Insulation Problem

[jspierre]

Recently, I had to change my bell guard on a working epee since it was too dented and worn. When I did this, I had to, of course, disassemble the entire weapon, and take the wires off the socket, and untape the surplus wire from the inside of the guard, under the pad. In so doing, and removing the old bell guard, I managed to pull the insulation on one wire in such a way that there is bare, exposed wire right at the base of the blade, where it enters the guard.

The whole situation seems very fragile to me, and I'm very worried about ruining the wiring on a perfectly good blade by making this goof.

I've noticed that if the speghetti is handled too much, it has a way of just breaking in your fingers.

Any suggestions? Do I have to rewire the blade?

[Purple Fencer]

German wire, right? ~You COULD try putting some superglue on the bare wire to act as an insulator.

BTW, you ARE aware that taping the wires inside the guard in an epee is illegal, right? A switch could be hidden under the tape.

[jspierre]

I think I was aware of the tape issue, but it was always there, and the weapons passed inspection thru several NACs (doesn't mean it's correct, I reallize). It's a small square piece of insulation tape that pins the unused length of the wires to the bell guard. Pretty innocent, and helpful. In another weapon that Tim fixed at an NAC, he actually put it on. Oh well....

[MikeHarm]

I've heard of people re-insulating the wire with nail polish or auto paint successfully.

[sallearmourer]

I never use tape on epee wires period. Havn't in over 20 years


Tim

The only time I used tape on epee is around the tang for the handle to fit better and tighter but never around the wires

[attila]

JS, Hi

This happens now and again. Simplest solutiuon goes like this;

Dunk the tang and about an inch of the strong in acetone overnite. By morning all the glue that was holding down the wire has gone. Then slip the tubing PAST the bare wire and glue down again. Now you can put back tpgether your tool and get it on line again..........