Info. for working with Bamboo

Other things that involve bamboo

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Mike Beard
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Info. for working with Bamboo

Post by Mike Beard »

I am a woodworker, I would like to know where to get info for working with bamboo, ie straightening, curing, drying, staining/sealing/finishing, techniques on fastening, etc
Ideas on projects :santa:
I would like to try some furniture/cabinet making, picture frames, wind chimes, gazebos/tiki bars, customised BEER MUGS

books, articels, web sites, someone that I can call and pick your brain from time to time , anything other than trial and error(i am doing that now)
any help would be appreciated

mike
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dudley
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Re: Info. for working with Bamboo

Post by dudley »

"The book of bamboo" by david farrelly
and "bamboo world" by victor cusack
both have some info on joinery and basic techniques, but neither is as comprehensive as you are probably hoping for. still they may speed up your trial and error process.
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tomgun
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Re: Info. for working with Bamboo

Post by tomgun »

"The Craft & Art of Bamboo" by Carol Stangler has some practical pointers, pictures, instructions to start.
To locals: If there is something in the Trade column of my plant list you want a start for, I root-prune every so often to control the bamboo in my limited space. You are welcome to any starts for free, no trading. Let me know and come get it if it's available. Pick up only.
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needmore
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Re: Info. for working with Bamboo

Post by needmore »

www.bamboocraft.net/forums/

At this site,some good info.
Brad Salmon, zone 12B Kea'au, HI
Mike Beard
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Re: Info. for working with Bamboo

Post by Mike Beard »

thanks gentelmen these will get me started

Anyone eles have any sources?
mike beard
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Re: Info. for working with Bamboo

Post by kudzu9 »

I am also a woodworker and several years ago wanted to start working with bamboo. What I found was that there are many books about bamboo objects, and making very simple things, but very little on how to make strong joints or bend bamboo with heat. After a lot of searching, I found what I needed, a book written in 1901(!) called Bamboo Work, by Paul Hasluck. At first I could only find it for sale by rare book dealers for about $200 a copy, which was a little too steep for me. I couldn't find it on Amazon or eBay. Then I found that it had been re-published as a paperback a few years back, and I started hunting for it. It's out of print, and also hard to find, but I do know of one source that still lists it: Bamboo Gardener in Seattle. Since I live near Seattle, I drove there to see whether a book written more than 100 years ago would be of any use. What I found was that the basic techniques of joinery and bending were things that still make sense and can be done in your shop with a little practice. While it is not written like modern how-to books, it does have enough useful drawings and descriptions to be quite helpful if you want to securely connect bamboo using a variety of pinned, drilled or reinforced joints; it also explains heat bending. It doesn't have dozens of techniques, but what it does show is quite useful if you are doing anything that is more complex than a bud vase. The only improvements I could think of resulted in being able to do things faster with modern tools like Forstner bits, power sanders, and chop saws. I thought it was worth the $27 charged for it by Bamboo Gardener. If you're interested, here is the link: http://www.bamboogardener.com/booklist.html

If you have an interest in building Japanese bamboo fences and gates, I know of a great book on that, too: Building Bamboo Fences, by Yoshikawa. It has step-by-step, detailed sketches of how to join and lash together bamboo, and is also very valuable for the builder. It shows how to construct 10 different types of traditional fences. It's available used for about $15: http://product.half.ebay.com/Building-B ... prZ1982440 Yoshikawa and Suzuki have also written a coffee-table style book called The Bamboo Fences of Japan, which is filled with beautiful color photos, and is a great source of ideas, but it does not show the techniques. It costs about $40-50, or more: http://www.amazon.com/Bamboo-Fences-Jap ... 256&sr=1-3
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Re: Info. for working with Bamboo

Post by foxd »

How-to Bamboo: Simple Instructions And Projects by Paul N. Hasluck

The Craft & Art of Bamboo: Projects for Home and Garden by Carol Stangler

Building with Bamboo: A Handbook by Jules J.A. Janssen

I would suggest reading through the books and developing your own techniques. Feel free to experiment to discover new ways of using bamboo. It is very likely you will discover new and interesting uses.

I recently bought a 4-way bamboo splitter, a bamboo hatchet and a wood planer. I can now quickly produce bamboo strips with a flat side that look useful for something.

I also recently made a Mark I jewelry box that I thought could be given to someone for Christmas. Unfortunately my wife looked at it and said no. Turns out she wanted it for herself and I have to make another one. :?

UV resistant cable ties can be used to fasten culms together making strong and nice looking joints.

One weak area is weatherproof protective coatings for bamboo. I have not had good luck with coatings and they tend to peel over time. :evil:
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The legal issues that will arise when the undead walk the earth are legion, and addressing them all is well beyond what could reasonably be accomplished in this brief Essay. Indeed, a complete treatment of the tax issues alone would require several volumes.
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Re: Info. for working with Bamboo

Post by ghmerrill »

Dan,
I have noticed the same thing with coatings on bamboo. I Have not played with it much, but have you tried sanding the bamboo before puting a coating on? I remember Roy had a photo of some bamboo he painted, so maybe he can chime in next time he is on here.
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foxd
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Re: Info. for working with Bamboo

Post by foxd »

ghmerrill wrote:Dan,
I have noticed the same thing with coatings on bamboo. I Have not played with it much, but have you tried sanding the bamboo before puting a coating on? I remember Roy had a photo of some bamboo he painted, so maybe he can chime in next time he is on here.
The coatings will definitely bond with sanding. And they somewhat bond after heat treating and polishing with fine steel wool. I would like something that I can brush on after heat treatment and polishing since it would be a pain to try and sand every node and sulcus sufficently.

Yeah, definitely going to have to set up an experiment for the winter testing various treatment options. :?

I discovered yesterday that bamboo get an edge as sharp as a shaving razor. I discovered this by accidently giving a piece a sharp edge and using my palm to hold it into place while I worked on it. I did not feel the cuts. :shock: I have gained great respect for the concept of bamboo swords.
Southern Indiana.
My Bamboo List.

The legal issues that will arise when the undead walk the earth are legion, and addressing them all is well beyond what could reasonably be accomplished in this brief Essay. Indeed, a complete treatment of the tax issues alone would require several volumes.
Mike Beard
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Location: Polk City, Fl.on the southern edge of the Green Swampzone 9

Re: Info. for working with Bamboo

Post by Mike Beard »

Thank You All that replied , I now have my Christmas List of books

thank you all again the web site has already answered some questions and inspiried some ideas!

mike
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