Beginner: need bamboo furniture making info

[11suon]

i have a fresh batch of cut bamboo. i would like to construct some furniture from it. i have NO IDEA where to start. PLEASE HELP.

i've visited some sites about curing and preserving. i am not running a major factory or anything to do any of this. is it possible to make use of bamboo at 'home' and make it last, ie, bugs and deterioration from cheap labor?

[Mark Meckes]

Hi 11suon,
What sort of things would you like to make?
If you have extra bamboo materials that you can initially experiment with, so much the better! It takes a bit of practice developing a good working relation with a tool so that it performs exactly as you want it to.

Tell us as much as you can about the bamboo. Did you harvest it, ie cut it yourself, and have a familiarity with it? Is it all fresh, green, mixed bag, or best pickings?
Because bamboo furniture are structural forms that undergo load bearing stress, it's important to select strong, stout pieces where needed, whereas a woven bamboo seat, for example, would need to be made from strong but flexible segments of bamboo.

After working with bamboo for a little while, you'll be able to pick up and `feel' the differences between each piece.
Okay, so let's say you've picked out some nice pieces and you're ready to go! This is where the possibilities and designs are endless!

Furniture making is also a lot about (perfecting) joinery techniques.
...drilling a nice hole, cutting out an accurate curve, tieing a tight lash, and making a snug fit etc.
As time goes by we'll post more info about these topics.
All the best with your projects,
Mark

[11suon]

Hello Mark,
i came across some locals that had a lot of bamboo that they were going to cut and give away to whomever, and well i decided to take on this project with bamboo. i'm an interior design student in a furniture class. i don't have a whole lot of time for this project but still would like to experiment with different materials. I do not like trends so some of the furniture made from bamboo in the 70's or whatever, i definitely do not like.

i believe that the material should really be appreciated and show that I (can) take the time to use it well. I have about 15 or so shoots that were cut maybe a week or so and still green, ranging from small 1in. diam. to 3in diam. I got them in Hillsboro, Va, 1 hour west of washington, dc. It's been cold out here, 35-50 degrees. i can still get more if needed. I've looked into some of it like about curing and preservation but i feel like it can only be done in a factory or large warehouse type business.

I would like to build a bench that is very sturdy, with large stouts, of course as the main legs. my concept for this project can grow to something totally opposite. say i might even want to use smaller shoots to create a strong leg....i'm not specifically sure yet, but i know that i want to create something that is usable, looks nice and will last. something not obvious that it is bamboo. like even trying to flatten it to make the surface, or using it with another wood and camouflaging both....something that will capture my own imagination to share.

is it possible for me to take on any of these projects by myself and with how much time is needed?

thanks alot.

[Mark Meckes]

Hey, good to hear you have some bamboo to experiment with!

I don't make bamboo furniture but have provided bamboo materials from our grove to students at UT at different times for design projects.
It's really been interesting to see the differing ideas that have been presented.

This is a design called Six Feet Over (http://www.bamboocraft.net/gallery/showgallery.php?cat=500&ppuser=483) made by Brian Hagood at UT in 2004 from some of our Phyllostachys aurea.

He did take this apart, and used it for other projects after the display.

Your bamboo may be a different variety.

Let us know how you get along,

Mark

Here's a thread about Table Leg Construction ( http://www.bamboocraft.net/forums/showthread.php?t=399)

and some interesting work by Mark Mortimer

New piece of bamboo furniture (http://www.bamboocraft.net/forums/showthread.php?t=139)

Golden Node Coffee Table (http://www.bamboocraft.net/forums/showthread.php?t=60)