small bamboo

[Albert.A]

So, I have this very small (diameter wise) section of bamboo that I'd like to use on a pipe. The thing is though that I don't really know how I should do it. I have read about using bamboo, and as I understand it, you attach the bamboo to the pipe via a stainless steel tenon and use a stainless steel tenon in the stem, correct? Or is it that the tenon in the stem is as usuall and the bamboo mortis on the stem-end is lined with steel tube? I don't remember.

The thing is that this piece of bamboo only is 6 mm (0,236 inches) thick between the knuckles, and I usually drill my airway to 4 mm (0,157 inches). That means that the walls of the bamboo when drilled will only be 1 mm on either side, which doesn't leave any room for the mortises into which the tubing would fit.

Any suggestions on how to use this piece or is it simply to small? I think I remember seeing some pipes with very small bamboo shanks though, so I guess there's some way, but I dunno.

Thanks,

/Albert

[jogilli]

I use a SS tenon to attach the bamboo to stummel.... And a SS tenon in the mouthpiece.. When the bamboo is thin in diameter use 3.5 or 3 mm SS and drill at the same diameter... They don't all have to be 4mm

The rest of the shank is just clean bamboo on the inside

James

[Albert.A]

So on thin pieces you don't make a mortis for the SS tubing in the bamboo, you just glue the tube in the airway?

[jogilli]

No.... I epoxy a piece about .5 to .75 to connect the stummel to the bamboo.. And I always use a spacer but you don't have to .... And for the mp I use another piece about the same length .. About a third is pushed into the stem and the rest is viewable as the tenon... I leave the rest of the bamboo (inside) bare

Just rough up the portion that will be epoxied so the pieces have something to hold on to

You can look here.. Bottom of the page at the stacked bamboo billiard.. Last pic to see what I mean

http://www.jsecpipes.com/pipes.html

[Albert.A]

Ah, I understand. Thank you for the help, much appreciated!

/Albert