Shit happens! Bamboo ski poles can break. But unlike ski poles made of aluminium or carbon fibre, a broken bamboo pole is easy to fix. If the bamboo is only cracked, a few turns of tape around the break are usually enough to make the pole as good as new again. If the bamboo is split beyond salvation, just replace the shaft—it’s as simple as that. Here’s a do-it-yourself guide with instructions on how to replace the bamboo shaft yourself.
Materials
- Bamboo cane
- Pot of hot water
- Soap solution / Liquid soap
- Piece of cardboard
Tools
- Pozidriv screwdriver (PZ2)
- Scissors
- Knife
- Heat gun
- Folding rule / meter stick
- Caliper
- Flat hand file (fine) or disc sander
- Dovetail saw
- Hot glue gun
- Adjustable pliers
- Mallet
Do-it-yourself tutorial on how to replace the bamboo shaft
Time needed: 1 hour
Step-by-step Instructions to replace the bamboo shaft on bamboo ski poles. For video tutorial see below!
- Remove the pole strap
First, unscrew the screw that holds the wrist strap. On Rimfors poles, a PZ2 Pozidriv screwdriver works best. On Kang poles, the wrist strap is screwed inside the handle and can stay in place, so you can move directly to the next step.
- Heat and pull the grip off
Heat a pot of water and dip the handle until it’s warm enough to work loose. It may take two people, each pulling and wiggling in opposite directions.
- Make a cardboard protection for the basket
Use a piece of cardboard to protect the basket for the next step. Make a hole in the center of the cardboard, then cut a slit out to one edge so you can slip the piece of cardboard over the basket.
- Heat and remove the ferrule
Heat the ferrule with a heat gun. You don’t need to heat it more than necessary to be able to wiggle and unscrew it. Protect the basket from the heat with a piece of cardboard. Since the ferrule is both glued and screwed, you need to unscrew it a centimeter before you pull. Use adjustable pliers if the tip is too hot.
- Measure the new bamboo shaft
Use your old bamboo shaft to measure the new one. The new shaft should be 10 cm shorter than the full length of the pole. Try to find a bamboo cane that weighs roughly the same and matches the diameter at both ends. This is very important at the narrow end, which should be just over 14 mm in diameter to fit the ferrule.
Cut with a dovetail saw or a Japanese saw. It’s a good idea to first cut a shallow groove, about a millimetre deep, all the way around the shaft—this will reduce the risk of the outer fibres tearing away from the bamboo as you finish the cut.
- Plug the bamboo
Plug the thick end of the bamboo stick with a wooden dowel, then saw it off flush with the end. This gives the screw you’ll later use to attach the wrist strap something to bite into. See step 15.
- Trim and fit the end to the ferrule
It’s important that the bamboo shaft slides easily into the ferrule. If it doesn’t, you’ll need to sand or file the end. The ferrule on Rimfors poles is 48 mm deep, and the bamboo must fit all the way to the bottom. Sand or file the thin end until it does. Keep in mind that other brands may have a different ferrule depth, and Rimfors poles have threads in the bottom, similar to a “nut.”
- Bevel the edges
Bevel the edges of the bamboo shaft, both ends. Use the file to bevel the edge at a 45-degree angle, about 2 mm deep.
Then, try screwing the bamboo into the ferrule—the entire sanded bit should be covered by the ferrule (for Rimfors’ poles it’s 48 mm). You may need to apply some force to screw in the last part. This way, you create threads in the bamboo.
- Carve “barbs”
Use a knife to carve small “barbs” on the end of the bamboo shaft. This helps the ferrule stay better secured.
- Heat the bamboo and ferrule
Heat the ferrule with a heat gun for about 15—20 seconds. Protect the basket with a piece of cardboard. Then heat the bamboo shaft for about 30—40 seconds. This gives you more time to mount and screw the ferrule onto the shaft before the hot glue in the next step cools too quickly.
- Apply hot melt glue
Apply a fairly generous amount of hot melt glue to the end of the bamboo shaft. However, leave the last few millimeters free of glue, where the threads will grip. Also, place two or three drops of hot melt glue inside the ferrule.
- Mount the ferrule
Rotate the ferrule slowly while inserting the bamboo shaft. For the final part, hold the ferrule firmly with adjustable pliers and press while screwing the bamboo into the threads inside the ferrule. When the glue is almost set, remove any excess. If necessary, carefully heat the joint and wipe away any remaining glue with a cloth. Make sure the hot melt glue seals completely and that there are no gaps between the ferrule and the bamboo.
- Remove excess glue
It’s important to have a little extra glue at first, but once the hot glue has set a bit, you can peel off the excess. This ensures that any gaps are sealed so that no water can seep between the bamboo and the ferrule. If needed, you can warm it slightly with a heat gun and wipe it off with a cloth.
- Mount the grip
Dip a finger in liquid soap and coat the end of the bamboo shaft. Apply a little soap inside the handle as well. The soap makes it much easier to press the handle on. Then press the handle onto the shaft. If needed, you can tap it with a mallet, but it’s a good idea to place a piece of wood in the wrist strap slot of the handle first.
- Mount the strap
Insert the strap with the end and the adjuster into the slot in the handle. Then screw the wrist strap in place.
- Done diddly done!
The poles are ready for skiing. If you want to give them a little extra pampering, you can polish the bamboo with linseed oil wax. This adds extra shine while also providing good protection against the elements. Grip it and rip it!
Finding bamboo
I use Calcutta bamboo (Dendrocalamus strictus) for my ski poles. These canes taper significantly, from about 14 mm at the thin end to 18—20 mm at the thick end. Many bamboo ski pole manufacturers use this variety. Others use Tonkin bamboo, which was the main variety for several decades in the last century. Tonkin bamboo (Pseudosasa amabilis) has hardly any taper along the entire length of the stick.
Tonkin can be found in most hardware stores and garden centers, and it’s easier to find than Calcutta bamboo. If you buy online, you never know what measurements you’ll get. Therefore, it’s better to check for yourself with a caliper in hand at a local dealer. However, here are two online stores that provide some kind of specification of the diameter width.
Good luck!
Fabian Rimfors
Thanks, Sverre, for the company and for letting me use your poles for the instructions!
Video tutorial for replacing bamboo shaft
