Cleaning an epee tip

[crquack]

This may be an old hat to many but shall share anyway:

I cleaned both our weapons last week. Today we fenced with the clean weapons for the first time. My wife's tip (LP) packed up right at the end of session.

When I got home I took it apart. It seems that a piece of cotton from the Q-tip I was using to clean the barrell with alcohol got stuck under one of the contacts inside the tip and worked its way over it thus effectively stopping the contact spring from contacting. It was not that difficult to remove and the tip is fine now (I think!).

Just a heads-up for those using Q-tips...

[Purple Fencer]

Oooooo....good tip! Thanks....'cause that's how I clean them.