Pinning Using Carbon Fiber Rod

See how to use carbon fiber rod as pinning material when repairing cracks in oboes and clarinets and other. The idea for this method came us to us from Julian Dale Barton. Eric Satterlee and I worked on refining the process to make it as simple as possible.

[@hachisholm]

Thanks Bruce - I've been pinning the old fashioned way for years - reluctant to try the carbon fiber unless I could watch someone do it - now I have - seems easy! I'll be ordering some rod to try.

[@Epulor1]

Great tip with the dispensing of the super glue.

[@brucemccall7423]

Glad you found it useful. I hardly ever have to change the tubing, even after weeks sitting unused.

[@christopherhoward3770]

Enjoyed the tutorial! I want to try this method--what is the specific glue you are using?

[@danhoenigman2757]

I disagree with this technique completely. No way an adhesive bond is stronger than a threaded rod inserted while hot.

[@brucemccall7423]

Dan, It is our belief that the pin (whether steel or carbon fiber) creates extra resistance to the wood cracking, especially when the pin runs diagonally to the crack. It is not the threads or the glue that prevent the crack from opening, it is the presence of the pin (think of it like a piece of rebar). Obviously, all our evidence is empirical. We have been using this technique for ten years and only had one instrument come back because the crack reopened. This case was an intermediate oboe being used by a middle school that was returned a year later. One other point - you can demonstrate that the carbon fiber rod is stronger than the steel rod for this purpose because I can bend a pin length piece of steel rod with my hands. I cannot bend a pin length piece of carbon fiber rod (we use 1.5 mm or .060" diameter rod) with my hands. Feel free to email me at [e-mail] if you would like to continue the discussion.