Mark Meckes
14th December 2003, 01:44 AM
Generally speaking, most items made from bamboo require similar tools, processes and techniques...
For example, bamboo may need to be cut, split, shaped, smoothed and so forth.
However, the size (and quantity) of the items made requires additional considerations and techniques.
Obviously, making buildings, fences or furniture is quite different then making flutes or jewelry, in that for larger items you will need much more materials, storage space, working space, means of transporting to market/destination or packaging and shipping costs.
So how do tools and techniques relate to the size of the bamboo being worked on? Well this of course also depends on personal preference of tools, whether they be hand tools or power tools, and the amount of detail and finish, and how fast you want to accomplish the task.
From personal experience, I find three different modes...
working with big, medium, or small pieces of bamboo.
Big bamboo is longer or cumbersome pieces that are difficult to handle,
or larger diameter pieces which I can't grasp easily with by hand.
Various jigs or holding devices make this size easier to work with.
Because I like to use a bench-top band-saw for making saw cuts, my definition for medium pieces is the maximum diameter that this tool will cut, which is 3 to 3 1/2"dia. (7.5 -9cm dia) depending on the make and model.
Small pieces, of sizes less then 1 inch (a couple cm), for example, in making jewelry or tiny parts can require specially concocted holding devices, tools and techniques.
Eventually I will get around to showing examples through different projects.
Mark
For example, bamboo may need to be cut, split, shaped, smoothed and so forth.
However, the size (and quantity) of the items made requires additional considerations and techniques.
Obviously, making buildings, fences or furniture is quite different then making flutes or jewelry, in that for larger items you will need much more materials, storage space, working space, means of transporting to market/destination or packaging and shipping costs.
So how do tools and techniques relate to the size of the bamboo being worked on? Well this of course also depends on personal preference of tools, whether they be hand tools or power tools, and the amount of detail and finish, and how fast you want to accomplish the task.
From personal experience, I find three different modes...
working with big, medium, or small pieces of bamboo.
Big bamboo is longer or cumbersome pieces that are difficult to handle,
or larger diameter pieces which I can't grasp easily with by hand.
Various jigs or holding devices make this size easier to work with.
Because I like to use a bench-top band-saw for making saw cuts, my definition for medium pieces is the maximum diameter that this tool will cut, which is 3 to 3 1/2"dia. (7.5 -9cm dia) depending on the make and model.
Small pieces, of sizes less then 1 inch (a couple cm), for example, in making jewelry or tiny parts can require specially concocted holding devices, tools and techniques.
Eventually I will get around to showing examples through different projects.
Mark