why don't you switch to two-prong?

A trick I point out in my book (see sig line) that I got from Bill Hall is to take a small wire tie-wrap and use it to secure the pieces together.

[LeonPaulUSA]

I'm sorry to hear that your LP bayonet socket is giving you problems. I agree with Mergs, the quick and easy fix is to put it back together and wrap a small cable tie around it. You can get them at the electrical department of Home Depot. A hundred of them will cost a few dollars and they're handy to have around anyway.

The new socket will be phased in very soon. It isn't appreciably different from the current model, but it is slightly smaller/lighter and it is secured on to the mount with a rivet, which eliminates the occasional problem of it coming apart.

There has been a lot of discussion regarding 2 pin vs. bayonet. I am a strong proponent of the Leon Paul bayonet system (beware of cheap imitations!). The retaining clip is always falling off of the German style 2 pin system and I am seeing plug:socket compatibility problems more and more frequently.

The authentic Leon Paul bayonet system is fast and easy.

If the cable tie solution isn't an option for you, please drop me an email and I'll fix you up.

Bill
sales@leonpaulusa.com

[CvilleFencer]

I am very much looking forward to the new bayonet sockets becoming the standard. I am very seriously considering switching my club over. I was that impressed with the ones I played with earlier in the year. They have held up splendidly.

[rudd]

Thanks for the cable tie tip and the update on the new socket. I like the bayonet design and have no plans to change over. Mainly I can't be bothered with buying and then swapping in a load of two pin sockets and plugs.

I started off with two pin but hated the problems with the retaining clip and the on going maintenance of the pins.