Steve, it's best to wrap the pushrod ends with something to prevent splitting. I don't know about other products but I use carbon tubes from Tom Morris.
My first attempt at binding was not pretty and I was pleased that it was inside a box fuselage. Subsequently, I found a K&S thinwall aluminium tube that is a neat slide fit on the tube OD. Slide the aluminium tube—about 3/4" long—onto the carbon tube, smear the end of the carbon tube with epoxy and slide the aluminium tube into place at the end. Wipe off excess epoxy with iso propyl alcohol.