Bamboo, Have you worked with it???????????? - Scroll Saw Woodworking & Crafts Message Board

Band Saw Box · 10-19-2009, 07:07 PM

Hello all
I'm wondering if anyone ahs worked with bamboo, I have a bamboo cutting board I'm thinking about using to make a bowl from Carole's book ( the one on page 118 for those of you that have the book). If you have worked with it can you tell me what it like to work with. Cutting, Gluing, Sanding and Finishing. How is it campaired to pine. The bamboo in the cutting board is dark so I think about using some pine along the outside edge of the of the blank I make for the bowl so it will be helpful to know how it sand compaired to pine. Any help anyone can give me would be great it will help me know better is I should go forward with this project or not.

nzmerlin · 10-19-2009, 09:12 PM

Reply in the OFF TOPIC secton

Merlin

Wood Dog · 10-19-2009, 09:37 PM

Dan I have cut some fretwork patterns into a couple of bamboo cutting boards, think I used #5 blade. Tape under pattern, and packing tape over. Tight turns will burn if no tape. I used mineral oil on the fresh cuts.
Patterns by Sylvia the butterfly one, and pattern by Vorees the other.
Personally I think your bowl would look great.

Jim McDonald · 10-19-2009, 10:49 PM

I just got some wood I believe to be a bamboo laminate from an old futon frame manufactured in Thailand and the stuff is very hard. It cuts weel, but seems to me more similar to hard maple in texture.

handibunny · 10-20-2009, 02:09 AM

Dan, I've been eyeing bamboo cutting boards for a long time as an interesting source of wood for bowls, but never got around to trying it. If you're going to combine it with another wood (assume you mean the candy dish on p. 118) you'll have an easier time if you use woods of similar hardness. If not, be very careful when you sand since the softer wood will sand more quickly and you can get uneven places.

If you do try, please post your results--whatever they are. Should be very interesting.

Sally · 10-20-2009, 04:29 AM

So are you guys talking about bamboo cutting boards you buy in the kitchen store? Maybe a second hand store would have old cutting boards that could be recycled? Interesting thought.

Wood Dog · 10-20-2009, 03:36 PM

Sally I purchased my bamboo cutting boards from a store around here called The Christmas Tree Shop.......get stuff on the cheap there. I paid $1.99 for 8x6x3/4 and got 6 of them. A few weeks later went back and noticed the price went up to $3.99, so I'm not sure if they marked them wrong the first time, or thought there would be a run on them when I bought 6 at a time?

That was a while ago, so I don't know what the price is now, or if they even have any to sell.
Your right about the second hand stores though, you can get lots of stuff there too.

CanadianScroller · 10-20-2009, 05:09 PM

I have cut bamboo manufactured flooring. I found that the bamboo had a tendancy to burn depending on the grain lay up in the laminations. The bamboo I used was prefinished so I cant answer the finishing questions. I used regular wood glue and had no issues with gluing

Band Saw Box · 10-20-2009, 09:02 PM

The board I have is about 10"x12" it maybe longer, the sides a bread board edge are lighter color bamboo I think there maybe enough to use along the out side edge. I left it at work so I cant be sure. I'm going to give it a try to see how it comes out, if I can remember to bring it home with me.
Carole a question for you the 5" pieces that go along the sides you call for in the book (page 119 step 8) do those pieces have to be 5" long or can that be say 4-1/2" ??. I know the edge of the cutting board are rounded over so I'm thinking I might one get 4 pieces 4-1/2" from one side. I cant tell from the picture if that will work.
Oh I'm going to be using the left over Canary wood to make the Pedestal base for the Candy dish. I guess I should call it by the right name.

handibunny · 10-20-2009, 10:48 PM

Dan, try drawing out the pieces on an octagon pattern where the wood would go. You can probably estimate the shortest length you can get away with. I tended to size wood on the generous side, just to play it safe. BTW, the octagon pattern is like magic, the way the swags appear as you sand. It's also pretty neat because you don't have to cut any fidgety angles. My goal is to make simple things that look much more complex. The candy dish is a fun project, and is easy because you're cutting just a few rings. Keep us up-to-date on your progress.

10-19-2009, 07:07 PM	#1
Band Saw Box World's Greatest Scroller Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Hampton, VA Posts: 1,005	Bamboo, Have you worked with it???????????? Hello all I'm wondering if anyone ahs worked with bamboo, I have a bamboo cutting board I'm thinking about using to make a bowl from Carole's book ( the one on page 118 for those of you that have the book). If you have worked with it can you tell me what it like to work with. Cutting, Gluing, Sanding and Finishing. How is it campaired to pine. The bamboo in the cutting board is dark so I think about using some pine along the outside edge of the of the blank I make for the bowl so it will be helpful to know how it sand compaired to pine. Any help anyone can give me would be great it will help me know better is I should go forward with this project or not. __________________ : Dan US Navy PR1 (Ret) To all who serve or have served, Thank you Well I am the worlds greatest scroller at my house.

