Mujitsu and Tairaku's Shakuhachi BBQ

Hola Henrique, Thanks for visitiing my blog!

Musgo da Pedra wrote:

I was looking the Perry Young blog and find the repair he made on a Neptune flute in which he find a junction to adjust the length of the bamboo... It is a common practice?

It is not uncommon for a modern shakuhachi craftsman to adjust the length on a part of the bamboo other than the nakatsuki so that the finger holes will fit nicely between the nodes. Sometimes length is removed from near the root or at the top under the utaguchi and then joined together to adjust the length for pitch.

When making nakatsugi joint I know that this length adjustment can be done. Keeping in mind that Neptune's flutes are really expensive something about $3000, I think if it's sold as a nobetake or if the buyer is informed about this fact..I don't think so... It scared me... 
 
The link is: http://www.yungflutes.com/log/archives/ … index.html , starting on March 22, 2006.


Peace to all...

No need to be scared. I've fixed quite a few leaks from joineries that have come apart. The major reason is due to the bamboo movement. As we all know, bamboo shrinks and swells slightly to humidity and dryness. Sometimes the joinery doesn't move with the bamboo and a separation results. Many times, there is Ji paste that covers the binding underneath and the paste crumbles when the bamboo moves. This may result in a tiny air leak. My method of repair in this case is to apply several thin layers of CA glue mixed with bamboo dust and then epoxy on top. This is to avoid the crumbling of one single layer.

Ji paste is like Spackle or Dry Wall compound. If it develops a crack, it will continue to crack and crumble if exposed to moisture. This is why it is important to swab out your Jiari flutes after playing in case there is a hairline crack in the bore.

All the best, Perry

Hola Henrique,

Musgo da Pedra wrote:

Thank you guys... 
 
Maybe I am making confusion with the term nobetake... I just read the "Kinko Shakuhachi One Maker's Approach" book to try to know more about it and on the glossary it's wrote: "nobetake: shakuhachi  in one piece (with no middle joint)"... Maybe the first time that I read the book a year ago I have assumed that nobetake must be a single piece of bamboo, just cut above the mouth end and below the roots... But now I recognize my mistake.

Perhaps there is a confusion. The middle joint is different from a joinery.The middle Nakatsuki joint assembles and disassembles. A joinery is two pieces glued together. I suppose a piece with a joinery can be still be called Nobe Take since that is the idea...maybe it's a fake Nobe Take. Another term often used to describe a one piece flute is Nobekan.
 

So I have another question: It's common more than one joint like this?

Not common but not uncommon.
 

It's really a useful technique... Nice to know about it.

A big hug...

Yes, there are lots of secrets hidden under rattan!

Be well my friend, Perry

Musgo da Pedra wrote:

Comming back here...


What kind of glue is used in these kind of process?

Henrique,

Two part epoxy or super glue works to fuse the joint. Be careful with super glue. It bonds quickly! A few thin bamboo pegs glued through the flute and into the tenon on each side will strengthen it.

Usually, strong binding is applied in double recessed grooves at each end, then covered flush with ji. Then, rattan is applied over the first recess so it is flush with the bamboo. Two part epoxy or brown urushi alone works to adhere the rattan.

Musgo da Pedra wrote:

Hi Ken...


I don't know for sure but it sounds like you are talking about the middle joint isn't?


I was talking about the length adjustment adding a portion of bambu at one place ( take a look on the link in the original post, on the repair work in a Neptune flute, almost in the bottom of the page)...  Anyway, it looks that superglue it's fine to do that...


Thanks man...

Henrique,

Actually, I am referring to any area where there is a fused (permanent) joint covered by rattan. Or, what Brian refers to as "a mortise and tenon joint at the top of the shakuhachi," or what Perry describes as "joinery." Even though these areas will not be taken apart they need to be reinforced or they are likely to crack eventually.

Bottom line - Yeah, super glue would work fine along with reinforcement!

Ken