Bamboo skewers

[Tom O'Shea]

I'm starting a new project (HT tuba) and I've been putting together tools I'll need.

For some years now, I've been astonished at the endless usefulness of bamboo skewers from the grocery store. I've found them in two sizes. The large (about 1/8" in cross-section diameter), and the small (just a bit slenderer). Very sharp point.

Good for poking that tiny thing into or through that little hole; for puncturing caulking tube seals; for digging that bit of material out of that inaccessible corner; for getting a drop of glue right where you need it; etc.

Bamboo chopsticks are for beefier problems, and have the same overall usefulness.

A while back, a seasoned violinist I know got a new instrument. When it was time to change strings, she couldn't--the fiddle had a very fancy tailpiece that seemed impossible to use. Aha! I said. And brought out the luthier's friend, the slenderer skewer, and got the strings threaded.

Next time you need inlay dots while fixing your bass between Titan-building sessions, take a round bamboo chopstick of appropriate diameter and slice it into 1/4" rounds. Put in a jar with dyed juice of some kind--alcohol, water, vinegar, whatever--and leave your future inlay dots covered for a while. Capillary action will draw the dye or stain into the xylem or phloem (if that's what I mean). Let them dry. Glue in place. Slice cleanly level with fretboard. All the little dyed veins show up as tiny dots of whatever color you used.

Unbelievably cheap (free with carry-out!). Skewers come a million or so to a bag for chump change. As useful as popsicle sticks or single-edge razor blades.

Tom O'Shea

[Art Coates]

I found another use for them just yesterday. I got a teensy bit of PL in my keyless chuck and literally glued it in the full open position. There was no way for me to get it unstuck for lack of getting enough torque on the chuck. Enter the chopstick. I put in in one of the vent fins to wedge the cooling fan in place, and with the mechanisim locked in place I only needed to work the chuck a little by hand to get it free.

[Sydney]

Good filler for a striped-out screw holes - Insert w glue, cut flush &
while your waiting for glue to dry to reinsert screw - Put bits of seasoned meat & veg on the skewer, heat over an open fire and eat.
MMMM... Meat things