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February 07, 2005
Repairing a crack with monofilament binding.
I have gotten a lot of repairs this winter. Keep your flutes in air tight containers! I like using air tight long plastic bags with rubber bands around the end. It prevents the flute from drying out.
Here's a binding technique that a few shakuhachi makers in Japan are now doing. Topical bindings are not invasive to the bamboo and can save your flute before or after it's cracked.
If there is already a crack, put a damp cloth near it and leave it in a sealed container over night.
Here's what you'll need;
20lbs fishing line ( monofilament thread), an exacto knife (razor blade), C Clamp and a pair of pliers.
Start with clampinging the spool of fishing line to a fixed surface like a kitchen counter top. Release about 7 feet of line before you clamp it down. Cut off a 4" length for use later.
Once it's clamped, go to the end of the line and make one winding over about 2" of the open end. You should do this right over the middle of the crack.
Start to roll the flute with both hands while using your thumbs to hold down the windings and especially the point where they overlap the open end. This prevents the end from slipping out. You will have to experiment with how much tension you can apply until you get it tight. It'll take several tries to get it tight. The tighter the better. This photos shows 8 windings.
At this point use the exacto knife to cut off the excess open end. Press down gently and pay attention so as not to cut the windings.
Take the 4" piece of line and make a loop while slipping it under the next new winding. You will wind on top of the loop and pull it out at the end.
Continue to wind in the same fasion. Keep it snug and tight but not to much tension. You'll have to pull the loop out.
Once you wind another 8 times, cut the line about 3" pass the loop. Slip the open end through the loop and continue to hold the open end against the bamboo after you do so.
Make sure you are grabbing both ends of the loop with the pliers. Once you have it, pull quckly with a jerk so that the entire loop pulls clear under the bindings.
You can grab the open end and pull it tighter and to where it meets the first end.
Then use an exacto knife and gently push down between the windings to cut off the excess.
Be very very careful here or you will cut the bindings and the whole thing will unravel.
The finished product.
Posted by Perry Yung at February 7, 2005 07:45 PM
Comments
You recommended I bind my flute this way about a month ago through the shakuhachi mailing list.
I just finished binding my flute and it looks excellent.
Thank you very much for your help.
David
Posted by: David at March 5, 2005 11:46 AM
Do you use any laquer or glue to keep the bindings in place, or am I just not wrapping it hard enough? Because it tends to seperate and slip at times.
Posted by: kyle at August 17, 2005 10:34 PM
Hi Kyle,
Thanks for your email. It sounds like you need to experiment a bit more with pressure. Try getting it as tight as possible without slipping when you first start teh binding. After you get a three winds, you should be able to increase the poundage. When you near the end, lighten up so that the line can be pulled under. Try it as hard as you can and when the lines start snapping, back off some.
I only use super glue if the binding get's a lot of "finger traffic" Best, PErry
Posted by: Perry Yung at August 27, 2005 10:21 PM