Replies

1. 
   mbholden | Feb 13, 2007 10:43pm | #1

   Vincente,

   The local Rockler has bamboo wood.

   It is a laminate, quite heavy, and the laminations give it a straight grain appearance.

   The laminations are about 3/8" wide. The material is also one of the most expensive in Rockler's selections.

   Not sure of working qualities as I have not yet bought any to try, but the glue lines would give me pause, I have chipped jointer blades jointing plywood, and I would expect the bamboo to be similar. Carbide power tools only, and be prepared to resharpen hand tools.

   Mike

1. 
   vincentedwards | Feb 14, 2007 12:03am | #2

   Thanks- I'll do the machining in my university's shop so I don't severly dull my personal tools.It's good to know that I can buy the ply at a location that I can drive to, rather than paying shipping on a 4x8 sheet. Vincent

2. 
   Johneramics | Feb 14, 2007 11:20pm | #8

   As far as bamboo is concerned, it should not bother a jointer using the edge grain solid bamboo. Jointing plywood is not a good idea, the glue will attack the knives. A good saw blade should be all you need. I have routed a lot of plywood,doing production work the glue will eventually cut a nick in the bit and do the same om a jointer.John

1. 
   SteveSchoene | Feb 15, 2007 07:30am | #10

   Solid bamboo grows in culm's of varying diameter.  These are hollow stalks of grass.  They can be split and worked, (such as planing them to glue up  six strip bamboo fly rods.)  But the bamboo lumber we see is all laminated material held together with glue. 

   Edited 2/15/2007 8:57 am ET by SteveSchoene

1. 
   Johneramics | Feb 15, 2007 06:35pm | #11

   I don't see your point, they glue up pieces to make fly rods and they glue up 1/4" strips to make the edge grain solid plywood. Much of bamboo products are glued up, they do all kinds of laminating with it.
   John

2. 
   wiskytango | Feb 14, 2007 07:23am | #3

   i made some cutting boards out of some extra bamboo flooring in installed in my kitchen. Not sure if the glue that is used in lamination is safe or not, Any idea

3. 
   Johneramics | Feb 14, 2007 08:25pm | #4

   I am using Bamboo plywood scraps to make staved bowls. The plywood is much like quarter sawn lumber, 1/4" strips glued together to make up a 3/4" plywood. As for a source I believe there is a company on the West coast that sells it, but is very expensive. I am fortunate to get scraps of the plywood from a local cabinet shop. Nice to work with, but the blond slivers are hard to dig out.
   To see a bowl I made with bamboo go to http://www.woodcraft.com, click on Showcase, bragbook and then turings. I have several pieces there, turnings by John Crouse. One set is the Bamboo bowl and a Lignum Vitae pencil cup. Another is a laminated staved bowl with Walnut, Cherry and curly Maple
   John

1. 
   vincentedwards | Feb 14, 2007 09:10pm | #6

   nice work on the bowls, john-I wonder if anyone has tried turning a bamboo rolling pin?

1. 
   Johneramics | Feb 14, 2007 11:28pm | #9

   I should think Bamboo plywood glued up would make a great rolling pin. I would use polurthane Gorrila glue or Titebond III. Both are ecellent glues. One thing to keep in mind is that the plywood I use ist edge grain solid. I really like the clean crisp quqlity of the bamboo.
   John

4. 
   Johneramics | Feb 14, 2007 09:00pm | #5

   I just looked up several places to purchase Bamboo plywood. Go to www Smith &Fong Plywood .com, look for distributers. I found a place in New York City that carries the edge grain solid plywood, http://www.bettencourtwood,com. A 3/4 4x8 sheet is $225.00
   John

1. 
   vincentedwards | Feb 14, 2007 09:14pm | #7

   Thanks- I'll check that out.I have found several distributers now, and it looks like the price is fairly consistant at around $220- This stuff is not cheap! Looks like about $7 per square foot... that's pretty on par with hard maple these days. I think I'll give it a shot as soon as I can get $225 together. Vincent