LP TiN barrel/tip problem

[oosnoopy]

After noticing landing (err getting my pretty light to go off) what seemed like some good counter arm shots, I started to look in detail at my LP TiN Epee barrel and tip.

It's shimmed well, but the tip seems to be loose and have a bit of play in it. If you press it squarely it moves down smoothly, but if you put pressure at a slight angle it seems rough, and doesn't want to smoothly move down. I thought maybe it was the tip and replaced it with a brand new LP TiN tip and all LP parts, along with clearing the inside of the barrel with rubbing alcohol.


In comparison, a FWF german barrel tip I have doesn't see to have much play at all, and moves smoothly even with pressure being applies at angle. Heck, even the AF french barrels and tips I have seems to be smoother.


Could my barrel be bad? I haven't fenced that much with this weapon; it hasn't been though hell and back.

[DangerMouse]

The first thing to look for is a burr in the slot where the screws travel (a scratch in the barrel that ends at the screw slot). Lots of tips have some play in them, but it doesn't make a whole lot of difference unless there is a burr to catch the screw.

[oosnoopy]

The first thing to look for is a burr in the slot where the screws travel (a scratch in the barrel that ends at the screw slot). Lots of tips have some play in them, but it doesn't make a whole lot of difference unless there is a burr to catch the screw.

Gotcha. I noticed the German tip has some play, but was still smooth. If there is a burr can I try and file it down?

[DangerMouse]

Yes. Get a set of jewelers files, take the tip apart, file down the burr, clean and reassemble.

[EldRick]

Or rewire for about the same cost as the jewelers files, and spend your time fencing instead of nit-fiddling with the equipment...

[Tomas N]

Could my barrel be bad? I haven't fenced that much with this weapon; it hasn't been though hell and back.

You've described my experience with all of my TiN tips.

[Paladin2019]

Or rewire for about the same cost as the jewelers files, and spend your time fencing instead of nit-fiddling with the equipment...

Isn't this basic manintenance & repair rather than nit-fiddling?

My suggestion would be to spray some WD-40 on a cotton bud (q-tip) and rub it over the outside of the 750g pressure spring. I had a scratchy TiN tip, but lubricating the spring AND ONLY THE SPRING improved things a great deal.

[oosnoopy]

Thanks for the help everyone. I took it apart, didn't see any burrs, but I gave it a light file and polish anyways. It seems much better now, but if it acts up again I'm just going to replace it with a FWF german.

[posineg]

This is not directly relating to your Epee tip but I have seen similar issues with the Foil tips. The plastic sleeve on some of the LP tips are notched and some are not which causes some binding. Am I right in thinking that for LP foil tips the sleeve needs to be notched?

[DangerMouse]

Or rewire for about the same cost as the jewelers files, and spend your time fencing instead of nit-fiddling with the equipment...

So you would spend $5 on a new barrel + $3.50 on a new wire ($8.50 total) and then take the time to clean the groove and setup your tip again every time you get a burr in the barrel? All that to avoid spending $6 on a set of files that you can use over and over for a repair that takes less time than a rewire.

[EldRick]

...takes less time than a rewire.

And might or might not solve the issue. Yep.

[erooMynohtnA]

So you would spend $5 on a new barrel + $3.50 on a new wire ($8.50 total) and then take the time to clean the groove and setup your tip again every time you get a burr in the barrel? All that to avoid spending $6 on a set of files that you can use over and over for a repair that takes less time than a rewire.

You're talking to the guy who sells a $70 paperweight.

[DangerMouse]

I have never failed to remove a burr with a file when I saw one. If that is not the root problem, the the cleaning I always do when I have a tip apart and a new pair of screws generally fixes it. I can do all this in about 10 minutes. A complete rewire is about 30 minutes to do a good job and set up the new tip.

[EldRick]

The "paperweight" is being sold by Leon Paul, and they like it well enough to put their name on it..

Oh, and BTW, Titanium Nitride coating is used to extend the life of drill bits, so it won't be easy to work on a barrel that's treated with it - it's harder than your steel files by quite a bit. Waterproof carbide sandpaper might work.

[oosnoopy]

The "paperweight" is being sold by Leon Paul, and they like it well enough to put their name on it..

Oh, and BTW, Titanium Nitride coating is used to extend the life of drill bits, so it won't be easy to work on a barrel that's treated with it - it's harder than your steel files by quite a bit. Waterproof carbide sandpaper might work.

I haven't tried your 175g paper weights, but I love my 150g negiri paper weights.

[EldRick]

Actually, the Tungsten Fencing Epeé weight is 200g.

The sabre weight prototype currently being evaluated comes in at about 170g...

[oosnoopy]

Actually, the Tungsten Fencing Epeé weight is 200g.

The sabre weight prototype currently being evaluated comes in at about 170g...

Hmm I'll have to try one at the next event I'm at where someone has one and see how the balance feels.

[Natureboy]

What I've noticed is that the barrel is now MUCH harder than the screws. When mine new SR-71 started to get crunchy a cleaning and a new set of screws fixed it right up. I did both at the same time so I can't separate cause and effect with certainty, but when I looked at the screws they seemed more beat up than I would have expected (hence the decision to replace), plus the q-tip came out of the barrel only just slightly dirty.

YMMV and all that.

[jkormann]

Hmm I'll have to try one at the next event I'm at where someone has one and see how the balance feels.

I had to go look up the tungsten fencing balancers. For saber, I put some #10 washers between the pommel and the grip and that brought it into a good balance. A french grip could have the same adjustment, providing it doesn't violate length requirement.

[EldRick]

"good balance" is a matter of opinion.

You can find the epee pommel at the Leon Paul booth.