Argh! The practice tip just won't fit on!!

[o4aversob]

I'm very frustrated right now. I'm trying to fit a practice tip on the blade. It will not fit on. IT WON'T IT WON'T no matter how much I try. Does anyone know how to fit these stupid things on? I have red plastic blade fencing tips. Is it possible the metal top of the practice blade can be filed down a bit?

[qatet]

I've heard that chewing on them a bit to get them pilable helps. I certainly never had any trouble getting them on when I had chewed on them. Then again, I kept a pile of them by my computer in college to chew on while I wrote my thesis - maybe I just like chewing on them!

[MyraTrue]

what kind of tip do you already have on your weapon? For example, the dry Uhlmann I bought has a tip on it that looks like an electric tip, but its solid (fake).

If you are in truely in dire circumstance, athletic tape make a good practice tip. Cheaper than tip tape.

Myra

[Swordmaster]

It is possible to file the tip of a practice foil to aid in the application of the plastic practice point. Becareful not to reduce the diameter to a point that the point will come off easily. I suggest filing just enough to allow the point to "pop" over the tip. Since there are no offical specification for the tip of a practice foil, you will find various sizes on them, even within the same blade lot.
Depending on the instructor, you may be allowed to use an electric blade with a screw-on metal practice point. This will more closely approximate the actual feel of an electric weapon and aid in the tip not getting caught on the oponents blade while trying to do a disengage. The disavantage is that sometimes in the hand of a beginner it can be a painful experience for the instructor.

[mifencer]

It has to be said, and I apologize now for being the obnoxious one, use your electric foil. Stop buying the non-electric blades. Buy a maraging foil blade and donate your dry blade to your fencing club. Use your electric foil because you want to get the same feeling when you compete as when you practice, use your maraging blade because it'll last longer than a non-maragaing and/or non-maragin non-electric blade.

[CarlKnoch]

Originally posted by mifencer
It has to be said, and I apologize now for being the obnoxious one, use your electric foil. Stop buying the non-electric blades. Buy a maraging foil blade and donate your dry blade to your fencing club. Use your electric foil because you want to get the same feeling when you compete as when you practice, use your maraging blade because it'll last longer than a non-maragaing and/or non-maragin non-electric blade.

He's got a point there.

Unless of course you don't fence electric at all, in which case you should just continue fencing with the cheaper dry blades.