Bamboo decoration

[hoojib88]

So I have a plan to build a cabinet around a 110 gallon stock tank for my turtle. I don't want to use all wood because it's expensive and I'm pretty sure the cabinet is not going to support any weight. Basically it's just so the stock tank looks nicer. So, what if I cut down bamboo, weave it together with some twine, to make a fence and attach it to the frame of the cabinet? Do I have to wait for it to cure if I'm just tying knots? Just wondering.. I've never used bamboo for anything other than a cane pole that I bought at a tackle shop. I don't have any definite plans for the cabinet just a free handed sketch.

Thank you!! :)

I attached my sketch. It's not the prettiest or straightest but I guess it gets the point across.

[CaroleMeckes]

Hello hoojib88

I am trying to picture the dimensions of a 110 gallon stock tank. Can you post the size of the tank in feet?

Do you have your own bamboo to harvest? or will you be getting it from a wild grove? or from a friend?

Carole

[hoojib88]

My boyfriend has a ton of bamboo growing in his backyard. We were planning on cutting a cool maze through the bamboo. I'm not sure what kind it is. A stock tank looks like a big trough for feeding or watering live stock. The stock tank about 4 ft long, 2.5 feet wide and about 20 inches deep. It's pretty ridiculously large.
http://www.redearslider.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=16080&postdays=0&postorder=asc&highlight=habitat+coming+together&start=0 that's the habitat that gave me the idea. Just so you guys can get an idea on how large this will be. It'll be quite a bit of bamboo.

[CaroleMeckes]

Where will you be keeping the stock tank? indoors? or outdoors?

You don't have to wait to cure the bamboo, but you have to be sure that you are not using the canes that just grew this last season.

Older canes are better to use.

Carole

[hoojib88]

It'll be indoor. That's cool that i wouldn't have to cure it and stuff! Nice!

[pathill]

Its a nice idea. Just a suggestion, You can also use nails in doing the bamboo fence.

[CaroleMeckes]

If you do decide to use nails, be sure that you drill a hole in the bamboo first.
Nailing directly into the bamboo usually causes the bamboo to split.
Carole

[Tikiskip]

I would make a wood frame and then just afix bamboo to that.
On the nail thing I don't use nails with bamboo what I do is drill
a hole the size of a small dowel rod and then glue the dowel into
the bamboo and the thing I want to attatch bamboo to.
Then when glue dries you can come back with a sander and
sand the dowel to match the bamboo.

[Tikiskip]

Also go here, Does this give you ideas?
http://www.aquariumchest.com/

[Daylilies]

Of course a shop like ours could probably build such an item custom if you called us and requested it....but if there's any advice or ideas we could give to help you (assuming you still need help), by all means ask away! :-)

If not, could you show off your finished creation? We always enjoy seeing Bamboo items created by others! :-)