Bamboo finishes, Food Grade a +

[Timothy LLoyd Henderson]

Hello to All,

My Thanks to many members here already. I am looking for a Bamboo Preservative that is durable, as in hard, or scratch resistant.
Also would like something ' Food Grade ' with like properties.
I have read this post (http://www.bamboocraft.net/forums/showthread.php?t=1865) of a organic ' Latex Base ' finish used on Bamboo for sealing.
Said product was water tite, durable scratch resistant but was in Malaysia.
Any to be had in the U.S. or not?
There is a possable hook-up with Family in P.I. if I could get some solid info.
Any comments, help, etc., appreciated !
Thanks again from a 'New-Bee' here at The Forum.

Timothy

[Mark Meckes]

Hi Timothy,
Tough question. I have not found an edible solution.
I suppose we could make a technical distinction between a preservative, ie, a substance that is impregnated or diffused throughout the entire body of the bamboo ... and a finish, or protective coating on the surface of the bamboo.
Also to consider would be the application, or degree of duress that the bamboo item is being put under.
In other words, is it for outdoors, in all elements of the weather, or for indoors and more protected use?

The only 'food safe' preservation method I'm familiar with is water soaking of the bamboo, which leaches out the starches and makes the bamboo less palatable to borers, though this method can discolor/darken the bamboo and make it more brittle.

For a finish, I rely on the natural surface skin of the bamboo and one ingredient I use is a paste wax:
Trewax Paste Wax (http://www.trewax.com/woodcare.html) which " contains Natural Brazilian Carnauba Wax, the world's hardest natural wax ensuring a lustrous, hard, long wearing finish."

It is much less toxic to work with than petroleum based waxes, and smells pleasant to work with. - Check out the MSDS info at site.

I sometimes also heat treat the bamboo and use this wax as a solvent/polisher and to wipe off the the excess surface exudate during heat treating.

Mark

[Timothy LLoyd Henderson]

Mark,
Thanks for the info.
In past I have used shellac followed with varnish, this stays on better than most but what a pain.
The clear coat stuff seems to flake over little time.
Have not tried the epoxys' yet.
I make walking canes, hiking 'sticks', some boys from the Fla. Keys wanted some for push poles for fishing the flats. They said PVC turns to dirt, and everybody 'borrows' a new PVC pole. They all look alike, so the Bamboo.
I saw the drink 'MUG' and thought a set would be nice, but wonderd about a sealer.
Thanks again for the help.
Timothy

[Mark Meckes]

Hi Timothy,
For walking sticks, poles etc you should try heat treating and applying paste wax. It brings out a beautiful lustre in the bamboo and there's no problems associated with varnishes, like uneven coating, brush marks or eventual peeling varnish.

I use this gizmo ...
http://www.bamboocraft.net/workshop/data/518/thumbs/PropaneTorch-035.jpg (http://www.bamboocraft.net/workshop/showphoto.php?photo=1410)

... though you could use any gas flame apparatus. Flame from a fire works too but results in carbon deposits from the fire.
I used to rub a block of bees wax on the bamboo, after I heated a portion of the pole and after the surface texture went from sticky to slick.
But I found that the paste wax, applied to a cloth works much better to wipe off the sticky exudate, as this doesn't require the need to heat the bamboo as much, as the paste wax acts as a solvent, making it easier to wipe off the sticky exudate.
Do a section, a couple feet at a time. I wear cotton work gloves as the bamboo gets hot.
The bamboo changes to a nice golden color. The main thing, if a uniform color is desired, is to constantly move the flame, or the pole, depending which method you are using, because it is easy to scorch the bamboo.

Re: making mugs, I'll refer you to this thread: Making Bamboo Mugs or Drinking glasses (http://www.bamboocraft.net/forums/showthread.php?t=1355)

Mark

[Timothy LLoyd Henderson]

Mark,
I took your advice on the heating of Bamboo.
Never gave it much thought, but the canes that were used to fish with in the Low Water counties of South Carolina were 'Striped' a caramel color in a 'Candy Cane' twist. I realize now that is what was done back when I was a Chap.
Thanks again , Timothy

[Mark Meckes]

Interesting example you brought up Timothy.
Heat tempering the bamboo has the affect of hardening the bamboo and also gives it more resiliency and springback, as the fly fishing pole makers have learned in the making of the split bamboo flyrods.

Mark

[Timothy LLoyd Henderson]

Mark,

Again, Thank You for the Link to the Tre Wax products. My Mother has always used Johnsons Paste Wax on the floors, let dry, and buff with a orbital buffer. But I am not sure of the Wax used in their product. I do know it smelled like jet fuel until it dried. So I'm looking forward to trying the Tre Wax.
The split Bamboo Fly Rods truely is an Art, a Gift. Many of the people at The Forum have this Gift I would include You in that regard Mark.
I am a mathamatical clutz. I spent my life working in Steel, which is an Art to many.
I felt like the Steel was submiting to my need. Wood must be interpreted, much like reading a book. Before you make the first cut, even the under-appreciated Wood of Bamboo. I feel like a Blind Man when I see other people working with Wood, but Bamboo has always kept me coming back to try again.
So here I am!
Thanks to all, Timothy

[Mark Meckes]

Hi Timothy,
Yes, the Johnsons Paste Wax is very high in petroleum based solvents and waxes. I go giddy when I smell these fumes ... I've always had a low tolerance/ dislike to auto fumes/exhausts, but there are plenty people who don't mind it at all, otherwise there'd be no such thing as stock car racing etc, and I'm particularly thankful of car mechanics when I need one ;)

I know someone who always uses Johnson Paste Wax to polish their bamboo and will not be swayed to change to TreWax.
I could say the reason could be the 'buzz factor', some like it some don't ...
But I will say this about the Johnson Paste Wax:
- The petroleum distillate solvents have a stronger action to dissolve the natural whitish waxy coating that commonly occurs on the surface of bamboo.
However, heating the bamboo, as mentioned in a previous post, is much more effective at melting this white film on the bamboo and revealing the rich color of the bamboo surface, and using heat and TreWax is very effective.

- The high solvent > evaporative properties of the Johnson Paste Wax results in a faster drying surface and I believe a more glossy finish.
However I'm pleased with the luster that the Tre Wax produces.
It just needs a longer period to dry and harden, and a rebuffing at a later time increases the luster.
Using Trex Wax along with heating the bamboo produces a high gloss.

I spent my life working in Steel, which is an Art to many.
I felt like the Steel was submiting to my need. Wood must be interpreted, much like reading a book

I've never worked with steel, though I've wondered about possible similarities between bamboo and steel when it comes to heat tempering.

Mark

[Timothy LLoyd Henderson]

Mark,

The 'Big Deal' with steel is that every piece of Raw Material made, be
molecularly the same ie: Certified as to content, strength, temper, etc.,
Where as Wood be it Bamboo, or Birch, can and does change from point
to point in the 'Trunk', and even more so from Tree to Tree. They all react
diffrent to how they are cut, where they are cut, when they are cut, etc.,
Steel, and Wood are aged to bring about some 'uniformaties' but, the
processes are much diffrent, and achive much diffrent results. You can
almost work steel by a written recipe, which is what 'Big Industry' wants,
so that they can do away with 'Human' labor, and rely on machines to do
the work. Wood will always be a 'Human' Art, I think!
And I do love all the Photos. of what people the world over have done
with Bamboo.
Thank You Again, Timothy