Flattening bamboo

[Bruce Prosser]

Hello,
Recently while in a Pier One store (with my wife) I saw whole bamboo staves for about 12 bucks each for a three pack. Thinking: HMM 30 dollars for flattened heat treated boo, can I do something with this stuff. I bought it and cut one in half and am now stuck.

Has anyone out there flattened bamboo for themselves? If you have can you provide some insight?

Thanks, Bruce

[Eric Krewson]

I use a belt sander with a 36grit sanding belt.

Back before I bought power tools I flattened with a block plane and a sanding block. Probably took me most of a day to get the bamboo ready to put on a bow.

[DogVilleDane]

Hello Bruce,

What is the diameter of your Boo? (To me it sounds like you have a ½ bamboo, and want to flatten that - as in "I have ½ circle, that I would like to become flat" ?). If not, then I am sorry for misunderstanding you    

A link to when I bought Bamboo, and got that ready:   http://www.bergquistpoulsen.dk/buebygning/flækning-af-bambus/  
You can see, that the Boo has a diameter of roughly 3-4,5", which means that each stave is "almost" flat when it has been split from the BamBoo. (I think I got roughly 6-8 staves from each BamBoo.)

[Jeremy]

The first couple I did with a block plane.  The next few I did with a jointer and it literally took just a minute.

What's the diameter of boo?

[Apex Predator]

You can cut and sand a section flat, but I don't think anyone has been able to take the natural curve out.  You have to start with a large diameter piece.

[DogVilleDane]

Hmmm - I wonder if it is possible to use the same idéa behind Splitcane fishing rods - meaning you could try to split the bamboo in a lot of small but long pieces, and use them side by side as backing?

I would think, that the angle should be correct, so there are no gap between the individual pieces (like one layer in a brick wall). So you should aim for 90 degrees angles on the pieces, and then glue them on the belly side by side?

Anyone tried that?

Just an idéa, anyway :-) ...

[Jeremy]

using side by side slats as backing was talked about in one to the TBB volumes.  I've never tried it, but as long as the boo isn't damaged I don't see why it wouldn't work.

[John Scifres]

Bamboo for bows is usually larger diameter than what you probably have.  It's flattened on the inside using various mechanical techniques (plane, sander, bandsaw) but not heated to flatten it.

[Loren Holland]

I posted something very similar to this a while ago. I bought 2 pieces of bamboo with about 2-3 inch diameter, thinking i could split them and heat it in a vise to flatten it. Maybe that works in a factory with industrial machinery, but not so well with my heat gun in the kitchen.i tried steam too, that didn't work either.  could me just my skill level;)
DogVilleDane-there is vertical and horizontal bamboo that is laminated (as in flooring), i have heard that the vertical is stronger. (Both are planed strips, but horizontal is laminated side to side so that the front of the finished piece is the front of each individual strip, and vertical is laminated front to back, so that the front of the finished piece is what would have been internal in the naturally growing piece.) so long story short, to answer your question, yes. that is how bamboo flooring is made, and i am sure that either either you could make it or use flooring, if you found the right length, or spliced, as i did on a couple early bows.  i will tell you that i eventaully realized it was worth it to just suck it up and order from Franks, Bamboo Works, etc. Whatever place you choose to order from.  I use Bamboo and Rattan Works, and at 3-5 bucks each, it beat the heck out of trying to flatten a piece of bamboo for the same price, because my time is worth much more to me. Just mho

[bigcountry]

I use a planer/joiner to flatten in combo with a bench sander.  Stuff is tough.

[Sal]

That stuff in Pier one isn't large enough, its around 1" in diameter, unless they've changed their stock.  I think its difficult to flatten the curve of bamboo because the fibers all run parallel, I dont't think bamboo has any fibers that run sideways.  

BTW, that bamboo is good for flutes.

[bigcountry]

It if was me, I would call Bamboo and Rattan works in NJ.  They have just recieved in a load of Flat large bamboo for 11bucks a piece.  They claim to hand pick pieces that meets Dean Torges specs.  I just got in several pieces.  And it appears to be good stuff.

[Bruce Prosser]

Thanks all.