Ever look inside your pole (or boom for that matter)? I think you'll find rivet casings protruding that will prevent you from "stuffing" anything up there that will do any good -- unless you first remove the rivets and re-insert.
The spi' pole shouldn't be very expensive to repair by using the SS collar or even a good machine shop could likely weld it together (not sure of strength)...worst case the spi' pole isn't the most expensive thing you can break. Ask Robi.
