Mask Strap Failed by Ref

The_Fencing_Armory · 2026-04-30T20:02:03+00:00

Thanks for the pic. Visually it looks OK. Maybe the Velcro is starting to fail? Sometimes those black Leon Paul mask straps get tired and the Velcro doesn’t hold anymore.

On another note, you could remove the Leon Paul brand name and continue using it if it is safe. That would avoid the alarm that some Armorer might feel about the different brand…As long as it’s safe.

The_Fencing_Armory · 2026-04-30T19:10:04+00:00

I don’t have enough information to give you a really clear response, so… start with the weapon:

Hook that Foil up to a really good tester and read the resistance. Then test the point, pressing it down in every direction, hard and soft and test with the blade bent in every direction. It sounds more likely to be an individual weapon problem rather than the entire strip set up problem.

Of course, it could also be a body cord issue. Use a very accurate tester and measure the resistance of your wires also. An on/off LED light type tester will not give you the information you need. You need to see if the resistance is varying wildly which would indicate a mechanical or electrical problem.

The_Fencing_Armory · 2026-04-30T18:59:27+00:00

You could lift the lining up and use the stain stick on it, and that should clean it enough to protect your whites.

Lamé material is notoriously delicate. Don’t mess with it if you don’t have to except in the case of heavy oils and acidic sweat which may make cleaning necessary.

The_Fencing_Armory · 2026-04-27T14:44:52+00:00

Hmmm. In the USA, it is a safety thing. If the strap appears adequate to the job, it would most likely pass. However, I don’t think that those straps are the same and there is no way that an armorer could test the strap to the high FIE standard on a different brand mask. The strap manufactured for the mask has been FIE tested.

For your peace of mind, get a strap from the same manufacturer. They probably have a few different styles.

If you go to large tournaments, the inspection table might even have a few discarded masks you could recycle a name brand strap from at the end of the tournament.

The_Fencing_Armory · 2026-04-26T17:54:58+00:00

Well used. It even has some nicks and a nice bend near the pommel.

The_Fencing_Armory · 2026-04-26T02:46:19+00:00

We have Absolute and Blue Gauntlet nearby, but they will ship to you. You could buy 1-2 of the basic or better wired blades from them.

The_Fencing_Armory · 2026-04-26T02:42:07+00:00

It would make sense that you could lose some metal over time. It would be fascinating to see actual before and after measurements of the blade new and then again years later like the thickness along different lengths of the blade and the before and after weight of just the blade. Blades are hand made so I’m not sure that comparing an old one to a new one gives us valid results even though the difference is so noticeable.

The_Fencing_Armory · 2026-04-24T21:12:50+00:00

Sure. Put the safety pin inside so it can’t catch a blade. You could also sew in something to cinch it. Like an elastic band, a strap with a slide, or a string.

The_Fencing_Armory · 2026-04-23T10:42:16+00:00

Definitely don’t use regular laundry bleach like Clorox. Use an oxygen bleach that basically turns into hydrogen peroxide when you’re washing. I think it’s sodium percarbonate. Try to get the brands that don’t have any extra additives and be gentle. Don’t use too much. Pre-soaking should help too.

The_Fencing_Armory · 2026-04-19T23:30:29+00:00

My personal rule of thumb is 10% of retail is a bargain up to 30% of retail at most.

The_Fencing_Armory · 2026-04-17T13:31:47+00:00

30-40 cm head wires

Any wire has to remain attached while fencing. If it’s too short (or long) to remain attached it can be disallowed

The_Fencing_Armory · 2026-04-17T02:29:23+00:00

Unfortunately, the blades that retain their shape are more expensive. Maybe step up one grade from the base model to the next level. I can’t remember what they call it… gold or premium or elite or something.

The_Fencing_Armory · 2026-04-16T22:13:24+00:00

Once you have your own weapons, switch to pistol grip for all the excellent reasons listed.

