Foil Problems

[abercrombiesmartie]

Just purchased a new blade less than a week ago. Had put the weapon all together, and was working perfectly for about 7 matches at practice. All of the sudden, every time it would come in contact with another blade, the scoring machine would read an off-target. The tip still registers an on-target, but any time I go to make a beat-attack, it reads an off-target when the two blades come into contact.

Any idea why?

I'm taking the whole weapon to the place where I purchased it to see if they can figure something out as well.

[brtech]

Need more information to help you.

Is this ANY contact, or an actual beat?

What happens if you wack the blade against your foot?

Trying to determine if it's metallic contact that causes the symptom, or just jarring it.

I'm guessing it's the latter, and the symptom means something is loose. Could be the barrel, could be the socket, could be something wrong with the tip.

But first, let's make sure we understand what you are seeing.

[Purple Fencer]

Need more information to help you.

Is this ANY contact, or an actual beat?

What happens if you wack the blade against your foot?

Trying to determine if it's metallic contact that causes the symptom, or just jarring it.

I'm guessing it's the latter, and the symptom means something is loose. Could be the barrel, could be the socket, could be something wrong with the tip.

But first, let's make sure we understand what you are seeing.

Indeed...a lot of us here can make a diagnosis on-line....but we need details...and no detail is too small for an armorer...that one thing you leave out because it's almost meaningless may be EXACTLY what we need.

[abercrombiesmartie]

It is just contact with another blade. If I go to hit it on my foot, nothing happens, it's metal on metal that sets it off.

[Purple Fencer]

It is just contact with another blade. If I go to hit it on my foot, nothing happens, it's metal on metal that sets it off.

Still could be something loose...hitting the foot may absorb enough shock that it won'tmake something break contact...makes me think not necessarily sa LOOSE barrel (you'd feel that rattling around), but one that may feel finger tight, but is still loose enough to shake on a beat. Put it in a vise and throw a wrench on the flats...if it tightens up any amount, that may solve the issue.

[mrbiggs]

If when something jars it it goes off target, there's likely something loose. This is generally the barrel, but could also be the grip or socket. Make sure the barrel and grip are tight. Make sure the socket is tight, and make sure you only wrapped the wire around the screw once--if it crosses over itself it can cut itself, losing the connection.

[brtech]

The absolute best explanation for the symptom is the machine is set to saber. That's not really enough, but it would be a start.

The problem with a foil displaying off target when all you have is metal to metal contact is that the foil has a normally closed switch in the tip, and unless something causes the connection between the B and C pins on the socket to open, you don't get any light. We're all suggesting it's vibration that is causing the problems because that opens up the connection.

If you did not have a B-C connect, you would get off target all the time; just like what happens if the machine is in foil and the fencer isn't hooked up yet.

So, first check the machine setting.

Then substitute a good foil for yours and make sure it really is the foil.

Then if you have a multimeter, set it to ohms and look for a connection (0 ohms or close to it) between B and C with the foil at rest, and watch it open
(infinite ohms) when you press the tip.

[Frater_Frag]

Query: Does german wires fit with LP barrels?

[erooMynohtnA]

I believe they will fit, but that it won't work.

As to the OP's question, it could be the bodycord too.

[SJCFU#2]

Query: Does german wires fit with LP barrels?

I doubt that a German foil wire will fit in a LP foil barrel - I just measured an Uhlmann wire (from back when Uhlmann parts were still being made in Germany) and a LP barrel, and the diameter of the plastic cup on the German wire was almost 0.2mm greater than the inside diameter of the LP barrel.

However it shouldn't be a problem with epee.

[Robert Smith]

One possible cause that I've seen happen a lot the first time people assemble a foil is putting the wire through the guard but not through the bracket of the bayonet or two-pin connector. I wouldn't be surprised to see constant or intermittent white lights or failures to give a light if this happens; the wire gets squished under the bracket, it either breaks and opens the circuit (white lights) or gets crushed through the insulation and shorts to the guard (no light). Just a possibility that's not been mentioned so far.

[Purple Fencer]

One possible cause that I've seen happen a lot the first time people assemble a foil is putting the wire through the guard but not through the bracket of the bayonet or two-pin connector. I wouldn't be surprised to see constant or intermittent white lights or failures to give a light if this happens; the wire gets squished under the bracket, it either breaks and opens the circuit (white lights) or gets crushed through the insulation and shorts to the guard (no light). Just a possibility that's not been mentioned so far.

Or they DO go through the bracket...then wrap the wire around teh tang and don't tape it down...so when the grip gets loose, the wire sneaks under the bracket...when the grip is tightened...oopsie...

Saw it haf a dozen times from teh same HS team a week ago...I need to talk to their armorer...

[wescfencer011]

It is just contact with another blade. If I go to hit it on my foot, nothing happens, it's metal on metal that sets it off.

i believe you wire is making contact on the socket base.

[Purple Fencer]

i believe you wire is making contact on the socket base.

No...if the wire is shorting to the socket bracket, that's actually shorting to the C line...the circuit would never break and there would be no light at all....white or not.