10-19-2009, 09:12 PM	#2
nzmerlin ScrollSaw Artist Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Foxton, NewZealand Posts: 162	Reply in the OFF TOPIC secton Merlin __________________ Try not! Do, or do not There is no try Yoda "Empire Strikes Back" 1980

10-19-2009, 10:49 PM	#4
Jim McDonald Workin' for the Weekend Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: On the Other Side of the Monitor Posts: 940 Blog Entries: 6	I just got some wood I believe to be a bamboo laminate from an old futon frame manufactured in Thailand and the stuff is very hard. It cuts weel, but seems to me more similar to hard maple in texture. __________________ Jim Exuberance can be corrected; dullness is incurable. --E. Deters "Political Correctness is a doctrine, fostered by a delusional, illogical minority, and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a turd by the clean end."

10-20-2009, 03:36 PM	#7
Wood Dog Senior member--Absolutely Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: MA USA Posts: 3,445	Sally I purchased my bamboo cutting boards from a store around here called The Christmas Tree Shop.......get stuff on the cheap there. I paid $1.99 for 8x6x3/4 and got 6 of them. A few weeks later went back and noticed the price went up to $3.99, so I'm not sure if they marked them wrong the first time, or thought there would be a run on them when I bought 6 at a time? That was a while ago, so I don't know what the price is now, or if they even have any to sell. Your right about the second hand stores though, you can get lots of stuff there too. __________________ WD

10-20-2009, 05:09 PM	#8
CanadianScroller Moderator CUT IT OUT Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Chilliwack British Columbia, Canada Posts: 3,937 Blog Entries: 12	I have cut bamboo manufactured flooring. I found that the bamboo had a tendancy to burn depending on the grain lay up in the laminations. The bamboo I used was prefinished so I cant answer the finishing questions. I used regular wood glue and had no issues with gluing __________________ CAЯL HIRD-RUTTEЯ "proud member of the best scroll sawing forum on the net." Ryobi SC180VS scroll saw EX21

10-20-2009, 02:09 AM	#5
handibunny Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: NY Posts: 359	Dan, I've been eyeing bamboo cutting boards for a long time as an interesting source of wood for bowls, but never got around to trying it. If you're going to combine it with another wood (assume you mean the candy dish on p. 118) you'll have an easier time if you use woods of similar hardness. If not, be very careful when you sand since the softer wood will sand more quickly and you can get uneven places. If you do try, please post your results--whatever they are. Should be very interesting. __________________ Carole Follow me on my blog: www.scrollsawbowls.blogspot.com

10-20-2009, 04:29 AM	#6
Sally Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Renton WA Posts: 1,021	So are you guys talking about bamboo cutting boards you buy in the kitchen store? Maybe a second hand store would have old cutting boards that could be recycled? Interesting thought.

10-20-2009, 09:02 PM	#9
Band Saw Box World's Greatest Scroller Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Hampton, VA Posts: 1,005	The board I have is about 10"x12" it maybe longer, the sides a bread board edge are lighter color bamboo I think there maybe enough to use along the out side edge. I left it at work so I cant be sure. I'm going to give it a try to see how it comes out, if I can remember to bring it home with me. Carole a question for you the 5" pieces that go along the sides you call for in the book (page 119 step 8) do those pieces have to be 5" long or can that be say 4-1/2" ??. I know the edge of the cutting board are rounded over so I'm thinking I might one get 4 pieces 4-1/2" from one side. I cant tell from the picture if that will work. Oh I'm going to be using the left over Canary wood to make the Pedestal base for the Candy dish. I guess I should call it by the right name. __________________ : Dan US Navy PR1 (Ret) To all who serve or have served, Thank you Well I am the worlds greatest scroller at my house.

10-20-2009, 10:48 PM	#10
handibunny Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: NY Posts: 359	Dan, try drawing out the pieces on an octagon pattern where the wood would go. You can probably estimate the shortest length you can get away with. I tended to size wood on the generous side, just to play it safe. BTW, the octagon pattern is like magic, the way the swags appear as you sand. It's also pretty neat because you don't have to cut any fidgety angles. My goal is to make simple things that look much more complex. The candy dish is a fun project, and is easy because you're cutting just a few rings. Keep us up-to-date on your progress. __________________ Carole Follow me on my blog: www.scrollsawbowls.blogspot.com

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