bamboo cups

[redturtle]

I am just beginning my tinkering with bamboo. I have a large amount of various sizes...way too much actually, so I am looking for interestings things to do with it.

One such thing I saw are drinking cups. Is there anything that I need to coat the cup with?, or is it safe (for drinking and for longevity of the cup) if I leave it untreated?

thank you in advance

[GNiessen]

I have several wooden drinking mugs. They are all treated with a food safe coating. Untreated they will absorb liquids and be unusable after the first use. Interestingly I found in my search that Shellac is the most water safe coating recommended. Even epoxy coatings have issues with acidic beverages.

If you find something that works and start selling them, let us know. I would like a couple. And none of my bamboo are big enough yet.

[redturtle]

Thank you for your insight into the shellac. It is indeed "edible". I found a link to a supplier of a denatured alcohol shellac, and found that Woodcraft carries it.

Upon calling the local Woodcraft store, the man was absolutely helpful. He told me that denatured alcohol would not be the best option for coating drinking cups, as it has to be renewed more often that any other option of finish (yes, that does mean that all finishes on wood drinking vessels need refinishing every so often, according to the man at Woodcraft that I spoke to). I was also told that shellac will break down due to constant contact to the oils in our skin.

I was told that a better option for coating wooden drinking cups is plain old mineral oil that you can get at the grocery store. 2 choices: 1)soak the cup for 24 hours. 2)mix mineral oil and mineral spirits 50/50 and rub on like a stain (mixing it thins it out and helps it soak into the pores more easily. Then you can go back after it dries and coat a second time with straight mineral oil.

He told me also that the best option for attaching a handle or some other such thing to a wooden drinking cup would be a "marine use" epoxy. The one he named to me is: System 3 Epoxy.

I am only in the brainstorming and contemplating stage for now. I will post pictures/links as I complete my first cup.

I can forsee myself wanting/needing a plot of land so that I can plant a small bamboo copse...LOL

Michael

[D_Bat]

I am just now getting into bamboo. I have a ton of it planted but have no clue what to do and I am trying to learn about finishing bamboo for use and protection. Do you just straight cut the bamboo and then do this or do you need to let it dry for a certain amount of time or what?

[richiegabrio]

Is there anyone in this forum that has been making drinking cups with large diameter bamboo? If so, what is the best material to use as a bottom? Is there merit in a metal bottom, perhaps copper, that can easily be cut to the exact shape of a potentially not perfectly circular opening?

richiegabrio

[soccerdude]

Is there anyone in this forum that has been making drinking cups with large diameter bamboo? If so, what is the best material to use as a bottom? Is there merit in a metal bottom, perhaps copper, that can easily be cut to the exact shape of a potentially not perfectly circular opening?

richiegabrio

Why would you need a bottom? You could use the node part for the bottom.

D_bat I dont know much about working with bamboo, but i will tell you what i know. First of all I heard you want to wait to cut the bamboo until it's 2 to 3years (Most likely even 4 years). You dont want to cut when it's really young and just got done shooting or really old. Also there are certain times when you want to cut the bamboo to because they are less susceptible to disease with the starches in the cane. I think its during a full moon and during the spring when they are shooting. You will have to look it up whether its spring or fall, but a full moon is true. You do want to let the bamboo dry. Make sure its in a well ventilated dry place not in a damp place where mold will grow.

Let me know if im wrong in any areas because i did this on the top of my head because i did this kind of research awhile ago.

Hope this help!

[greg kono]

http://images.rockler.com/rockler/images/27188-01-200.jpg

I just saw this stainless steel mug liner in the Rockler catalog.
http://www.rockler.com/product.cfm?page=19667&filter=coffee%20mug%20kit

I thought it actually was bamboo at first.