Sword and Cord: Maintenance and Repair

Sword and Cord:
Maintenance and Repair
by
“Broken Blade – your friendly armory”
Problems on the fencing strip ‐ foil
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We are plugged in, but off‐target light is still on
Foil fails weight test
Hit on opponent’s lame registers as off‐target
We hit, but no light, no buzzer
Off‐target light on beat on the blade
“Little orange light” flickers
Grip or point loose
Foil point anatomy
Problems on the fencing strip ‐ foil
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We are plugged in, but off‐target light is still on
• Check if loose grip or barrel
Foil fails weight test
Check if body cord attached to the foil well
• • Replace the spring (take point apart)
Hit on opponent’s lame registers as off‐target
• Wiggle body cord wire close to connector
We hit, but no light, no buzzer
• •Opponent’s lame/mask clip not connected
Turn the tip / smack the tip on the ground
Opponent’s lame/mask clip dirty or corroded
(Note: turn the tip only clockwise!)
• • Our blade tape worn
Off‐target light on beat on the blade
• Pinched wire (tip barrel or guard)
•Opponent’s lame/mask dirty or damaged
Check if socket or grip on your foil is loose
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• Dirty point – turn the tip left and right a few “Little orange light” flickers
Opponent’s body cord ‐ line A broken
• •times
Short circuit on socket (extra wire touching • Is your foil touching your lame?
Grip or point loose
Front of our foil tip dirty
socket)
• •Dirty point –
take apart and clean
• •Short circuit in body cord (lines A and B Broken point guts, short circuit inside point
• •Tighten the grip / point
Broken body cord, line B or C (wiggle body touching inside the 3‐prong plug)
• cord to confirm)
Super‐glued point
• Stuck (rusted) point
Problems on the fencing strip ‐ epee
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Epee fails thick shim test
Epee fails slim shim test
Epee fails weight test
Touch on opponent’s guard registers as valid
Hit, but no light, no buzzer
Touch sometimes registers, sometimes doesn’t
Scoring machine shows touch while tip in mid air
Scoring machine shows touch on beat on the blade
“Little orange light” flickers
Grip or point loose
Epee point anatomy
Problems on the fencing strip ‐ epee
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Epee fails thick shim test
• Bad pairing of tip and barrel
Epee fails slim shim test
• • Tip screw did not go in straight
Epee fails weight test
Contact spring too long. Take tip apart and turn contact spring “in” ¼ turn.
• Nicked upper edge of the barrel
Touch on opponent’s guard registers as valid
• Pressure spring too short/weak. Take tip apart •• Are we touching opponent’s guard?
Hit, but no light, no buzzer
and replace the spring (in a pinch, stretch the Opponent’s body cord: not plugged in
spring).
•• Our point loose
Touch sometimes registers, sometimes doesn’t
Opponent’s body cord: line C broken
•• Our grip loose
Scoring machine shows touch while tip in mid air
Opponent’s socket: C jack loose
• Are we plugged in well?
•• Short circuit in our body cord (wiggle the cord to confirm)
Scoring machine shows touch on beat on the blade
Opponent’s guard dirty
• Our tip: contact spring too short
“Little orange light” flickers
• Something broken inside our point
Our tip: dirty front side
• Our body cord: break in line A or B
Grip or point loose
• Our point loose
Short circuit in our body cord (wiggle the cord •• Tighten the grip / point
to confirm)
Body & Mask Cords
(fencer’s A – B ‐ C)
• It’s just a wire
• Wires break when tugged on, or bent sharply too many times
• Test with fencer’s test box, ohm‐meter, or specialized cord tester
Tip: When testing, wiggle the wire close to connector, that’s where the breaks live 
• To repair:
• Find the break (use the tester, and wiggle the wire)
• Cut (all the wires) at the break
• Re‐connect the “healthy” piece
• Test to confirm the cord is now good
• Note: Wire has to be soldered to the crocodile clip (you’ll need big soldering iron)
• Note to note: soldering irons get hot; don’t burn your fingers!
Recommended spare parts kit
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Tip screws (10)
Force springs (10)
Contact springs (10)
Tips (3)
• Blade wire (3)
• Body cord prongs (3)
Epee point parts: French or German?
Note: not where the parts were manufactured, but the type/design.
Do not mix the parts of different type. They sometimes just look alike!
Foil point parts: French, (British,) German?
Note: not where the parts were manufactured, but the type/design.
Do not mix the parts of different type. They sometimes just look alike!
Tools – strip‐side
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Test box
Epee only: shims (1.5 mm and 0.5 mm)
Weight (500 / 750 g)
Pistol grips: allen wrench (8 mm)
Dime coin (10 ¢)
Tools – off‐strip
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Screwdriver for tip screws
Blade wire glue
Blade wiring jig
Open‐end wrench (5, 6 mm)
Pliers
Foil tape
Rewiring: which glue?
(Pssst! This one is our favorite!)
Tools – workshop (mechanical)
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Bench vise
X‐Acto knife
Rust removing abrasive (block/sponge)
De‐burring abrasive (sponge/paper)
File (flat, smooth)
File (small, round, needle)
Hack saw
Die (tang: 6 x 1; 4 x 0.7; 3.5 x 0.6)
High‐speed electrical rotary/vibration tool
– cut‐off attachment
– wire‐brush attachment
• Point setter
• 19 mm wrench
Tools – workshop (electrical)
• Ohm‐meter with continuity tester
• Soldering iron
• Body cord tester
Weekly check & maintenance
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Test the weapon electrically
Check the tip for smooth movement
Check epee for missing tip screws
Sand off the nicks, deburr and de‐rust the blade
Re‐tape foil if necessary
Test the body cord for breaks
Check your mask, glove and uniform for tears and damage
For comments or more information:
Zoran Djurisic
[email protected]