stem tightening

achduliebe · Post by **achduliebe** » Sat Aug 26, 2006 11:03 pm

Ok, it seems that I have seen this posted here before but I can not find the post. So, here it is again.

When using stainless tube for the tenon on a bamboo pipe, is there a trick to tightening up the fit if it becomes loose? It seems that I had heard before, something about coating the stainless with clear finger nail polish to add some thickness. Has anyone heard this or know how to resolve the loose stainless tenon problem?

Thanks,

Post by **Tyler** » Sun Aug 27, 2006 12:51 am

I'm sure this will make some folks cringe, but my solution has been to give the tube a little squeeze with some pliers. 8O I wrap the tube to prevent plier marks. Obviously this is not ideal -- two points of contact instead of full 360 degree contact -- but it's better than the stem falling out.

Tyler

ckr · Post by **ckr** » Sun Aug 27, 2006 8:28 am

Never had the problem but ... I had a fly rod that got it's furrel a bit pinched enough to make it scrape. I heated it up and stuck a steel awl in it and then let it cool down slowly. After cooling it had left the female end open enough to let the other peice slide easily.

Of course I removed the awl.

I think that if you heat the end of the stainless steel tube it will expand enough and then stick something in to stop the contraction on the cool down.

ToddJohnson · Post by **ToddJohnson** » Sun Aug 27, 2006 10:00 pm

Take a pipecleaner, coat the tip in superglue, and immediately insert it into the bamboo mortise. Give the entire mortise a thin coating of superglue, and you're good to go. Depending on the pipecleaners you're using, don't be surprised if a chemical reaction occurs that causes the pipecleaner to smoke like hot bacon grease. Once the glue is dry, insert the stem, and the tenon will polish the mortise and create a nice tight fit.

Todd

achduliebe · Post by **achduliebe** » Mon Aug 28, 2006 8:33 am

Thanks Tyler, ckr and Todd! Those are some great tips! I think I will give Todd's method a try first.

Hey maybe I will have the right kind of pipecleaner to get a little reaction going. My four year old would get a big kick out of that.

Thanks guys!

Post by **KurtHuhn** » Mon Aug 28, 2006 1:32 pm

Tod shared this with me a couple years ago, and it's the absolute best way to make steel and bamboo fit right again.

You can also alleviate this problem somewhat by using an end cap on your bamboo of another material that is less prone to wear - like acrylic, ivory, bone, or vulcanite.

achduliebe · Post by **achduliebe** » Mon Aug 28, 2006 3:11 pm

Thanks Kurt!