Grounded Bellguard & the rules.

[thomawesome]

So, I have a tournament coming up on Saturday (The Yellow Jacket Open, in case anyone is curious). The insulation around one of the wires on my epee blade has worn down, and the wire was touching the bellguard grounding it out. I put some tip-tape around the wire, so it's insulated now. I know I need to re-wire it eventually, but I don't think I'll be able to get it done before the tournament on Saturday. Will I not be allowed to use this weapon, or should it fly as long as it passes all the tests?

[keith]

So, I have a tournament coming up on Saturday (The Yellow Jacket Open, in case anyone is curious). The insulation around one of the wires on my epee blade has worn down, and the wire was touching the bellguard grounding it out. I put some tip-tape around the wire, so it's insulated now. I know I need to re-wire it eventually, but I don't think I'll be able to get it done before the tournament on Saturday. Will I not be allowed to use this weapon, or should it fly as long as it passes all the tests?

So,

Any insulation that is outside the bell guard will be an advantage to your opponent. Any insulation on the inside only covers one wire so could not hide a switch.

You'll probably be okay. Although I expect it breaches some rule or other.

[Purple Fencer]

Opaque tape around the wire is illegal, as the director must be able to lift the pad and verify that the wires are in 2 separate sheaths and there are no hidden switches.

CLEAR tape, however, is ok. Put a piece of CLEAR tape on the inside of the guard where the wire will sit (to insulate the bare wire from the guard), then a piece of CLEAR tape over the wire to hold it in place. Perfectly legal.

However...you're likely to run into directors who don't realize this...so see if you can have someone replace the worn spaghetti with a new piece.

Another trick you can do would be to lift the wire off the back of the guard and paint the exposed area with a bit of superglue....once it dries, no worries....and it removes the issue of tape altogether.

[thomawesome]

Alright, thanks guys. The tape itself isn't on the guard. It's wrapped around the wire right in the groove in the bellguard is to allow for it to pass through.

I'll probably drip some super glue on it, and bring some clear tape with me. Thanks for the input, again. I just know how bizarre some directors can be about rules I have no idea about.

[Purple Fencer]

Alright, thanks guys. The tape itself isn't on the guard. It's wrapped around the wire right in the groove in the bellguard is to allow for it to pass through.

I'll probably drip some super glue on it, and bring some clear tape with me. Thanks for the input, again. I just know how bizarre some directors can be about rules I have no idea about.

Or ones THEY have no idea about....some pull rules outta their asses.

[Rockstar44]

However...you're likely to run into directors who don't realize this...so see if you can have someone replace the worn spaghetti with a new piece.

I can almost guarantee that you will not be allowed to use this weapon, legal or not. I have yet to meet a Director who understands this.

It's no big deal to replace the spaghetti and that will eliminate the problem altogether.

[brtech]

yeah, replace the spaghetti if that will fix it.

Rather than superglue, i carry a bottle of nail polish in my kit for quick fixes like this. The advantages are: you can see where you have coverage, and its more flexible.

[Purple Fencer]

I can almost guarantee that you will not be allowed to use this weapon, legal or not. I have yet to meet a Director who understands this.

Even worse are those directors who think the same "rule" against tape inside the guard in epee (there ain't one...) also applies in foil.....huh???

[TodG]

Get some shrink tubing from Radio shack and slip it over the wire. A hair dryer is all you need to shrink it into place. Fixed.

[SJCFU#2]

Get some shrink tubing from Radio shack and slip it over the wire. A hair dryer is all you need to shrink it into place. Fixed.

Just be sure that you only fit the shrink tubing over the one wire (if you do both then do them separately). You want to make sure that the referee can see there is no possibility of a hidden connection between the wires.