bamboo

[karl]

....anybody have an idea on where i could get some bamboo?

[kens]

i've got 15 foot tall bamboo plants in my backyard.... my aunt and uncle planted it years ago.

> ....anybody have an idea on where i could
> get some bamboo?

[karl]

> i've got 15 foot tall bamboo plants in my
> backyard.... my aunt and uncle planted it
> years ago.

well i would feel wrong taking it :p i am wondering if i should plant my own to harvest :) ...i think i would like to finish my speakers in bamboo :) looking like its pretty expensive...makes no sense with how fast it grows.

[kens]

haha yea... takes a long time to grow... why bamboo? does it handle resonace well? very stiff? how do u build an enclosure out of the think stems/thing? it'd be an interesting enclosure...

> well i would feel wrong taking it :p i am
> wondering if i should plant my own to
> harvest :) ...i think i would like to finish
> my speakers in bamboo :) looking like its
> pretty expensive...makes no sense with how
> fast it grows.

[karl]

> haha yea... takes a long time to grow... why
> bamboo? does it handle resonace well? very
> stiff? how do u build an enclosure out of
> the think stems/thing? it'd be an
> interesting enclosure...

takes a long time?? generally the stuff can double in size within a season...guess if you get the stuff that grows 100' tall it would take a long time..would imagine on the type you get as well.....it wouldnt be an enclosure of bamboo it would be finished in bamboo...and why? cuz i think bamboo looks good :)

[kens]

lolz yes. a very natural enclosure... would probably look slamming outdoors in the backyard. xD

> takes a long time?? generally the stuff can
> double in size within a season...guess if
> you get the stuff that grows 100' tall it
> would take a long time..would imagine on the
> type you get as well.....it wouldnt be an
> enclosure of bamboo it would be finished in
> bamboo...and why? cuz i think bamboo looks
> good :)

[karl]

> lolz yes. a very natural enclosure... would
> probably look slamming outdoors in the
> backyard. xD

well i have found some bamboo veneer which i think would also look nice...but i think that doing it with actual bamboo split down the middle would look awesome :) ...found some of that to...but uhm...yeah way to expensive. would probably cost more to cover the enclosures than it cost to constuct the things...drivers and everything included lol...heck a slat was $3-$5 believe it was 5" wide and 6' long. and extremely thin

[jonpike]

There are several companies making "plyboo", a plywood of bamboo laminated out of thin, long strips. There's flooring of similar construction as well. Great looking stuff, down side is 3/4" 4'x8' is something like $200-300!! It's immensly strong and stiff though, you might get by with 1/2", braced and damped... Search around for plywood and bamboo, and plyboo, you'll find some.

Sounds like you're on to the cheaper way, plywood veneers. Interesting grain patterns, depending on the cut. A few of the big online veneer stores have some, with pics. Not the cheapest veneer out there, but not as much as many of the fancy ones.
I like the look too...

I'm blanking on the name (and company name) of one of our own DIY'ers who's gone pro with some very fine looking all bamboo speakers. You gotta check those out!

Good luck and post some pics!

[damkor]

<A HREF="http://www.calibamboo.com/bamboo_slats.html">http://www.calibamboo.com/bamboo_slats.html</A>#

You're right. It's not cheap, probably 'cos it's trendy...and there is some processing involved. You're in for at least $60 with these flat slats.

[donradick]

Provided Link: bamboo plywood (http://www.plyboo.com/plywood.html)


> takes a long time?? generally the stuff can
> double in size within a season...guess if
> you get the stuff that grows 100' tall it
> would take a long time..would imagine on the
> type you get as well.....it wouldnt be an
> enclosure of bamboo it would be finished in
> bamboo...and why? cuz i think bamboo looks
> good :)

Pretty accurate, except that a single bamboo stalk will grow to it's maximum height in one season. As each stalk grows and gives the root system more energy, the overall grove will grow to the maximum height for the variety.
In general, bamboo grows easily (in the Southeast, at least). The processing into boards or veneer is what makes it expensive.
Looks real good, though.

-Don

[karl]

> Pretty accurate, except that a single bamboo
> stalk will grow to it's maximum height in
> one season. As each stalk grows and gives
> the root system more energy, the overall
> grove will grow to the maximum height for
> the variety.
> In general, bamboo grows easily (in the
> Southeast, at least). The processing into
> boards or veneer is what makes it expensive.
> Looks real good, though.

> -Don

i would be happy to just cover the enclosures in half bamboo stalks...thats damned expensive to...and theres no way it can be that expensive to split the thing in half!! if they can make a 2x4 for $2.19 and pine obviously doesnt grow like bamboo....i dont get why its so expensive really.

