A short question about carbon endpin

franzose · #1 10-29-2010, 02:00 PM

Hello,

I bought a carbon endpin rod from Upton bass.

Appart from the fact that it had great postive impact on my tone (louder, deeper...) I'd like to know if you think that I can cut a piece off it without damage.

It's 8mm thick and plain. I only need 10-12" and it's 20" long : i'd like to cut 5" off, so there's no long part prone to vibration in the bass while playing.

But I don't know if this could cause damage to the endpin rod (carbon is maybe fragile or breakable). I would use a fine hacksaw.

Thanks for your opinions.

Andrew McGregor · #2 10-29-2010, 10:40 PM

I wouldn't, carbon tends to split after it has been sawn. But if you do, use the finest blade you can get (model airplane stores will have something suitable), work very slowly, and once you're done mix up a little warm epoxy and apply it to the cut end.

DO NOT breathe the cutting dust, and dispose of it carefully, it's carcinogenic.

If you find that the endpin is hollow, you will want to epoxy something in to the end of the hole as well, which will stop you getting splinters on the inside.

MIKMAN · #3 10-30-2010, 01:45 AM

I bought the same rod with the same excellent results in volume and tone. I cut it carefully in the middle with a very fine Japanese saw without any splintering problems. Now i have excellent sound in two of my basses.

Jake deVilliers · #4 10-30-2010, 02:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by franzose

Hello,

I bought a carbon endpin rod from Upton bass.

Appart from the fact that it had great postive impact on my tone (louder, deeper...) I'd like to know if you think that I can cut a piece off it without damage.

It's 8mm thick and plain. I only need 10-12" and it's 20" long : i'd like to cut 5" off, so there's no long part prone to vibration in the bass while playing.

But I don't know if this could cause damage to the endpin rod (carbon is maybe fragile or breakable). I would use a fine hacksaw.

Thanks for your opinions.

It cuts pretty well with a hacksaw - carbon fibre is pretty tough material...

franzose · #5 10-30-2010, 04:13 AM

Thanks alot !

BTW MIKMAN, did you use anything in particular, to avoid the end pin screw damaging the rod ?
I put a little piece of ruber between the screw and the rod, and with the screw properly tightened, the rod doesn't move or go back in the bass while playing.

RCWilliams · #6 10-30-2010, 07:06 AM

I suggest you take a piece of sand paper on a block or a file, even an emery board, and lightly chamfer the edge of the cut back at about 45deg, this will help avoid the fibers running

MIKMAN · #7 10-31-2010, 03:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RCWilliams

I suggest you take a piece of sand paper on a block or a file, even an emery board, and lightly chamfer the edge of the cut back at about 45deg, this will help avoid the fibers running

+1!

swingingoodtime · #8 10-31-2010, 04:24 AM

If you want to stop the cut ends from splintering, you can seal the exposed ends with good quality cyanoacrylate glue (super glue). I use Zap brand; either green (med cure time) or red label (fast cure). Don't overdo it, and watch your skin! If you use an accelerant spray, watch for bubbling & spitting (eye hazard)!

franzose · #9 10-31-2010, 03:13 PM

A short answer to say that I cut it properly with a hacksaw, chamfer the edge with sandpaper and sealed the end with cyanoacrylate. Everything's fine !
Thanks for your advices.

Maxvla · #10 11-01-2010, 11:56 PM

Carbon fiber endpins are great for cellos, but I always suggest a nice solid steel rod for basses due to the weight. Carbon fiber can shatter if pressure is applied just right. While it could cause some nasty scratches on a cello, a bass falling from 6-10 inches off the ground can do some serious damage.

swingingoodtime · #11 11-04-2010, 01:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maxvla

Carbon fiber endpins are great for cellos, but I always suggest a nice solid steel rod for basses due to the weight. Carbon fiber can shatter if pressure is applied just right. While it could cause some nasty scratches on a cello, a bass falling from 6-10 inches off the ground can do some serious damage.

The weight reduction benefits of a CF pin over a steel one can make a reasonable difference to how a bass resonates.

I'd say failure is certainly a possibility if using CF tube; it can 'barrel-split' if enough pressure is applied longitudinally inwards at each end (ie, the middle section bellows out as the ends come towards each other) and a tube can certainly collapse under bending stress. But a solid rod? Under normal use, I can't see the weight of a bass causing that much pressure (although this will depend on the thickness of the rod, I guess. 10mm could be ok, but maybe an 8mm rod is pushing it. I'm lucky; mine is 5/8" (16mm)).

Nonetheless, I agree about potential damage; I'd avoid trying to scratch the surface of any size CF rod to prevent weak spots (which includes avoiding plain thumbscrew fixing mechanisms; use a non-gouging locking mechanism), as well as (common sense) not dropping the bass onto the endpin at any angle.

swingingoodtime · #12 11-04-2010, 05:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by swingingoodtime

Under normal use, I can't see the weight of a bass causing that much pressure (although this will depend on the thickness of the rod, I guess. 10mm could be ok, but maybe an 8mm rod is pushing it.

Hmm... I just remembered (duh!

) that the OP bought their endpin commercially from Goliihur and that it's not a DIY job. If 8mm is good enough for Bob...

I still recommend watching for any damage to the pin's surface, though, particularly if it flexes at all under load (my drumstick pin could flex to the point where the whole bass would oscillate side to side at about 5Hz for you bumped it sideways!); a reasonable scratch/gouge, and I'd be replacing it to avoid failure...