Treatment of Bamboo

[asnor69]

Hello again bambooseros,

I have already got the material that can help our bamboo products last longer. I do not know the material over at your places, but here we have found a breakthrough product that can make our bamboo water proof which in turn, make our products resistant to fungus (rate 0 : no growth at all observed for 3 year experiment period), heat resistant up to 200 degrees Celcius, fire retardant (I'll post the photos of the experiment on nipah roof once they are ready). Further tests also showed that products treated with this material are resistant to termites (common problems in Malaysia - Tests carried out on wood and bamboo left on naked soil) - photos will follow in later postings.

The best thing is that the material is water based and it is edible. This plant extract polymer is already patented in Malaysia. Sadly, the manufacturer hold the plant source as secret of the trade regardless of my highest degree of persuasion.The application of this material is like lacquer. Comes in black, gloss and teak colour.

[Henry Lee]

Abu,

that is so interesting. Have you actually test it out? Can you send some samples over?

Henry

[asnor69]

Dear Henry,

The tests were carried out by the Standard Industrial Reseaarch Institute Malaysia, a Semi-Government body responsible for standard certification of products manufactured in Malaysia. Check this homepage http://www.sirim.my/

I tried on my latest bamboo gazebo that I delivered yesterday. The material act as sealer. The advantage is that it provides the same shine as clear lacquer or gloss paint, once dried. It shows the texture of the bamboo minus the 1 mm thick dried clear lacquer. One thing I observed, when I tried burning some newspaper on the finished surface, there are no permanent burn mark left on the surface. I just use a wet cloth and wipe the ash away.

Another feature of this material is that it acts like a glue. It help strengthen the connections between bamboo poles. I believe this will improve the strength of my furniture as a whole.

I also tried the material on furnitures that was delevered long ago. The furniture was covered with fungus. I used sandpaper no 80, to clear the grown fungus and applied the material. Then I used teak coloured lacquer on the repaired surface to match other surface of the furniture. I did not sand the newly applied material surface before I applied the lacquer. There was no dispersing effect on the applied lacquer surface.

[martinduplantier]

abu,
do you know the name of this product? is it going to be commercialized abroad?
it seems indeed very interesting. I would definitely be interested in trying it out.
martin

[rhonrada]

Is this product available in the United States?

[asnor69]

Thinking at the cost of shipping, it is not worth your money to buy it here. I have sent the chemicals to a chemist friend in a commercial lab. The results just came in yesterday. The treatment were made of gourd plant latex (liquid extract coming out of the stem from a cut gourd plant).

Yes, it seals all holes making PPB suffocates and dies. Yes, it dries in under 10 minutes after application. Yes, it makes the item fire and water resistant. Better appllied by dipping the item in the solution. One catch though, in order to get a clean, smooth and shining like a layer of glass coat, you need to make sure the surface is smoothly sanded (I used 320 grate and above sandpaper) before applilcation. The best feature is that it is edible and can be applied on kitchen utensils It does not chip out like any lacquer type but stick to the item as if it is the original part of the bamboo.

Will post the pictures of the item applied in next post.