Mujitsu and Tairaku's Shakuhachi BBQ

cesor wrote:

I have an old 1.6 on which the rattan binding on the middle joint is just beginning to unwind.  What can I use to stop it from unwinding further?
I need something simple that I can source locally (Bangkok).  Thanks in advance for any suggestions.
Chris.

Chris,

There are a few types of glue which will work. All have their own features. Super glue dries fast. You'll need to work quickly. Two part epoxy has the advantage of a slower drying time. Five minute epoxy starts to get tacky in a few minutes. So, the rattan will hold in place yet can still be moved. I like to use urushi because it glues as well as darkens the rattan. Just wipe off enough of it to your liking. Urushi is a little trickier to use. I'm not sure about its availability in Bangkok. Super glue and two part epoxy should be available.

edosan wrote:

Chris,

If you have any excess superglue on the surface, you can QUICKLY wipe it off with a paper towel or cloth before it cures.

eB

I'd suggest waiting until the excess has cured some and then scrape it off with an x-acto knife. Maybe wiping with a cloth will work, but I've found that using a paper towel just gets paper towel lint stuck to the surface.

I've had the same experience as Ed. Wiping a small area works well if done quickly. If I prefer to work on larger areas at a time, where there is more danger of drying, I like to have an acetone soaked rag ready to do the wiping. Either way, as Ed says, doing it quickly is the key.

Just so.

What you're trying to do here (if I understand your situation) is to remove all the slack out of the rattan, hold that in place (either with your finger or tape or whatever clever method you can devise) and then tack the loose end in place. Then you can work on securing the rest of the wrap.

If you apply the CA (cyanoacrylate) carefully (using a very small applicator tip that comes on most bottles) you will have little or no excess to wipe off, as capillary action will pull the thin adhesive right into and under the rattan binding.

Note that fresh CA must be kept away from moisture, as it will tend to absorb it and become thick. A good way to keep it is in a plastic ziplock bag in your freezer.

eB

cesor wrote:

Perry, as a matter of fact the shakuhachi you sent to Bangkok went to my friend in Scottsdale, who carried it to me here in Bangkok and I in turn passed it on to your customer.

I am, and have been for many years the only shakuhachi player here in Bangkok.  The other player lives 'out in the sticks'.  We do get together.

Please give him my best!

With all the Japanese living here it is surprising that there are no shakuhachi players.  Lots of koto players, but alas, no shakuhachi.

This weekend is Song Kran - the Thai New Year - which means four days of water fights all over the country.
Happy Thai New Year to you all,
Chris.

I have great memories of Thailand. We were there in 98' and found a tiny non-party island (I think it was called Koh Samui) where we stayed in a thatch hut on beach. Nothing to do but Yoga, swimming and shakuhachi! Then we found our selves on Kao San Road. What a shock that was. I bet much has changed in 10 years.

All the best, Perry

edosan wrote:

radi0gnome wrote:

edosan wrote:

Chris,

If you have any excess superglue on the surface, you can QUICKLY wipe it off with a paper towel or cloth before it cures.

eB

I'd suggest waiting until the excess has cured some and then scrape it off with an x-acto knife. Maybe wiping with a cloth will work, but I've found that using a paper towel just gets paper towel lint stuck to the surface.

Wiping works fine, and is the preferred method; you've just got to be ready with a wiper, and do it quickly, working one small area at a time: coupla drops, wipe, wait. Repeat. Scraping just ends up looking like scraping...

Been using this product for 30 years.

eB

I have to admit that my experience is a lot less extensive, I could say about 35 years but there was a good 32 years in between that I didn't touch the stuff. However, in my recent experience wiping, even when quickly done, left a thin film that was hard to scrape off. When I leave a stray drop harden it peels off cleanly without much evidence that there were any problems.

Since the people here that say wiping quickly is the prefered solution to spilled glue have more experience I find it hard to disagree,  but I have to think that there's some learned skill involved because wiping just seems to make more of a mess for me. I haven't tried wiping with an acetone soaked rag yet though, maybe that's the trick.

Last edited by radi0gnome (2008-04-14 10:13:10)