treating bamboo with diesel??

[yacoo ace]

Hi all, thanks for a very great forum...lots of good info and pics!!

I live in malawi here in the southern part of africa..tropical climate. There's lots of bamboo(not sure what type..yellow with green stripes?) and i really want to use it to make fences, chairs, tables and such, But first i need to know how to preserve the poles.

Someone told me to dry them and then put the bottom end of the bamboo in a bucket of diesel, and let the bamboo soak it up. Is this a good idea? how long can i expect the bamboo to last? I want keep as much of the original color as possible.

Chemicals, wood preserves, and stuff are very scarce here and expensive.

thanks
yacoo

[dincbee]

Hi yacooace, Iam keen to know the answer to your question about bamboo soaking in diesel. Can somebody out there help us with the answer.

[Scott W]

I don't think I'd soak anything in diesel that would be used in the construction. The original color will slowly fade away once the culm is cut...there is no way to preserve it.