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I was just in the final stages of building a 2.9, and beginning to undercut the holes with my dremel and the bit ran around and around the edge of the hole at high speed, and out of reflex as I pulled it out it ripped and splintered the hole all the way around and cracked the bamboo. This was the first time I have ever had that happen...
I was shocked and devastated-it happened so fast after all the hours I had put into it up till that point. It was later in the evening last night, and I needed to use all of my past meditation experience to detach. I finally ended the day before bed to pick up one of its completed brothers and play a lament for the poor bamboo I accidentally ravaged.
I just wanted to share. I know many of you know how I feel.
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Now you can practice some shakuhachi repair!
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Hey Taldaran,
Im sorry this had to happen, but it does happen.... to everybody. Somewhere down the road as a maker of anything, you just goof up, slip up, or just have a brain fart. Just the other day in my wheel throwing class, I threw a gorgeous bowl that I was very proud of, the person next to me stood up slipped and stepped on my pedal causing it to kick into high gear and splatter the bowl all over the splash pan (not cool). Now I know clay has a greater recycling factor than bamboo, but I feel that I have had some testing moments in my development as a young adult that has helped forge a great sensitivity to patience and dignity when it comes to these situations. Having to drop out of two top ten art schools (one of which I had a full paid scholarship to) to focus on health problems, being in a near fatal car accident, and living with a piece of glass in my neck for over a year you learn to let things slide and kind of let the water bead off your feathers.
I do sympathize with you Taldaran, just look upon this situation as a lesson of impermanence, and perhaps maybe you should just use an x-acto and sandpaper to do your under cutting from now on.
here are some links here on the forum that deal with outside circumstances or goof ups as it is applied to flute making.
http://shakuhachiforum.com/viewtopic.php?id=2657
http://shakuhachiforum.com/viewtopic.php?id=2929
http://shakuhachiforum.com/viewtopic.php?id=2392
http://www.shakuhachiforum.com/viewtopic.php?id=390
http://www.shakuhachiforum.com/viewtopic.php?id=348
Last edited by Benjamin (2009-02-20 21:02:10)
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Thanks, Benjamin.
I used the wrong kind of bit. I purchased another one yesterday, and made some test holes in scap bamboo, and it is not prone to "runaround".
Those links made me feel better.
I also must admit that it takes humility for Ken to show everyone how he was "digging for gold" placing that pesky hole, and on a node as it turned out. But it also highlights why a well tuned shakuhachi is a precious thing and respect due to it's maker. They earn it.
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Brad Point bits work good but a Forstner bit works better. Much less chance of splintering the bamboo. Just something i've discovered through trial and error.
jacques
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No, I had already drilled the holes with a forstner bit. The forstner was the first tool I bought for shakuhachi building.
This was the dremel bit I was using to undercut the holes.
Scary looking, isn't it?
When it gets away from you, the results are scary as well.
Last edited by Taldaran (2009-02-21 23:51:25)
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Taldaran wrote:
No, I had already drilled the holes with a forstner bit. The forstner was the first tool I bought for shakuhachi building.
This was the dremel bit I was using to undercut the holes.
http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff29 … mel_lg.jpg
Scary looking, isn't it?
When it gets away from you, the results are scary as well.
I've had good luck undercutting holes with a 1/4" (coarse) dremel sanding drum. Less chatter, more control. After that, you can always fine tune by hand.
KL
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