Puppet_Sock wrote:
> On Aug 27, 8:05 pm, HawaiiEye <Hawaiian...@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote:
> [snip]
>> I guess I'm just a Luddite. I use a 6ft rattan pole. I put some
>> 'shoe-goo' on the bottom end, about 1/2" thick on the bottom, and a
coat
>> of it going up about 8 inches to protect from rock abrasion. I've had
it
>> for 30 years, put thousands of miles on it over those years, and it
>> still looks new. I tried the aluminum telescoping poles, even the shock
>> absorbing ones, but went right back to my old rattan pole.
>
> If a hiking strategy works for you for many 100's of km, it's
> probably not too bad. There is something to be said for
> personal style. A fit with your pattern is usually more
> im****tant than doing this "right" or "perfect."
>
> What is "shoe-goo"? Do you think it would stick to the end of
> my metal pole? The tip is supposed to be this tungsten-steel
> alloy, and it does stand up. Hasn't eroded noticeably over the
> five years I've been using it. But I'd prefer a rubber tip to keep
> it from scratching up the trail. Or when I'm on sidewalks in the
> city. And the tap-tap-tap on rock is annoying to me, and I'd
> expect to other hikers, and probably decreases the amount
> of wildlife I see.
If you aren't already familiar with 'Sho-goo' you are in for a treat!!
First of all, it will stick to just about everything except vinyl. It is
the perfect all-around adhesive. It remains somewhat flexible when dry
so there is no cracking. It can bond two different substances, i.e.
glass to leather, metal to plastic, wood to ceramic... anything except
vinyl.
Besides using it on the bottom of my hiking staff, I put some on the tip
of our umbrellas so they don't skid out when you stand them up in a
corner, a bit on the end of the cane handle so it doesn't slip off the
edge of the counter when you go to pay at the register, mend everything
in the house that doesn't require super-glue, contact cement or vinyl
glue. I've used it to fix torn leather jackets, holes in pockets, and
broken things in the car. And I even use it to re-build the heels of my
boots and sneakers! (Its intended function.) Sho-goo is the 'duct-tape'
of permanent repair! You can get it in 'clear,' 'black,' and 'white.' I
keep a tube of each in the house at all times! For an emergency repair,
the stuff that divers use to repair neoprene wet suits is almost the
same, and comes in little bitty one-use tubes that you wouldn't object
to having in a backpack.
> I had a teflon tip, but it degraded after a couple 100 km.
A half inch of Sho-goo is good for thousands of hiking miles. Just don't
put a half inch on all at once. It will take too long to dry. Build it
up in layers, allowing each layer to harden over night.
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