Basic Foil ArmoryBasic Foil Armory

Doug BlissDoug Bliss

Armory Tools and PartsArmory Tools and Parts YOUR handle toolYOUR handle tool

6 mm Allen wrench6 mm Allen wrench 8 mm thin wall socket8 mm thin wall socket BIG flat screwdriverBIG flat screwdriver

Jeweler screwdriversJeweler screwdrivers Ohm meter, analogOhm meter, analog Clip leadsClip leads Needle nose pliersNeedle nose pliers Miniature adjustable Miniature adjustable

wrench (2)wrench (2) White clothWhite cloth Wire cutters (small)Wire cutters (small)

Wire strippersWire strippers Metric box wrenchesMetric box wrenches Small viseSmall vise File, flatFile, flat HacksawHacksaw Blade wire glueBlade wire glue 750/500g test weight750/500g test weight Spaghetti tubingSpaghetti tubing Spare wireSpare wire Spare point kitSpare point kit Wire removal tool of Wire removal tool of

choicechoice

Barrel

Foil Tip ComponentsFoil Tip Components

Blade

WireWire Cup Spring Brass

Collar

Tip

Nylon Sleeve

Tip Screw

Tip at Rest – Switch Tip at Rest – Switch ClosedClosed

Contact Area

Contact Area

Tip Depressed – Switch Tip Depressed – Switch OpenOpen

No Contact

No Contact

Foil Body CordFoil Body Cord

A BC

B CSmall Pin -Wire & Tip

Large Pin -Blade & Bell

Screw & Wire joint must be soldered

Foil CircuitsFoil Circuits

B

C

Tip Off Target

B-C open

Wire & Tip

Bell / Blade / Barrel

Tip At Rest

B-C shorted

B

C“Ground”

Foil CircuitsFoil Circuits

Wire & Tip

Bell / Blade / Barrel

On Target Hit

B-C open

B-A (Opponent) shorted

B

C“Ground”

OpponentLame

A (Opponent)

B

C

Tip On Mat

B-C (foil) open

B-C (mat) ShortedMat

C (Mat)

Foil CircuitsFoil Circuits

Wire & Tip

Bell / Blade / Barrel

B

C“Ground”

OpponentLame

A (Opponent)

Old machine – no touchNew – amber light

C (Opponent Bell)

Bonus Question:What happens if your opponent touches his bell to his lame during your valid touch?

What Goes WrongWhat Goes Wrong

It’s almost always the fencer It’s almost always the fencer equipmentequipment Fencer equipment suffers the most Fencer equipment suffers the most

abuseabuse

*%!# Intermittent White *%!# Intermittent White Light!Light!

Single biggest failure symptom.Single biggest failure symptom. Highest possible number of causes!Highest possible number of causes! Before cursing your foil remember thatBefore cursing your foil remember that

Foil is “self checking” … even a brief open Foil is “self checking” … even a brief open circuit causes the scoring box to complain.circuit causes the scoring box to complain.

Epee is NOT self checking…you never Epee is NOT self checking…you never reallyreally know if your weapon is working!know if your weapon is working!

But where to look for the open circuit?But where to look for the open circuit?

Intermittent White Light Intermittent White Light CausesCauses

Body cord broken, B or C wireBody cord broken, B or C wire Loose wire at socketLoose wire at socket Loose handleLoose handle Broken wire (anywhere)Broken wire (anywhere) Loose barrelLoose barrel Loose tip screwLoose tip screw Dirty tip or collarDirty tip or collar Broken TipBroken Tip Corroded springCorroded spring Weak springWeak spring Corroded wire cup contactCorroded wire cup contact

Tip at Rest – Max Tip at Rest – Max Resistance 15Resistance 15ΩΩ

Does your ohmmeter move when you stress any of electrical junction?

Clean, tighten, or replace parts!

Tip Depressed - Tip Depressed - Resistance Resistance ∞∞

Does your ohmmeter display an open circuit when you depress the tip?

No? If stuck on

• 0Ω - grip pinching wire, insulation scraped/nicked

• ∞ - see intermittent white light list

Helpful Barrel HintsHelpful Barrel Hints Loose barrel – tighten only ¼ turn or Loose barrel – tighten only ¼ turn or

risk breaking the wire just behind the risk breaking the wire just behind the wire cup.wire cup.

Thread locker on the barrel prevents Thread locker on the barrel prevents loose barrel BUT creates electrical loose barrel BUT creates electrical insulation. Use VERY sparingly or insulation. Use VERY sparingly or better, not at all.better, not at all.

Clean tip & barrel very gently only with Clean tip & barrel very gently only with alcohol. Never lubricate with anything. alcohol. Never lubricate with anything. Do not move the wire cup or you will Do not move the wire cup or you will break the wire behind it.break the wire behind it.

Rewiring a BladeRewiring a Blade

Your wire is broken, but the blade is Your wire is broken, but the blade is OK ?OK ?

Disassemble the weapon completely. Disassemble the weapon completely. When you remove the barrel the wire When you remove the barrel the wire will break at the wire cup. Remove the will break at the wire cup. Remove the wire cup and inspect the barrel – clean wire cup and inspect the barrel – clean it with alcohol or replace it.it with alcohol or replace it.

Three ways to remove the old wireThree ways to remove the old wire Light ForceLight Force SolventSolvent AbrasionAbrasion

Wire Removal via Light Wire Removal via Light ForceForce

If your blade was not glued with Super If your blade was not glued with Super Glue, you can often grab one end of Glue, you can often grab one end of the wire and gently pull it out of the the wire and gently pull it out of the groove.groove.

