Question: The wire in my electric foil has been pulled out. I’ve been told to bend the sword, apply glue and press the wire back into the groove. Is there a certain type of glue that is best to use? Is this all I have to do or are there certain pitfalls I need to be aware of and avoid?
In my experience with repairing foils (about 8-10 yrs of it), this is the best way to go. In terms of a glue to use, I suggest using “Superglue” or the CVS Pharmacy brand of it. It dries very quickly, you don’t have to use much, and it holds the wire very well. Some people don’t like superglue as it is a bit brittle when it dries; duco cement is a good alternative.
When you are about to do this, follow these steps:
- Make sure that the insulation is still intact with the blade wire. If it is not, then gluing the wire in will cause the weapon to ground out.
- Just to be safe, take some acrylic nail polish (the clear stuff) and brush it on the wire on all sides where it is sticking out. That will insulate any small, invisible breaks that could be in the insulation. Allow this to dry for 5 minutes.
- Bend your foil blade and gently push/set the wire into the groove. Try not to use a screwdriver to do this as you could easily cut the wire. Instead, take a Q-Tip and cut off the end. Use the bare Q-Tip to push the wire in.
- After the wire is set, start at the top of the “patch” and apply one or two drops of glue. Keep the blade bent and allow it to dry for a few minutes.
- Test the foil to make sure it is operating correctly. If it is, then apply a second coat to the “patch”, let it dry, then you’ll be ready for fence.