Foil Lames

Care and Gear Recommendations

Foil lames, though not as expensive as saber lames, are still an expensive piece of kit. Let's talk about their care so you aren't throwing your money away.

Foil lames are simpler than saber lames. Without the sleeves you don't have to worry about wear at the armpits. The biggest issue that causes foil lames to fail is loss of conductivity through corrosion.

To prevent corrosion: keep your lame dry. After using it, always hang it in an open area to dry out. Never keep it in your bag or locker — these trap moisture and accelerate corrosion. This is especially true for cheaper copper lames. If your lame has turned green, that is corroded copper.

Rinse out the sweat at least once a month by taking it into the shower. Hang dry when done. If it is getting stinky you can soak it in warm water with a little woolite or ammonia. Rinse it well and hang dry.

Another prevention strategy is choosing a corrosion-resistant lame. Stainless steel and nickel-based lames generally last longer than copper lames.

Good options: Allstar or Uhlmann stainless steel, Leon Paul Classic, Negrini stainless steel.

The softer stainless steel lames like Absolute Signature Series II and PBT "Washable" Inox are also good but slightly less durable than standard stainless steel for foil.

To reduce wear, have a tournament lame and a practice lame. When your tournament lame fails it becomes your new practice lame. Rinse and hang dry before stowing.

A note on third-party or Chinese lames: they often fail at USA Fencing tournaments due to an illegal curved cut between the hips and groin (the "bikini cut"). Fine for practice, but don't be surprised if they fail equipment inspection at a sanctioned tournament.

A note on lightweight lames: they require more care. I personally rinse mine after every use and hang dry them. I don't generally recommend them for kids. If you want a lightweight lame, I recommend Leon Paul or Allstar.

TL;DR

Lames fail through corrosion or wear. Rinse your lame in the shower and hang it in an open space to dry. Don't leave it in your bag or a locker. Have a tournament and practice lame.

Recommendations: Allstar or Uhlmann stainless steel, Leon Paul Classic, Negrini stainless steel. Lightweight lames require more care — recommend Leon Paul or Allstar. Generally don't recommend lightweight lames for kids.