Clean out the groove thoroughly with a Clean out the groove thoroughly with a small tool, a jeweler's screwdriver, small tool, a jeweler's screwdriver, dental pick, or a flattened nail.dental pick, or a flattened nail.

This is the safest but most labor This is the safest but most labor intensive method.intensive method.

Wire Removal with Wire Removal with SolventSolvent

Construct a solvent pipe using threaded Construct a solvent pipe using threaded iron pipe and two screw-on end caps. Pipe iron pipe and two screw-on end caps. Pipe length & diameter sized to submerge the length & diameter sized to submerge the blade in solvent.blade in solvent.

Fill pipe with lacquer thinner or nail polish Fill pipe with lacquer thinner or nail polish remover. Soak the blade for several hours.remover. Soak the blade for several hours.Save the solvent for later reuse in the pipe. Save the solvent for later reuse in the pipe. Dispose of used solvent properly.Dispose of used solvent properly.

WARNING! Solvents are highly flammable andbreathing fumes may cause illness.

Use only in a well ventilated area away from all ignition sources!

Wire Removal by Wire Removal by AbrasionAbrasion

A Dremel tool with an abrasive A Dremel tool with an abrasive cutoff wheel can be used to clean cutoff wheel can be used to clean out the groove.out the groove.

Be careful – it is very easy to widen Be careful – it is very easy to widen the groove and ruin the blade.the groove and ruin the blade.

WARNING! Cutoff wheels shatter easily and

material can be ejected at high speed.

Wear appropriate eye protection while using motorized equipment!

Blade Cleanup & Blade Cleanup & PreparationPreparation

Great! You got the wire out. While Great! You got the wire out. While dismantled…dismantled…

Clean blade threads at the barrel endClean blade threads at the barrel end Lightly file blade shoulder to remove Lightly file blade shoulder to remove

corrosioncorrosion Buff rust from the bladeBuff rust from the blade Wipe blade with alcohol soaked rag to Wipe blade with alcohol soaked rag to

remove old tape adhesive, dirt, filings. remove old tape adhesive, dirt, filings.

What Kind of Glue?What Kind of Glue?

Fletch-Tite (my personal favorite)Fletch-Tite (my personal favorite) Moderate holding strength, removes easilyModerate holding strength, removes easily Similar to Duro, Duco, etc.Similar to Duro, Duco, etc. Look in sporting goods store, archery Look in sporting goods store, archery

section.section. Super GlueSuper Glue

Excellent holding strength, but difficult to Excellent holding strength, but difficult to removeremove

I have trouble getting this stuff to work!I have trouble getting this stuff to work!

RewiringRewiring

Thread the wire end through the Thread the wire end through the barrel leaving the wire cup loose. barrel leaving the wire cup loose. Screw the barrel onto the blade and Screw the barrel onto the blade and gently pull the wire taut through the gently pull the wire taut through the barrel.barrel.

Clamp the blade in a vise and glue Clamp the blade in a vise and glue the wire. Some prefer to top glue, the wire. Some prefer to top glue, some bottom glue, some do both.some bottom glue, some do both.

Remove blade from vise and bend in Remove blade from vise and bend in a jig for the required drying time.a jig for the required drying time.

Bending JigBending Jig

The blade must be pre-arced The blade must be pre-arced while the glue dries to avoid while the glue dries to avoid wire breakage during use.wire breakage during use.

Make a bending jig from two Make a bending jig from two film canisters and a tension film canisters and a tension line of chain or string.line of chain or string.

Allow adjustment for the Allow adjustment for the tension line length with a tension line length with a hook (chain) or sliding knot hook (chain) or sliding knot (string).(string).

Wire

Test the BladeTest the Blade When the glue is dry, measure the When the glue is dry, measure the

resistance of blade and wire. Connect resistance of blade and wire. Connect ohmmeter leads to the blade handle ohmmeter leads to the blade handle threads and the bare wire end.threads and the bare wire end. Less than 3 ohms un-pressed.Less than 3 ohms un-pressed. Infinite resistance when pressed.Infinite resistance when pressed.

Test the spring with a 500g test weight.Test the spring with a 500g test weight. Must hold off weight and maintain Must hold off weight and maintain

continuity.continuity. If it isn’t right, fix it now! It gets worse If it isn’t right, fix it now! It gets worse

later.later.

ReassemblyReassembly

Add spaghetti tubing to the wire.Add spaghetti tubing to the wire. Insert blade and wire through the bell Insert blade and wire through the bell

and connector bracket (wire on blade and connector bracket (wire on blade top). The wire must clear the bracket. top). The wire must clear the bracket. Temporarily tape the wire to the bell Temporarily tape the wire to the bell above its entry.above its entry.

Add grip, Add grip, oneone lock washer (pistol grip), lock washer (pistol grip), & nut. Tighten securely; avoid pinching & nut. Tighten securely; avoid pinching wire.wire.

Remove tape (tournament illegal), strip Remove tape (tournament illegal), strip wire, and connect to body cord socket.wire, and connect to body cord socket.

Final CheckoutFinal Checkout

Retest continuity at body cord Retest continuity at body cord socket.socket.

Remember that every metal-to-metal Remember that every metal-to-metal joint is an electrical connection – joint is an electrical connection – keep clean and tight!keep clean and tight!

Add tip tape. Apply ~6” length to the Add tip tape. Apply ~6” length to the blade but not the barrel. Add a small blade but not the barrel. Add a small piece to the barrel alone, piece to the barrel alone, overlapping the blade tape. overlapping the blade tape.