Bamboo Needle Question

[evilawyer]

A friend has asked me to knit her a scarf for "Christmas", by which she means next weekend.  I got started yesterday on a simple pattern I'm doing out of my head and am happy to say I'm more than half way done.  However, I've run into a problem ---

I'm working on bamboo needles (size 8 US) that I've had around for some time but haven't used in a while.  When I first started last night, they felt okay, but now the tips feel a bit like they are grinding and scraping together.  I won't be out and about and able to pick up new needles until day after tomorrow and I'd like to finish this up tonight or tomorrow morning if I can.  Besides, I don't really want to switch needles --- not to my size 8 metals or even new size 8 bamboo --- because I can always see a slight difference in the stitch tension, even when the gauge stays the same, when I switch needles in the middle of a project.  I'm looking at ripping this all out and starting again if the scraping gets much worse, and I'd rather not because I'm actually quite happy with the way this scarf is looking.

I thought about sanding the tips, then thought that would likely make the problem even worse.  Does anyone have any suggestions or tips about what I might be able to do to make these needles work smooth enough to finish the last three and one-half feet of scarf?
 

Comments

[pinesandmaples]

Clear nail polish on the tips?

I've done that to wooden needles before, to great effect.

[evilawyer]

Thank you so much! I think I have some in my bathroom, even!

when the bamboo needles scrape...

[jazzypom]

I tend to run them through my friend's hair. She's Caucasian, and her hair is oilier than mine, anyway. So I slide them through her hair, and make it work.

Re: when the bamboo needles scrape...

[evilawyer]

Well, that's a thought. I can run them through my own hair. Or over my face --- I am an oily type. Thanks!

Re: when the bamboo needles scrape...

[jazzypom]

Yeah, the natural oils tend to lubricate the needles. Over time, they get a patina of build up and get smoother. So on every other row, just run it through your hair, or face and get that sebum. You can wash the scarf when you're done knitting with it.

Re: when the bamboo needles scrape...

[evilawyer]

Not that much different from knitting with yarn spun from unwashed wool, is it?

Re: when the bamboo needles scrape...

[lindorie]

Whoa. Is this for real? Totally trying that with my hair sometime.

[msmcknittington]

Do you have any waxed paper? If you rub it over the rough spots, the wax will help to fill in the "dips" in the bamboo and smooth it all out. Just make sure you use the waxy side of the paper. The other side won't do much good! :P

[evilawyer]

The only waxed paper I have in the house is this "parchment" paper I bought at my local health-food market. It's not very waxy on either side, but I'll give a try. Not to mention buy some regular waxed paper at the "conventional" grocery store to have around. Thanks for the tip.

[clare_dragonfly]

Parchment paper actually has different uses than waxed paper. I'm not sure exactly what the difference is, but parchment paper seems to be the thing to use to line pans for baking.

If I ever have problems with my bamboo needles, I am totally running them through my hair. I have pretty oily hair!

[evilawyer]

I've used both for baking, and waxed paper does a better job of not sticking to the pans except for the fact that it often melts wax on the bottom of the cake.

FYI --- the dragging them over my face (I have really oily skin, much oilier than my hair) worked very well as a quick stop-gap for the needles I was using. I did the candle wax treatment on my other bamboos and that worked nicely, too. I can't imagine the wax paper will work any less well.

[pennyplainknits]

Rub a candle over the tips, then rub vigourously with either a cloth or paper- this will melt the wax into the needles and make them smoother!

[evilawyer]

That, I can do! Have candles. Thank you!

[treeskin]

I second the waxed paper idea, or wax then fabric. My husband does some woodworking, and he's a fan of waxed finishes. He uses a scrap of rough denim for a smooth finish, when he's worried about sandpaper raising too much of a "nap".

[evilawyer]

The waxed paper route is what I think I'm taking in future as "maintenance" for all my wood needles. I hate throwing out needles that are otherwise still doing good by me, and I love the feel of wood over other materials. Thanks for the info.

[treeskin]

Know the feeling. I had to throw away four pair of Brittany walnut needles, because they'd been too chewed up by my cat. I'm much more careful about what gets left out now.

[evilawyer]

Gah! And walnut feels so nice, too! Oh, well. Live and learn.

[auntruth]

Next time you're out and about, look in the manicure section of the drugstore and buy a couple/three emery boards. I found some with 4 or 6 different grits on different parts of the same stick. You can use one of the heavier grits to shape/sharpen if needed -- or to repair kitty carvings. Then use one or two of the fine ones to polish and buff. You can really customize the shape! What you need for situations like last night is one of the very fine ones for buffing. Then use the oil/wax tips you already have to keep them super-smooth. I have never tried this with harder woods like walnut or rosewood, but it has worked like a charm on bamboo. I sort of spin and twist the tips on the board to polish them.

[evilawyer]

I think I've seen those very fine emery boards before. I'll pick some up and add it to the maintenance routine I'm going to do from now on for my bamboos.