One of the first things that I do when I get a new kendama is teach beginners downspike on it. Really breaks it in quickly
I usually check it over for any flaws before I do anything else in case I need to send it back. After that I immediately change the string out because I'm one of those weird left handed people your parents warned you about. After that I will usually jam on it for an hour or so and then decide whether or not I want to glue the tip, which as of lately has been a no but if it's a softer wood I will glue it after the tip has dulled a bit. I actually think I'm gonna go ahead and glue the tip to this birthday slaydawg tomorrow. When I glue the tip though I do it in thin coats over about a three day period so I don't get that sharp tip. Each time in between layers of glue I will jam on it for about 15 minutes or so to round out the tip a little. I find doing this helps create a protective ball of glue of the very tip. That high impact gorilla glue works well for this.
I throw all the packaging away, shove extras into my hording shoe box, peep the paint job, and Moshikame to baseball
Has anyone here returned a kendama due to egg-iness? Or other imperfections? or do you just grin and bear it
I got a Hors from KROM that was ever so slightly eggy. They just have me 50% off since I was too lazy to send it back. Eventually gave it away.
1. Glue the spike 2. Replace string with a black one with a metal washer. Check string length (three fingers for me, used to do two-fingers, but then one-turn tricks happened) 3. Moshikame, Around Europe, Around the World, Around Japan, Earth turn, Jumping Stick...until i get bored and throw it to the bin (i don't do the bin)
Hahaha now i find that i gotta keep them in a "Freshie" box first, and wait till i get a new Spiked episode recording to unbox, before i get to lay my hands on it!
Just got my Double-KA Mod last night! First thing I did was restring it leftie and kenditioner! Then what I do is check lunar balance. Next, I hit all the cups (big, small, then base). From base cup I try trade lighthouse for stick/balance. Then I hand roll, swirl, and finish with an airplane! Then usually start running a random gambit of Luanda, stilts, and various stalls for feel and to start breaking it in!
1. Admire the freshness of the new dama. 2. Take pictures of it 3. Glue the spike 4. Do some basic tricks to test out play 5. Try not to drop it 6. Drop it 7. Try not to cry 8. Cry a lot 9. Try to take better care of it 10. End up shredding it anyway.
Do random tricks then it's up to me to make some new tricks to chase or just continue my chase tricks if able...