Bamboo--how to dry/season it

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I've been trying for quite some time to find information on how to season/dry bamboo culms so that they don't split. I've heard lots of old wive's tales, but have yet to find any hard data. Obviously, there is a reliable techique, as there is lots of bamboo furniture sold without splits, and bamboo is used for practially everything in the orient.

-- jumpoff joe (jumpoff@echoweb.net), March 17, 2000

Answers

Hi,

Don't really have an answer but there quite a few good info resources on the net you might want to try.

I'm getting ready to plant some in the near future; going to try a few different types.

Best of Luck.

J

-- j (jw_hsv@yahoo.com), March 23, 2000.


You "might" be able to find your answer here. It's the best I can do for you at this time!

http://www.kauai.net/bambooweb/bamboo.html

-- Bob Johnson (backwoods_bob_2000@yahoo.com), September 04, 2000.


Check this site: Okios: The Green Building Source at http://oikos.com. Their bookstore offers this book called "row Your Own Home: Simon Velez and Bamboo Architecture." It includes a chapter about processing bamboo for contruction.

-- Felecia Means (vesa2789@aol.com), August 05, 2001.

Thanks, folks! I'll try out those urls. A year or two ago I did a search on Alta Vista, and come up with very disappointing results. Last night I did a search on Google, and came up with TONS of information. The best was American Bamboo Society, which had good data.

I'll definitely try those other sites, too, though. thanks

JOJ

-- jumpoff joe (jumpoff@echoweb.net), August 05, 2001.


What will you be building with it. A few years ago I saw a show on HGTV about someone who is making flooring (hardwood?softwood?)from bamboo. It was beautiful. Very good for the environment because it grows so quickly it is VERY renewable and uses much less space and resources. Anyone hear of this? Has it worked out? That was three or four years ago I heard of it.

-- Ann Markson (tngreenacres@hotmail.com), August 05, 2001.


Anne I'll basically be using it mostly for decorative stuff. I've already used it for a bannister, which works great, but has some splits which bug me. I also built a kind of gazebo type dealy covered with various types of flowering vines: clematis, orange honey suckle, wisteria, etc. These bamboo structural poles also split, and tend to sag, now that the vines are putting on mass.

I also want to build a wind screen for my outdoor shower, 'cause even though the (solar) water is way hot, the wind makes it feel pretty cold out there early in the morning!

JOJ

-- jumpoff joe (jumpoff@echoweb.net), August 05, 2001.


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