I'm pretty new at this and just earlier while playing my head started to pop out of the dama while I was pulling up for spikes, birds, and lighthouses. Does this mean my string is shot or that the dama string hole is too warn? How do I get around this without tieing another knot above it?
The bead popping out of the tama hole is annoying for me as well but there are a couple of fixes though each has its own drawbacks. There are no negative associations like old string or worn hole that I've heard about. A double knot about an inch above the tama keeps it from popping out but some people don't like knots. Paper or aluminum foil stuffed into the tama hole works too but then your string will get twisted more easily. Check out Kendama Bumpers & Other Tweaks for suggestions on these and other mods.
So I recently got a new krom freestyle kendama and the string is a little on the short side. Because of this the bead keeps coming out of my kendama when I do tricks such as pull up spike or bird/little bird. Any way I can keep this from happening? It's getting really annoying and ruining my play time. Suggestions?
If you think about it, it's popping out because there's a moment where the string is straight and the momentum of the tama is sliding up the string. You need to pull the tama up to where you ken is and not lower the ken to meet the tama. Lowering the ken pushes the string though the hole of the tama which makes it pop out and not travel with the tama. You really need to use them knees to really pop or sling the other end to you.
Merged similar threads. @JeffreyDama have a look at the previous post I made in the old thread. Perhaps either of those techniques would be of use to you.
When in tama grip for lighthouses, lunars, airplanes, stunt planes, etc., you can keep your ring finger on the string hole to keep it in place.
Probably shouldn't mod your kendama to do this. And I hear holding your finger on the string is bad practice because your tricks will have another variable to worry about when trying to land tricks consistently. Idk tho just read that online somewhere. Just practice what I said @JeffreyDama
I've been moussin' hard lately, testing out some advanced bead systems that are pushing it to the limit. The bead of death on my skateply LBB has been particularly stanky, I'm not a huge fan of the knot above the tama but I had to put one in after a little while. Bead of death will not be denied though, it wasn't long before it pulled the knot straight through and the B.O.D. resumed intimidating players. In general, a heavier bead will pop out easier. The knot works just fine to keep it in the hole, or you can put your finger on the string to help lock it in place (though for really bad offenders, even this probably isn't a good fix). The easier a bead/string moves in the hole, the less string tangle you'll have, but the easier it will be to pop it out.
The B.O.D. doesn't come stock with the skateply, I'm just helping out the Pamplemousse bead co with some product testing..
@htimSxelA Have you tried double looping your knot? I had to start doing that on bearings with the heavy duty string we sell with them or the knot would release.
The knot I tied above the tama pulled through the top of the tama, not the end knot pulling through the bead. I use a single slip knot like that on the end of the string, and that has always been solid enough for me.
Ah, OK. I follow you now. Considering the variety of strings and variability of the bead holes being used that double loop slip knot has come in handy. I can't remember now what brand but some new kendama I ran across had it knotted that way from the the factory. It's how I learned about it actually.
I use the slip knot from @htimSxelA turorial on the KUSA YouTube channel. I have gotten that weird pretzel knot from the sweets factory that I'm not very fond of. I feel it has too much of a permanent take on your setup when brand new (takes an fee extra minutes to undo). I feel most players check string length and balance out of the box. The slip knot provides easy modifications for adjustments at any point, be it out of the box or down the line after a break in period and string stretch. The only "problem" I've had is on a set up where the spinner was getting "sucked" into the string hole. This got me all tangled up regularly, not allowing the string to release. Easy fix was adding a regular bead (like the blue one shown ablove) between the spinner and string hole. [string end>slip knot>spinner>bead>string hole..]
Are you referring to the knot I posted above? I don't know the actual name of it but it's still a slip knot but with an extra loop. Here's a quick vid tying it.