Reel clip style

[MTD]

IF YOU ARE TRYING TO VOTE IN THE POLL ABOVE BUT DON'T SEE HOW, YOU PROBABLY STILL NEED TO LOG ON TO THIS DISCUSSION FORUM.


The floor reels owned by the club clip to the fencer's jacket (or lamé) with clips that wear out. Every time in the past several years that a clip has been replaced, somebody has been displeased, saying the replacement clip style "A" has some fundamental flaw which makes it very annoying to use, and clip style "B" should be used instead. Of course, when the replacement was clip style "B", someone has said that "B" is unacceptable and "C" should be used instead! Well, once again we have a reel which needs a clip replaced. This time, your input is requested in advance!

This poll actually offers only five different choices of clip. There are ten options because each option is offered as manufactured, and offered with a fishing swivel added. When replacement clips are manufactured with a built-in swivel, somebody always complains that it doesn't swivel well enough, or the clip is too close to the connector. Of course, when a replacement swivel is stacked with an added fishing swivel, somebody always complains that the clip is too far from the connector!

These are things you may need to see which are mentioned in the description of the actual choices:

• fishing swivel -- small object with two closed-loop ends and something in the middle which allows the ends to spin freely with respect to each other. Often used for fishing. (see www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/content/Item/11/30/56/i113056sq01.jpg for picture)
  
• fishing snap swivel -- similar to a "fishing swivel", but one of the closed-loop ends is replaced with, or permanently linked to, a long springy metal loop which can be opened, hooked through something, and closed again. Often used for fishing. Much longer than a "fishing swivel". (see www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/content/Item/11/25/54/i112554sq01.jpg for a picture)
  

The actual clips being offered as choices are these:

• Springy one-piece clips -- the small one-piece clips with no moving parts (just one flexing part) which are factory-standard on Uhlmann blue "turtle" reels. These look like clips on neck lanyards for name badges. Note that when provided on new reels, these are are always accompanied by a fishing swivel or equivalent, but you can choose this option with or without a swivel. (part 32 in www.uhlmann-fechtsport.de/bilder/ersatzteile/rolle/rolle2.htm is a clip with a swivel)
  
• Plastic key ring snaps (sliding gate) -- a plastic hook with a spring-loaded sliding rod which snaps closed along the open side of the hook except when slid back and held. As manufactured, there is usually a built-in swivel, but some people insist that another swivel needs to be added too. These are a little less expensive and less heavy than the metal version, but wear out a little sooner. (see www.umei.com/buckles-plastic/plastic-buckles-1-3/hp313-5.jpg for picture)
  
• Metal snaps (sliding gate) -- a metal hook with a spring-loaded sliding rod which snaps closed along the open side of the hook except when slid back and held. As manufactured, there is a built-in swivel, but some people insist that another swivel needs to be added too. These are more expensive and heavier than the plastic version, but last longer. Adding a swivel is annoying because both this style of clip and the swivel have closed loops, and something else (like an additional split ring, or the replacement of an ordinary fishing swivel with a longer snap swivel) needs to be used to connect them to each other. (see www.hobbytool.com/ProductImages/productimages/snaphooks/479.jpg for picture)
  
• Metal clips (rotating gate) -- two overlapping metal half-hooks, where one swings out of the way when the unit is squeezed. As manufactured, there is a built-in swivel, but some people insist that another swivel needs to be added too. Adding a swivel is annoying because both this style of clip and the swivel have closed loops, and something else (like an additional split ring, or the replacement of an ordinary fishing swivel with a longer snap swivel) needs to be used to connect them to each other. (see www.hobbytool.com/ProductImages/productimages/snaphooks/502.jpg for picture)
  
• Aluminum non-climbing carabiners -- these are usually sold as key rings and look like a slightly miniaturized climber's carabiner. As manufactured, there is no swivel at all. If you want to use one with a swivel, you must specify this in the poll. (see images.containerstore.com/MEDIA/ProductCatalog/7839/7839.jpg for picture) Some people complain that carabiners shift themselves around so they want to stay with the jacket and unclip from the reel. Don't worry about that. There are ways to prevent it.
  

[don]

I think we should put in place a carabiner (since they're cheap and readily available) until this voting and then procuring process is completed. That way we'll have something this coming week.

[fberntsen]

The Carabiner is larger and easier to open. I think it's the best choice.

[geezer]

Metal snap, sliding gate, swivel end...in tandem, meaning TWO PIECES in-a-row, snap-to-swivel, solves ANY non-rotation problems (the extra expense is trivial and we'll always have a spare). I don't like the feel of carabiners because their shape is wrong and hard to work, and the Uhlman spring (one-piece) clip is to small for my hand.

That's my story and I'm sticking to it!!!

[MTD]

geezer said:

Metal snap, sliding gate, swivel end...in tandem, meaning TWO PIECES in-a-row...

Note that with almost all sliding-gate metal snaps (including the one in the illustration offered above), you can't have "TWO PIECES in-a-row". The connecting ring on the snap hook is solid. And, the two loops on a fishing swivel are solid. You cannot link and unlink two circles unless they are embedded in space with at least four physical dimensions. So, there must be a third piece in a row. One possible piece is a steel split ring (e.g, one sold as a key ring). Another possible piece is a nylon wire tie. Still another possible piece is a closeable chain link (used for doing things like connecting two lengths of chain) of the smallest available size. Whatever, just remember that the assembly will end up a little longer than if it really were just "TWO PIECES in-a-row".

[geezer]

.Yes, I understand that you have to have another connection at the floor cord socket end, it's a given (a wire or a key ring). For further swivel power, something like a large, safety-pen type, fishing weight attachment w/swivel is ideal. In fact, weight-rig wired to socket, then weight-rig clipped to swivel of snap-conn'r. would work well. I was originally thinking that the snap connector swivel be wired to the socket and the sliding gate be snapped into ANOTHER snap conn'r. swivel who's gate was the actual connection to the fencer.
(Socket to wire to link swivel, then gate to link swivel, then gate to fencer...that's two links in tandem.)

Whatever's done, there's got to be "something" wired to the socket. That "something" is what this poll is about.

I (personally) think the snap link is easiest to operate by the braille ("I can't see the connector to fasten or unfasten") method. By operate, I mean "hold in the fingers and wiggle/pull/twist/push...whatever". I have the least trouble with this kind of snap. The "one piece kind" gets turned around, spread-out, doesn't come off easily, doesn't fit my fingers...so I don't like it very much...but it's just my prejudice.

(Sorry, "wired" means mechanically connected.)