[billagee]

found this site. Prices look very resonable for the amount.

Order a sheet and let us know what you think.

Bill

[billagee]

http://www.mastergardenproducts.com/bambooveneersvhc.jpg


<A HREF="http://www.mastergardenproducts.com/bambooveneer.htm">http://www.mastergardenproducts.com/bambooveneer.htm</A>

[bobblickle]

I too have bunches of it in the backyard. You can come cut all you want. Where are you Karl?

I think what you need to differentiate is whether you want it to look like actual pieces of Bamboo (the "bark") or like Bamboo Lumber such as is currently getting so popular for flooring.

Splitting it is not that big of a deal but by the time it's dry enough to split my observation is that it really doesn't look that nice anymore. It goes kind of gray in the sun whether it was originally green or black or whatever.

As long as it's dry and reasonably straight, I feel like I could rip it on the table saw. Just need to adjust the blade angle so it is radial to the center.

IIRC there's a place in Ft Lauderdale that deals in such stuff for designer purposes. I'll see if I can find that reference again.

If you want to mess with narrow strips you could disassemble a bamboo roll up shade.

bb

> ....anybody have an idea on where i could
> get some bamboo?

[bobblickle]

[damkor]

...straight slats, without too many imperfections, like the ones in the link, and tell us how easy it is. They don't all grow straight, you know!

<A HREF="http://www.calibamboo.com/bamboo_slats.html">http://www.calibamboo.com/bamboo_slats.html</A>

[cjd]

plants, or finished material?

It's process intensive, thus the cost.

Teragren / Timbergrass is the best company I'm aware of for the stuff, with a huge array of bamboo product.

If you plant it, be aware that it's invasive. ;)

C

[mikelytle]

> Splitting it is not that big of a deal but
> by the time it's dry enough to split my
> observation is that it really doesn't look
> that nice anymore. It goes kind of gray in
> the sun whether it was originally green or
> black or whatever.

If it turns color, all you need to do is scrub it a little with water and a 3m pad or somesuch, then apply your poly and it looks great.

I have a friend who harvests the stuff from people who want the invasive bamboo weed removed from their yard here in Maryland. He builds tiki bars and stuff out of it.

[lgraves]

I keep looking at the bamboo cutting boards at Target and Bed, bath and beyond. I think Biglots has them at a better price. You could just cut those. nwbamboo.com sells various bamboo products.

[davidyohn]

[karl]

>
> <A HREF="http://www.mastergardenproducts.com/bambooveneer.htm">http://www.mastergardenproducts.com/bambooveneer.htm</A>

actually i ran across that site late last night and i actually think thats pretty damned affordable really. i may end up using that or atleast trying it out :)

[karl]

> I too have bunches of it in the backyard.
> You can come cut all you want. Where are you
> Karl?

> I think what you need to differentiate is
> whether you want it to look like actual
> pieces of Bamboo (the "bark") or
> like Bamboo Lumber such as is currently
> getting so popular for flooring.

> Splitting it is not that big of a deal but
> by the time it's dry enough to split my
> observation is that it really doesn't look
> that nice anymore. It goes kind of gray in
> the sun whether it was originally green or
> black or whatever.

> As long as it's dry and reasonably straight,
> I feel like I could rip it on the table saw.
> Just need to adjust the blade angle so it is
> radial to the center.

> IIRC there's a place in Ft Lauderdale that
> deals in such stuff for designer purposes.
> I'll see if I can find that reference again.

> If you want to mess with narrow strips you
> could disassemble a bamboo roll up shade.

> bb

thats creative thinking i never really thought about ripping apart a bamboo shade lol...but reall i dont know which way i would go i think bamboo looks cool with the bark showing and i also really like the look of the bamboo lumber. the veneer is pretty cheap i may check that out

[jtaylor]

> thats creative thinking i never really
> thought about ripping apart a bamboo shade
> lol...but reall i dont know which way i
> would go i think bamboo looks cool with the
> bark showing and i also really like the look
> of the bamboo lumber. the veneer is pretty
> cheap i may check that out

I prefer my Bamboo with a fishing line strung on one end with a bobber and a hook smothered with a big juicy worm. Sitting on the bank of a south Georgia pond full of hungry fish, while relaxing to the sounds of nature that surround me.

[layertone]

my 2c:

Dave has made some GREAT PAWO / FE127 enclosures using the bambooo ply! See post #8

<A HREF="http://fullrangedriver.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=573">http://fullrangedriver.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=573</A>