Making a Bamboo Bar

[newbambooerman]

Hello Everyone! My name's Mike, and this is my first forum. I have been playing around with some wild bamboo found in Wilmington, Delaware. I have no idea what kind it is, but I have cut some trees down in attempt to create a bamboo bar (heck - why not?!). Without doing any research I had cut the bamboo down to the sizes I thought to of needed, and since I loved the green color, I thought to polyurethane the outside after being washed with soap and water, then split them in half and poly the inside. I will be nailing these half pieces overtop some plywood, and thought this way I could preserve the green, and maximize my bamboo. However.. after doing more research everyone says to dry it out before splitting and starting. Should I start over and just cure it over some open flames, or will my initial idea work in keeping the color, shape, and look of my bamboo? I appreciate any feed back everyone!

[Mark Meckes]

Hi Mike, here's some thoughts ...
I don't know of any way to keep the green color of the bamboo after it dries. It will eventually turn to shades of tan depending on the drying process.
Splitting the bamboo in half while green will speed the drying process of the pieces.
Heat treating the bamboo in the round is a little easier, though this can also be done as half rounds.
A (wood floor type) paste wax makes a nice finish and can be easily applied and polished.
Varnishes can give a more glossy finish but there's a chance they will peel due to the smooth surface of the bamboo, more so in out door weather.

You will need to drill any holes before nailing the bamboo to the plywood.

All the best with your project.

Mark

[newbambooerman]

Thanks for your advice Mark. What are your thought on using polyurathane on the inside and out of the halves in order to preserve the green color? Do you think it would just come off due to the natural wax of the bamboo?

[Bamabamboo]

Hi Mike.....I'm afraid there is nothing you can do to preserve the green color....or at least nothing that I know of. I'm like you, I would love for it to stay green.....

Cyrus

[newbambooerman]

I have some good bamboo I washed, then polyurathaned a clear coat on the outside, and knocked out the middle part with a rebar and that side too. They still fade, but I have some green ones that fade to dark green!.. so far