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When do you "retire" a kendama?

Discussion in 'The Sesh' started by Emil Apostol, Dec 25, 2018.

  1. Emil Apostol

    Emil Apostol DS Legend

    Joined:
    Jan 4, 2017
    Location:
    Philippines
    As the title says, when do you resign one of your kendamas to the storage box? Obviously, there are the extreme moments, like when your kendama splits into two or when your dog chews up your setup, but most kendamas never get destroyed to that point.

    Personally, I retire my setups either when I crack open a freshie and it catches my attention, or when something happens to the kendama such that the play doesn't feel right anymore (paint gets too slick/sticky, base cup chip, etc.).
     
    Dec 25, 2018
  2. TheDamaDope

    TheDamaDope Member

    Joined:
    Nov 13, 2018
    Location:
    The Bay Area (Vallejo) CA
    In the 6 months I've played, my Bolf mod has gotten the most use. I'm talking constant for a solid 6 weeks... Even my partner claims I play legit 5+ hours every day LMAO

    I only stopped jamming cuz I have too many new options. That and I'm honing in my 8 year Bday for BATB.

    I feel like nothing short of a full blown break would make me hang one up for good. I may play it LESS, but I doubt I'd retire one that isn't completely destroyed.

    ~edit~
    I jam alone 99% of the time... So sometimes switching my set up just helps keep me interested when it starts to slip.
     
    Dec 25, 2018
  3. KirStylez

    KirStylez Member

    Joined:
    Sep 2, 2017
    Location:
    Winnipeg, Canada
    I usually stop playing when my spike gets so flat it’s basically a nub. I’ve only gotten to that point with my first KUSA Kaizen Choral/Turquoise Half-Split.
     
    Dec 25, 2018
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  4. Emil Apostol

    Emil Apostol DS Legend

    Joined:
    Jan 4, 2017
    Location:
    Philippines
    I concur! Though going back to my old setups after playing with freshies is a mixed bag for me. Either my old damas feel super honed, or it's just a super sloppy experience and I go back to my jammer.
     
    Dec 25, 2018
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  5. Emil Apostol

    Emil Apostol DS Legend

    Joined:
    Jan 4, 2017
    Location:
    Philippines
    Have you tried supergluing your spike? It helps! 3-5 coats of superglue on one of my kendamas has made the spike almost invincible (around 3 months into playing and only then has it gotten its first blunting).

    Also, bullet tip spike kendamas (ShinFuji, TK16, RWB OG) have more durable spikes. They don't look as clean, but they last much longer. :)
     
    Dec 25, 2018
  6. KirStylez

    KirStylez Member

    Joined:
    Sep 2, 2017
    Location:
    Winnipeg, Canada
    That’s why I have an extensive collection to spread around getting each dama honed!
     
    Dec 25, 2018
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  7. KirStylez

    KirStylez Member

    Joined:
    Sep 2, 2017
    Location:
    Winnipeg, Canada
    Yup! I certainly do! I do 3-4 coats then once I notice the glue wears down I re-glue 1-2 coats
     
    Dec 25, 2018
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  8. TheDamaDope

    TheDamaDope Member

    Joined:
    Nov 13, 2018
    Location:
    The Bay Area (Vallejo) CA
    A little sand paper will fix that flat spike as well
     
    Dec 25, 2018
    Emil Apostol likes this.
  9. Jasper B.

    Jasper B. Slayer

    Joined:
    Dec 5, 2016
    Location:
    San Diego
    Really I retire my kendama when it gets a chip. Thats usually when it ends for me. I rarely play chipped kendamas, and when I glue the chip back, I still end up playing it so little until I switch kendamas or get a new one. Flat spikes also do it for me, but it seems to happen a lot less since I have a pretty huge collection, so I rotate out a lot. Also sometimes I will take a break from a dama if the ken or tama gets too sweaty and needs to air out lol
     
    Dec 27, 2018
    Emil Apostol likes this.
  10. Ricky Røge

    Ricky Røge Slayer

    Joined:
    Oct 12, 2016
    I only retire a dama when it has multiple basecup chips
     
    Dec 27, 2018
    Emil Apostol likes this.
  11. lategreat808

    lategreat808 DS Legend

    Joined:
    Dec 5, 2016
    Location:
    Eau Claire, Wisconsin
    I usually give a ken away before it reaches the retirement point. I will just refurbish a ken and make it almost like new and then give it away. I have been able to do some miraculous things with some sandpaper, wood filler and wood conditioner.
     
    Dec 27, 2018
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  12. Emil Apostol

    Emil Apostol DS Legend

    Joined:
    Jan 4, 2017
    Location:
    Philippines
    Fair enough, but I have some exceptions lol. Sometimes, a kendama is too good to retire even when the base cup chips.
     
    Dec 27, 2018
  13. Lucas Canadian Kendama

    Lucas Canadian Kendama Member

    Joined:
    Jul 28, 2018
    Location:
    Toronto Ontario
    I’ve broken my spike right off and grilla Glued it and it’s fine. U just have to be gentle with it. It did break and I had to re glue it 2 more times but I was pretty rough on it and it still slays.

    But I would usually retire on when I demolished, I have not to many so I switch it up and keep some fresh for when I need one.

    And deferent size Kendamas are fun also like minis and jumbos...
     
    Dec 27, 2018
  14. goenKendama

    goenKendama Administrator Staff Member

    Joined:
    Oct 14, 2016
    Location:
    Metro Manila, Philippines
    A Dremel tool and 2 part epoxy will fix you right back up again.

    I've only officially retired one, the very first "real" kendama I ever had a TK16. It was long term lent to our ramen shop as a demo unit and after getting really abused for years I decided it needed a place of honor so it's up on my shelf now.

     
    Dec 28, 2018
  15. htimSxelA

    htimSxelA Moderator Staff Member

    Joined:
    Sep 29, 2016
    Location:
    Vancouver
    Usually retirement comes if a dama sustains chips that cause the tama to not sit properly in the cup. Flat spikes aren't preferred, but still playable in many cases.
     
    Dec 30, 2018
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  16. lategreat808

    lategreat808 DS Legend

    Joined:
    Dec 5, 2016
    Location:
    Eau Claire, Wisconsin
    ...Borders.
     
    Dec 30, 2018
  17. Jewbacca

    Jewbacca Honed Member

    Joined:
    Oct 12, 2016
    Location:
    ATL
    When I don’t feel the mojo in the dama anymore
     
    Dec 30, 2018
  18. lategreat808

    lategreat808 DS Legend

    Joined:
    Dec 5, 2016
    Location:
    Eau Claire, Wisconsin
    This is pretty much how I feel about everything in life...if it doesn't give you the feels, you better sing the Waltz Away
     
    Dec 30, 2018
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  19. Nick Lectura

    Nick Lectura Moderator Staff Member

    Joined:
    Oct 12, 2016
    Location:
    Santa Cruz, CA
    yup, sometimes the dama just doesn't feel the same as it used to, thats usually when i move on to a new one
     
    Dec 30, 2018
    Con man and Jewbacca like this.
  20. htimSxelA

    htimSxelA Moderator Staff Member

    Joined:
    Sep 29, 2016
    Location:
    Vancouver
    ..and in some cases, flat spike is even more playabe! :D
     
    Jan 2, 2019