Locally, we don't have our own dedicated armorer for our tournaments, but to keep things running smoothly, we'd like to consider testing bodycords at the start of our events. My experience from other tournaments and from reading this Forum implies that real armorers all have their own hand-made equipment for testing bodycords and there aren't a lot (or any?) commerically available items that could do this job well. Certainly there are pocket testers, but for this purpose, it seems like we'd need something more substantial, with gauges and not just flashing lights.
So, I guess my question is: what are our options? We'd like a tester that could be used by a relative layman to test bodycords before tournaments. Are there armorers out there who could build us such a thing? Any idea on approximate cost? Is there one for sale by a equipment supplier that I haven't found?
Edit: You can also probably buy a box from Dan DeChane, in which case it will have all the bells and whistles. However the price may be comparable to some of the Uhlmann boxes).
Edit: You can also probably buy a box from Dan DeChane, in which case it will have all the bells and whistles. However the price may be comparable to some of the Uhlmann boxes).
I don't think Dan's making them anymore....and the cost for my smallish setup was $800 5 years ago.
Yeah, $800 is a little out of our price range. But the Sword Masters unit looks promising; I don't know why I always forget to check their website. Does anyone have experience with it? I'm a bit confused by their description of the "Lame Econo" setup.
If you have even basic skills with simple electronics, you can build your own, basing it off of 3 of the cheap analog multimeters available at radio shack.
I'm guessing that their "deluxe lame kit" includes the tester plus the brass weight and cables included in this set (I can see a couple of extra banana jacks on the side of the case where I'm guessing the cables would plug in).
I don't see the "econo lame" kit listed anywhere but it's probably similar, except that the brass weight is replaced with a brass test probe fitted into the cap of a 1/2 liter water bottle - fill the bottle and you've got a 500 gram weight pushing down on the probe.
If you have even basic skills with simple electronics, you can build your own, basing it off of 3 of the cheap analog multimeters available at radio shack.
Or even just one meter if you use a 2-pole/6-position rotary switch (also available at Radio Shack).
Just be certain that the multimeter has a 1-ohm range (many inexpensive analog meters only go down to 1k, or 1,000 ohms).
When we are bringing up new armorers the old way (effectively an apprentice system as opposed to armorers college), one of the usual steps is to get you to build your own test box. If you go to a NAC, go look down the line of armorers and notice that they either built their own box, or have one of Dan's. You can tell a lot about an armorer from his test box.
I recommend you start with the single meter, 2 pole, 6 position switch version. There is a thread where I explain how to build one.
The 3 meter version with 3 external analog meters is actually a bit easier to build, but it has a problem that it doesn't detect shorts between lines.
Yep - the Armorers are like Machinists in that regard - the rite de passage for a Journeyman once upon a time was to build his own toolbox (and, even earlier, to make his own tools).
You can tell a lot about the man by the look of his tools...
Yep - the Armorers are like Machinists in that regard - the rite de passage for a Journeyman once upon a time was to build his own toolbox (and, even earlier, to make his own tools).
You can tell a lot about the man by the look of his tools...
And here I thought Fencergrl was the expert at looking at men's tools on this forum...
When we are bringing up new armorers the old way (effectively an apprentice system as opposed to armorers college), one of the usual steps is to get you to build your own test box. If you go to a NAC, go look down the line of armorers and notice that they either built their own box, or have one of Dan's. You can tell a lot about an armorer from his test box.
And if you ever saw my soldering skills, you'd understand why I spent the $800 for a Danbox!
Get an ohmmeter with test leads that end in alligator clips (or make such test leads)
Take a cord for testing, clip one test lead to the A line on one side, and other lead to the A on the other side. You should see a completed circuit (less than one ohm per line).
Grab hold of the plug body and wiggle/pull the cord. If there's a break in the line that shows up, the meter will flicker. Do the same for the B and C lines.
Not nearly as good as a purpose-built box, and it WILL add time to the event if you have cords tested as well as masks...but it'll do the job.
And if you ever saw my soldering skills, you'd understand why I spent the $800 for a Danbox!
If your soldering skills are so bad, how do you repair clips?
How do you fix Negrini wires?
How do you fix fencer ends on Uhlmann or Favero reels, or change the wire, or the mercotac/springs?
You have to have some modest level of soldering skills to repair fencing equipment. Working on a box with a 2 pole, 6 position switch isn't much different from working on an Uhlmann reel. You probably want to use a 30 watt soldering iron and very small diameter solder, rather than a soldering gun and larger diameter solder that would be appropriate on a clip.
If you can do a decent solder job on a clip, then you need the right tool, someone who knows what s/he is doing, and 10 minutes to learn to solder up a test box.
