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2023-11: Warosu is now out of extended maintenance.

/diy/ - Do It Yourself

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1280768 No.1280768 [Reply] [Original]

Bamboo splitting advice? I have a problem with some bamboo project. I wanted to try and make a small hydroponic resevoir for a PVC set up I already have. Just wanted to try bamboo to make it more aesthetic. I see a lot of people doing this on youtube, but when I try it, I get split bamboo. I get the bamboo pre-cured, so I'm going to try and get green bamboo and cure it myself through heating. However, even still, I am told this may not work.

Any bamboo workers out there can give me advice on how to prevent/reduce drastically the splitting of my bamboo?

>> No.1280783

>>1280768
>cure it myself through heating
I hope you enjoy explosions and flying shards of wood
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hQWXvTv_jF8

What are you even trying to cut the bamboo with? Have you considered that you suck at cutting things before blaming the material?

>> No.1280791

>>1280783
Not really sure how to respond to your post on multiple levels. Here's my try.

I'm talking about splitting of the wood during use. I'm not making cuts to most of the culms I have. I'm not quite sure why you would think I'm bad at cutting something when I'm asking about splitting prevention. You seem to jump to a lot of conclusions and you only responded 1 time to 1 post.

As for cuttings I DO make, I cut the bamboo just above the diaphragms. Splitting occurs throughout the entire 5' and 10' pieces I have, and tend to start in the middle of the culm. I doubt the cut, which is where you are supposed to make it, is what is causing splitting.

I have splitting occurring in both punctured diaphragm culms and non-punctured. Neither seems worse than the other.

Just so you are aware, it is the rapid heating and cooling of bamboo, mixed with moisture contained inside the wood that causes the splitting. I do my best to keep them at 74 degrees and for the most part, there is a 4 degree swing, so I'm doing just fine there. Splits still occur.

I just re-ordered new culms, so I will try to cure it myself by air drying it with fast moving air and try and dry out the culms as best I can. See if that works. Would getting it wet all over again help before a controlled air dry?

To be clear, I'm looking for preventative maintenance on bamboo splitting. Not cutting (unless there is a specific technique to help that). IE, treatments that are non-toxic and food safe. Remember, this is for hydroponics.

>> No.1280803

Knock out the diaphragms maybe? If you're going to heat cure it you'll want to do this anyway to prevent pressure build up.

Since it's going to be outside and wet you should coat the bamboo in a UV resistant spar varnish if you want it to last.

>> No.1280814

>>1280803
see
>>1280791
>I have splitting occurring in both punctured diaphragm culms and non-punctured. Neither seems worse than the other.

I'll take a look at the Spar Varnish. Do you know a brand that is food safe off the top of your head? Just googled it and nothing immediately pops up. I know most finishes once cured are food safe, but what about for constant wetting and drying with hydroponic equipment?

>> No.1281034

>>1280791

When I have worked bamboo I always worked it green and just let it air dry, it dries quite well on its own and fairly quickly. Some bamboos are fairly fragile, the thinner walled light weight varieties that are often sold for garden stakes and the like are quite brittle once dry.

My guess would be you either have a poor quality bamboo or they are not well seasoned.

>> No.1281144

>>1281034
k. Would you recommend a species to get?

>> No.1281265

https://www.slideshare.net/mobile/DeepankerRas/bamboo-species-good-for-construction-in-india-nd-as-a-material