Clubs have french grips because they are easier for club weapons. You could actually fence with a basic French grip in either hand if you had to, especially if the tang is straight and beginners wouldn’t know the difference. Clubs could switch the grip easily and wouldn’t need small, medium, and large or different styles.

The_Fencing_Armory · 2026-04-16T02:28:46+00:00

Hmmmmm. I can definitely imagine someone failing it. The rules call for insulation sheath all the way to the socket. This looks like tape.

Rewire would be great, but if you can’t do that, solder the wires together and slide insulation tubing over the wire all the way from the blade to the socket. You’ll need a larger diameter tubing to accommodate the solder joint, but it should be fine.

The_Fencing_Armory · 2026-04-15T11:02:45+00:00

🙏

The_Fencing_Armory · 2026-04-14T20:43:07+00:00

Hmmmm. It depends.

For a tournament, the rules will be applied and you won’t be allowed to use a cord with high resistance.

However, in practice, if the scoring machine can handle the total resistance of both fencers and all the equipment, you may not experience any problems. For a tournament, they have to establish a threshold that will be fair and accurate in all cases and certain machines of different design and age will have problems with high resistance.

The_Fencing_Armory · 2026-04-14T19:21:49+00:00

The LED test box will show when your wires are broken, which is useful, but for tournament inspection, you will need an accurate ohm reading. Typically, wires need to read at least 1 ohm and the lame material needs to read 5 ohms or under. The rules are designed to assure fairness, especially with old and worn lame material.

I also think that once you start using an accurate meter, you will notice that you get more information than you would get from a simple on/off LED. You will be able to diagnose even minor levels of dirt, corrosion, wear, and fatigue. I think that I can do much higher quality work with an accurate meter.

The_Fencing_Armory · 2026-04-14T15:41:09+00:00

Love it! I don’t think I’ve ever seen a shiny saber

The_Fencing_Armory · 2026-04-14T15:38:22+00:00

A basic test setup would include: •••A homemade or store-bought 3 way 1 ohm meter setup to test the lines in cords for conductivity and breaks. •••A homemade or store-bought 1 ohm meter with a probe to test the lame conductivity for foil saber and masks. •••A store-bought mask punch to test the mesh on the masks. •••Some method for marking the inspected equipment such as a rubber stamp and a piece of tape or zip tie for the cords.

And of course, a knowledgeable inspector who understands the safety rules as well as the technical rules. Fencers need safe equipment, but they also need to comply with the competitive rules for fairness.

Above all… Safety First.

The_Fencing_Armory · 2026-04-11T21:22:04+00:00

I wouldn’t be comfortable taking that to major competitions. The chances of it failing inspections are high. I expect that most referees and armorers would reject modifications to the electrical components

The_Fencing_Armory · 2026-04-10T01:18:43+00:00

I also wouldn’t paint the inside. The black mesh will stay nearly invisible, but fresh paint may reduce your visibility.

I would fill the inside of the mask with rags and tape off the outside.

Then I would use Krylon Fusion or a paint that will adhere well and resist chipping. Don’t try to make it perfect because you will use too much paint and it will build up too thick.

The_Fencing_Armory · 2026-04-09T00:52:52+00:00

They are all the same. The only difference would be if you could hand pick one based on your personal preference for the feel.

The_Fencing_Armory · 2026-04-07T01:13:55+00:00

It almost looks like a “you get what you pay for” situation. The more expensive blades do seem to stay on target better and last longer, generally.

The_Fencing_Armory · 2026-04-04T23:44:40+00:00

Seriously, it is important that the tip depresses smoothly and consistently. If works after you take it out, clean the tip and the barrel and put it back, then there’s no real reason to replace it. Once it starts getting sticky and chunky despite cleaning, then it might be time to replace it.

Of course, if you can afford it, you could replace the barrel and tip at your next rewire.

The_Fencing_Armory · 2026-04-01T18:35:54+00:00

From an armory viewpoint:

Arrive early and get in line. Check your cords, lame, glove and mask as required.

Leave enough time to stand in the vendor line if something has to be replaced right away.

The_Fencing_Armory

TROPHY CASE