Now, the skill required to solder a wire that broke down near the handle, which is good enough to withstand assembly and use, and allows the spaghetti to slide over it is another story. That will take you longer than 10 minutes to learn.
The "secrets" to good soldering are simple:
Shiny clean wires/contacts
A good mechanical connection (solder is a lousy mechanical connection)
Sufficient size/power in the soldering iron/gun for the job
Heat the joint, not the solder. THIS IS THE BIG ONE MOST PEOPLE GET WRONG
Enough flux to enable the solder to flow around the joint. Some extra flux is helpful, although the flux in the solder is usually sufficient if it is "Rosin Core".
When the joint is hot enough to melt the solder, feed enough solder to create a reasonable "fillet", but that is all. Not too much, not too little. On a wire to wire or wire to contact, it's little more than a coating of solder on the joint.
Then back off the soldering tool without disturbing the joint, and allow to cool. If the joint moves, you get a cold soldering joint, which is dull grey instead of shiny silver, and must be resoldered. See point 2. Good mechanical connections don't move when you take away the soldering tool.
I am the guy that makes these for Sword Masters so I think I can answer the question:
Lame set up is for those that want an option to be able to test lames as well as body cords and weapons. If you have no plans on testing lames, click on the "none" option. There are two diffrent versions of the lame tester. The $15 option gets you a water bottle set up, the $75 option gets you a complete wire set up and special weight to test lames.
I can tell you that you will need to click on the bayonet option ($15), I have not made a test box like this in 2 years that did not have it. Its not on every one of them.
Just a side note: I/Sword Masters have two (I think) (2) two of these left and there will be no more made of this style. When I started out on this, I told Scott that I would make 75 of these and then start on designing a diffrent one. My next one test box will most likely be a 3 meter set up, which will be more $$$$.
Hope this helps,
Gary Spruill
Quote:
Originally Posted by SenorEquis
Yeah, $800 is a little out of our price range. But the Sword Masters unit looks promising; I don't know why I always forget to check their website. Does anyone have experience with it? I'm a bit confused by their description of the "Lame Econo" setup.
As always, thanks everyone for the input!
__________________ Ancora Imparo
Last edited by twisterfencing; 09-25-2009 at 12:50 AM..
Dan still is making them. I just got another 1 meter from him.
Man that guy puts out some top shelf quality workmenship!
Funny story.
You know that Dan and I are close friends. I asked him to price me a one meter box, he keep telling me not to worry! Well, I asked Saul how much his was and he told me it was $800. I asked Dan if this was true? He told me yes, they were $800. I called my bank and had them send me 800 euro and mailed it off to Dan with a note: will this be enough?
I have yet to count the amount of tests buttons this thing has?? Heck, I only understand about 1/2 of them (just kidding). Alarms/lights in the meter, strip simulator and so on. Its pretty sweet!
All know that I make test boxes and other items, but know this, if anyone is in the market for a "Lifetime test box (meaning, its going to last you for all of your life) you have to get one of Dan's boxes.
His current pricing is $800 to $900 for his standard one meter, and $2500 to $2800 for his 3 meter box (understand, I could be wrong). It sounds expensive, yet understand that it takes over 60 hours of labor to make one of these boxes. Think about it, thats 1 1/2 weeks of work for one box! Now it does not seem to be that expensive.
Gary Spruill
Quote:
Originally Posted by Purple Fencer
I don't think Dan's making them anymore....and the cost for my smallish setup was $800 5 years ago.
Dan still is making them. I just got another 1 meter from him.
Man that guy puts out some top shelf quality workmenship!
Funny story.
You know that Dan and I are close friends. I asked him to price me a one meter box, he keep telling me not to worry! Well, I asked Saul how much his was and he told me it was $800. I asked Dan if this was true? He told me yes, they were $800. I called my bank and had them send me 800 euro and mailed it off to Dan with a note: will this be enough?
I have yet to count the amount of tests buttons this thing has?? Heck, I only understand about 1/2 of them (just kidding). Alarms/lights in the meter, strip simulator and so on. Its pretty sweet!
All know that I make test boxes and other items, but know this, if anyone is in the market for a "Lifetime test box (meaning, its going to last you for all of your life) you have to get one of Dan's boxes.
His current pricing is $800 to $900 for his standard one meter, and $2500 to $2800 for his 3 meter box (understand, I could be wrong). It sounds expensive, yet understand that it takes over 60 hours of labor to make one of these boxes. Think about it, thats 1 1/2 weeks of work for one box! Now it does not seem to be that expensive.
Gary Spruill
Oh I agree with you....buying that box was the best investment in tooling I've ever made.
Re all the buttons....at 05 Armorers College, we came back from lunch break and found Katie Sorenson -- Rocky's daughter -- playing Beethoven's 9th on the buttons!!!
Linear Mode
