Amen to that Bill, plus....years ago I found out that if you over heat a male ferrule, or one with a watercheck in it that won't budge...not only will the ferrule take off like a bullet, but the ferrule station could look like it has exploded and be nothing more than a bunch of slivers. On the South Bends, it really doesn't take that much heat. Heat it gently and watch for light smoke at the ferrule/bamboo junction. If you see that light smoke emitted form the ferrule, get it off of there quickly. Most of the time that is exactly too much heat!! and I bet I found that out the same way that Bill did...