 |  During the shim test, administered prior to any epee bout, a referee will test your epee point with a small and large gauge. These gauges are commonly referred to as a "Shim." Fencers are responsible for testing and adjusting their epee point prior to any bout. Many conditions can cause the point to change* so continued testing is a must.
Touches in epee are registered by the contact spring, high lighted in red, establishing contact between the epee tip and the wire located deep in the base. Since this spring is flexible the F.I.E. has set a minimum distance at which the spring must be set away from the epee wire. Without this minimum distance fencers could lengthen the spring to the point where blowing on the tip would cause the weapon to register a touch.
To test your spring's distance insert the small gauge of your shim in between the epee tip and base. Press your epee tip to simulate a touch against an opponent. If the test box / scoring light registers (a light comes on) your spring is set too long. Remove the epee screws and tip, be careful not to loose the screws or allow the epee tip to fly across the room when the screws are released. While holding the epee tip between the fingers begin to twist the contact spring clockwise. You will notice the spring getting shorter as it moves up the small screw on the bottom of the tip. Turn the spring a couple of times, reassemble your point and test again. Continue this until depressing the tip with the small gauge inserted in the gap registers no touch. If no touch is registered you will now pass the small gauge part of the shim test**.
The final part of the shim test is the large gauge. There is also a minimum gap required between the edge of the epee base and the metal rim of the epee tip. This makes certain that someone has not shaved their epee base, tip or performed some other modification. To pass this portion of the test the large gauge simply needs be successfully inserted in the gap. If it can be inserted you will pass that portion of the test. If you fail this portion of the test and you have made no modifications to your point it is possible that you have mixed and matched two different manufacturer's base and tip. Try replacing the tip before resorting to rewiring the weapon with a new complete point.
* There are many conditions which can cause the spring to move or change shape. Here are just a few: hard hit to the floor, hard hit to an opponent, change is pressure by transport in an airplane cargo hold or change in temperature by transport in an airplane cargo hold or trunk of car.
**Note: It is possible to adjust the spring to short. If this is the case no touch will register when touching an opponent. Remove the shim's small gauge and press the tip in. If no touch is registered you have adjusted the spring too short. Remove the tip from the base and adjust the spring counter clock wise to lengthen it. Some times after a hard hit the spring can move up the threads of the epee tips screw. This will also cause the spring to be too short and no further touches to register. You may notice that during epee bouts fencers often test the epee tip on their shoe. This is to verify that the spring has not moved and that they can still register a touch. This does not mean that you epee is defective. It is just the nature of fencing epee.
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