FAQ: Toolkit for Equipment Repair

[Craig]

This is taken from the r.s.f. faq:

Every fencer needs a small toolkit for equipment maintenance. The
following tools and supplies are essential:

• precision screwdrivers for point maintenance and
  assembly; also handy for body wire repair.
• pliers for tightening points; wire cutters are also
  useful, and are incorporated into many pliers.
• Allen wrench, screwdriver, or socket wrench for pommel nuts.
• quick-drying (eg. cyanoacrylate) glue for emergency wire repairs.
• cloth tape for insulating foil tips.

Fencers who do a lot of maintenance will also find the following
tools useful:

• metal file for fitting tangs into guards/grips.
• hacksaw for cutting tangs down.
• blade-bowing tool (see 2.12) for gluing.
• scraping tool for cleaning old glue out of grooves; an
  old jeweller's screwdriver will do, provided you don't mind
  ruining it. Utility knives will also work.
• Lighter for burning off wire insulation or softening springs.
• vice-grip pliers for heavy-duty work away from a work bench.
• Swiss-army knife for everything else.
• weapon-tester box.

Serious armourers will need many other tools, including:

• workbench with vise.
• ohmmeter or multimeter.
• mask tester.
• metallic fabric tester.
• body wire tester.
• set of weights and shims.
• soldering iron (light for wires; heavy duty for pistes).
• Dremel tool.

A common additional tool suggested by some on this board is a propane torch.

[DHCJr]

I put at the top of any list a rule book. Also a mandrel can be very helpful, especially for those who flick.

I am not so sure about the lighter. The blade wire is fragile enough without heating it. I have seen discussions of black carding a fencer who had used a lighter on one end of a spring. But they only gave them a warning, but watched them. They burnt one end which became brittle and after one hard hit, it would not hold up 250 grams. I prefer a vise and time on springs.

I like the rest of the list.

[Wizardly]

SPARE PARTS!!! Extra screws, extra tips, extra pommels, extra plugs, extra insulation, extra wires, etc...

[sallearmourer]

Instead of pliers for the barrel I would suggest a 6mm wrench for epee and a 5mm wrench for foil. Proper tools for the job


Tim

[Gav]

I agree with Sallearmourer on the subject of pliers. For removing barrels it's better to have a set of pliers (of some sort). Personally I like a set of vice-grips as they are adjustable and give good grip.

I wouldn't stick rule book at the top of an armoury list however good knowledge of the correct set of rules is essential.

[PeterGustafsson]

Hi!

I think a lighter is bad - I use my thumb nails to take away cotton insulation around wire, works just fine when you get the hang of it.

For epeeists: Take away the insulation tape, and add a small hammer to bang back buckles in the epee bell.

Have a nice time!

Peter Gustafsson

[Gav]

I use a lighter (or a match) to strip off the cotton at the end and have never had a problem. You can also use a bit if sandpaper if - like me - your nails aren't long enough.

[rory]

proper tools for the job

I do realise that using pliers on a barrel is likely to scratch/dent it, but I have some older barrels that don't have a flattened section to hold a wrench.

Pliers are useful in this case (as a matter of fact I use a Leatherman - needle nose pliers, knife, file all in one!)

For removing old wire/glue from the groove I use a snapped mini hacksaw blade, with some tape wrapped around the butt end to make it easier to hold.

Oh, and don't forget an applicator (tip-setting tool) if you're rewiring blades, and weight & guages to go with your test box. You might also want a 1-2-4 guage to check that your blades are not too bent - might prevent you getting carded!

[veeco]

I definitely would put the shims and weights at the top of the list and not only in the "serious armourers" list. Everyone should have some of those! (Though I don't ;-)

[Mergs]

Here's the list from my mini-disertation "Care and Feeding of Weapons Eletric". Tried to attach it for your reading pleasure, but is a Word document and not supported by the attachments.

