ISO bamboo crafter for trailer covering

[bobmueller]

I'll be in Fort Worth in early April to take delivery of an open 6X8 pressure washing trailer. I'm looking ofr someone to cover this trailer using bamboo. Can anyone accomodate me? I did send a message about this to Mark and Carol before I knew about this forum.

[Mark Meckes]

Hi Bob, can you give us some more details...

Is this for on-road use or to cover the parked trailer?

Tell us more of your thoughts on the design/application.
.. got plans or pics?

BTW I have used a pressure washer to clean bamboo poles.
...works pretty good if the bamboo has been pre-moistened and if culms are rotated while washing.

Regards,
Mark Meckes

[CaroleMeckes]

Have you considered using "plyboo?"
Carole

[bobmueller]

Mark:

Thanks for your quick reply.

I see two options for framing:
1. weld more iron framing up, over, and across the trailer at a height to allow coverage of the pressure washing unit.
2. Use bamboo pole framing for the same purpose.

Then I envision sides, front, back, and top walled up with horizontal bamboo poles and attached to the squared framing. I would prefer the more natural tying with black or tan cord (I have a roll of the black that I did not use up for my own bamboo project in the past.) Ideally, the four vertical sides would be hinged at their top so I could lift each side up for ease of access for equipment servicing and the loading and removal of supplies.

My first towing of this trailer will be on highways from Fort Worth to LA to Northern California and I'd rather not have the equipment open to weather and the curious. For this I could use plywood sides attached to iron framing, but bamboo is beautiful and light so why not go for functional and attractive? :-)

The air and water that leaks through the bamboo pole enclosure should be okay and the ventilation will actually be good when I'm running hte hot pressure washer.

I'd be glad to attach advertizing signage for the person who puts this functional art package together for me and I may be able to be a helper to the person. Time will be of some concern for me since on my way home I choose to visit a brother in Alburqueque and also be in LA for a Men's Retreat on April 24th.

~Bob Mueller
408-712-5377

[bobmueller]

Carole,

I was replying to Mark before I saw your post. I just looked up plyboo on the web and it's a cool idea. I wonder, though, if using it would add more weight than hollow bamboo poles. And I really love the natural look of the poles.

~Bob
408-712-5377

[Mark Meckes]

Hey Bob, this looks like one powerful cleaning machine!

http://www.bamboocraft.net/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=165

The one I tried to use for bamboo was a titchy electrical unit at 1200 PSI ... OK for light work, and very portable, but my last thoughts were ... I've got to upgrade... I was trying to clean several thousand poles...
Mark

[bobmueller]

Mark:

I'd be glad to practise using this machine on a load of your bamboo if it's not too absurd to have the load hauled to Fort Worth.

Thanks for putting the picture on your site and referencing it in this forum. I used the IMG button in the vB Code row and thought it would take the picture from my C drive but I guess it needs a web link.

I pray for a network of bamboo'ers that will bring a crafter to my need.

In the mean time, any suggestions on other ISO paths I can take for this task?

~Bob

[Mark Meckes]

Thanks Bob, for updating us on your progress!
Bamboo Framed Trailer (http://www.bamboocraft.net/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=407)

I also posted the two pics in the `Things Bamboo' Forum...
Bob's Bamboo Framed Pressure Washing Trailer (http://www.bamboocraft.net/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=294)

I don't do much processing of large quantities of bamboo poles anymore, but I could imagine a powerful machine like yours would do quick work of a big job.
The main difficulty I had with the smaller pressure washer was... not enough pressure; the wand was too long (it couldn't be shortened), which made it difficult to wash and , (3rd difficulty). rotating the poles while I was spraying, to clean all sides of the poles....such are the difficulties in a one person operation... needing extended arms and extra hands.
Best wishes with your enterprise,
Mark