german body cords

[darius]

Has anybody noticed that the 3mm prong on new Uhlmann foil cords is smaller in diameter than on older ones?

I bought a bunch of Ulhmann body cords and Uhlmann sockets from FP for the U of Rochester. They're noticeably loose and generate off-targets. Using my personal Uhlmann body cords in the same weapons, there's a very tight fit, and no problems.

To make matters worse, the spreadable pieces of the prongs are made of that paper-thin metal that you find on Prieur cords. I took a small screwdriver to spread the pins out a bit, hoping that would help, but it didn't -- any more, and they'll break off!

My supplier swears that they "should be" tight. Do any of the big-armorer types out there know what's going on?

darius

[sallearmourer]

I would not doubt it. Uhlmann is out sourceing alot of there stuff now and the QC is not there any more.


Tim

[Dav3ey]

Does this mean that we should be suspicious of the quality of the Allstar body cords?

Since they've combined, I would think that either they would rise and fall together or that Allstar is looking to phase Uhlmann out. If there's no plans for the demise of Uhlmann, do we think that the Allstar cords are going to go down the tubes?

Relatedly, who makes the best cord out there? Any opinions?

[Tomas N]

There's a cottage industry in body cords out there, and I prefer to buy the homemade, as the quality of parts is often better. For instance, Tim Hively, the armorer in our division, sells body cords at competitive prices that look and feel indestructable. Best thing, if they break, he's very good about fixing them for you.

Tomas N

[sallearmourer]

I personal like the Negrini wire as it some of the best around. It's 5 or 6 strand of copper wrap around steel wire as it cord and is very flexiable. This is the wire I use to rebuilt bodycord with.


Tim

[Gav]

I also like the cottage industry idea. It's not as if bodywires are hard to make - especially Epee. I've a friend - electronic engineer - who makes is out of the spare parts lying around the lab at work. They're not pretty but they look/are indestructible.

[JEC]

What kind of lab?

[Gav]

Originally posted by JEC
What kind of lab?

He's an Electronix's engineer so I imagine an eltronics lab - why?

[JEC]

I have a neurophysiology lab. There are not that many, and yes, I have also altered my own body cords to make them more resilient including 1) soldering the cable end, 2) tightening the banana connector screw (with the soldered cable end inside), and then 3) soldering the cable-plug junction. No more loose cables within the connector.

[veeco]

You can also use a propane torch to melt the wire and the connectors together, if you're careful not to melt the plastic casing for the connectors ;-)

I don't know what I would do in life without my propane torch. I carry it around everywhere.

[JEC]

The problem with that approach is that the wire eventually would break at the juncture between the melted "blob" (i.e.: base of the connector and end of cable) and the cable and you need to get another connector.

If on the other hand, you use lower temperature and only solder the parts with some (not excessive) flux, you are able to reattach a barely shorter body cord cable using the same connector.