Magnetic strip (kitchen magnet)
Wiring Chain
Clamp
Dental pick
Vise grips
6” Crescent wrench
7mm box end wrench (foil connector)
8mm box end wrench (foil connector)
Large bladed screwdriver (epee connectors)
Small tipped screwdriver
Jeweler’s screwdriver
Hemostats
Point setters
Nippers
Pommel nut tool (8mm outside hex, 6mm allenwrench, ¾” deepwell socket (you can also use a sparkplug wrench) or large bladed screwdriver)(or if you want to be a hero on strip, all of them and carry them in a little bag with you)
Test weight(s)
Epee shims
12kg Mask punch
Test box (good to carry to the strip with you)
Ohmmeter (analog is preferable)
Springs
Screws
Q-tips
Tip tape (1” gaffer’s tape will work very well, as well as vinyl electrical tape)
Razor blades
Superglue
Acetone
Nail polish remover
Isopropyl Alcohol
Scotchbrite pads
220 grit sandpaper


And of course, a box to put it all in!

[DJ Apostrophe]

mergs, a tip... one of the supported file types are zip files... just zip it up and post it...
-w

[Mergs]

DJ - Thanks.

All,

Here is the file. Enjoy and comments are welcomed.

[sallearmourer]

i have 7 8 9 10 mm foil the foil connectors I have run across all them

Ye Olde Armourer

[MikeHarm]

I also like to use a small plastic bag that I put the tip in when dissassembling in case it shoots the tip/spring and theres something to catch the screws as they come out so i don't hafta worry about losing them.

[Inquartata]

Obviously, a foil/epee oriented kit...all that stuff to lug about...

Sabre tool kit:

-Pliers
-Allen wrench for pommel ( if you use that sort )


Another advantage to fencing sabre---as if another were needed!

Well, OK, if you want to tinker with body cords as well a small screwdriver or two is useful. Maybe a knife or Leatherman as well.

[oiuyt]

Inq- Some electrical tape can come in handy as well.

-B :)

[veeco]

Originally posted by Inquartata
Obviously, a foil/epee oriented kit...all that stuff to lug about...

Sabre tool kit:

-Pliers
-Allen wrench for pommel ( if you use that sort )


Another advantage to fencing sabre---as if another were needed!

Well, OK, if you want to tinker with body cords as well a small screwdriver or two is useful. Maybe a knife or Leatherman as well.

And a soldering iron, a propane torch, and a crowbar ;-)

[Inquartata]

Oh, yes, I forgot the propane torch! Doh!

[edew]

I have decided not to bring any tools with me to any major NACs or large PCS tournaments, at least those which have armorers present, and those where I have to fly in.

Having my tools groped at and possibly stolen by TSA nazis is not worth the hassle, and I'm generally friendly with enough armorers so that I can get an occassional screwdriver or whatever to fix things, if I can't get some other fencer with said parts.

I check the weapons before I go to the tournament, so I don't have to worry about bad tips or weak springs.

Also, by not bringing my tool kit, I save an extra 8-10 lbs. My kit consists of a box full of springs, tips, barrels, wires, spaghetti cords, washers, hex nuts, and other stuff; four or five types of pliers or wire strippers; four jeweler (and larger) screwdrivers; allen wrench; epee weight; text box; glue; shims; box cutter knife; and other assorted doo-dads.

A lot easier to not worry about them, and easier on my back/bag to carry my stuff without the toolkit bag.

[DHCJr]

Eric,

You have friends, who are Armorers? Just kidding! Not having my bags locked and thousands of dollars of equipment and some of it irreplacable, since some of the tools and meters are no longer made. Think of how the Armorers feel.

That is something to know for all fencers! If you ask to borrow a tool, use it there. Do NOT take it to the strip, your bag or wherever. The tools are not supplied by the organizers. The Armorer must pay for it out of their own pocket over years. Don't think the Armorers get paid what they are worth. I can't remember a tournament where I have even got minimum wage and most tournaments are not even half of that.

The only reason the Armorers get upset when you borrow a tool and promise to bring it right back, is too many times they have never come back. But if you use it there, then it is not a problem. Also the Armorer can show you how to use the tool properly. Some fencers think nothing of borrowing someones good tip screwdriver and try cleaning out a blade.