Mark Mortimer
12th October 2006, 09:40 PM
I have uploaded two photos of my attempt.
http://www.bamboocraft.net/workshop/data/508/thumbs/R0011335.JPG (http://www.bamboocraft.net/workshop/data/508/medium/R0011335.JPG)
The Phyllostachys nigra Henonis is 55mm average diameter. I wanted to see how far you could go. That's a pretty large diameter bamboo to try and bend.
http://www.bamboocraft.net/workshop/data/508/thumbs/R0011330.JPG (http://www.bamboocraft.net/workshop/data/508/medium/R0011330.JPG)
I used a tie strap and ratchet, as I work on my own and found it hard to pull on the culm whilst heating and then cooling it down. Not enough hands!
I used a wet cloth to do the cooling. Worked a treat.
I really over heated the bamboo, it is actually scorched in places, but was my first go.
One thing I learnt was that you need to start with a culm much longer than the final size you need, as you need the long ends to use as leverage.
Also, if you are going to do something similar to me in that you use a strap and ratchet, BE CAREFUL. If that strap comes off, and you are in front of the culm when it straightens, it will whack you with a terrible force.
http://www.bamboocraft.net/workshop/data/508/thumbs/R0011335.JPG (http://www.bamboocraft.net/workshop/data/508/medium/R0011335.JPG)
The Phyllostachys nigra Henonis is 55mm average diameter. I wanted to see how far you could go. That's a pretty large diameter bamboo to try and bend.
http://www.bamboocraft.net/workshop/data/508/thumbs/R0011330.JPG (http://www.bamboocraft.net/workshop/data/508/medium/R0011330.JPG)
I used a tie strap and ratchet, as I work on my own and found it hard to pull on the culm whilst heating and then cooling it down. Not enough hands!
I used a wet cloth to do the cooling. Worked a treat.
I really over heated the bamboo, it is actually scorched in places, but was my first go.
One thing I learnt was that you need to start with a culm much longer than the final size you need, as you need the long ends to use as leverage.
Also, if you are going to do something similar to me in that you use a strap and ratchet, BE CAREFUL. If that strap comes off, and you are in front of the culm when it straightens, it will whack you with a terrible force.