Mark Meckes
13th March 2001, 05:22 PM
These pictures illustrate some bamboo jewelry items that I made using a Scroll Saw.
Bamboo Earrings from Phyllostachys sp.
http://www.bamboocraft.net/gallery/data/528/thumbs/1MVC-043F.JPG See photo (http://www.bamboocraft.net/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=527)
Bamboo Jewelry Ornaments and Accessories
http://www.bamboocraft.net/gallery/data/528/thumbs/1MVC-044F.JPG See photo (http://www.bamboocraft.net/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=528)
These were all made from domestically grown (USA) Phyllostachys species.
For the earrings shown, these are the steps I take:
- Select split pieces of bamboo
- Smooth the edges so that each piece is of even width.
I use a 1 inch wide belt sander for quick work, but this could be done by hand.
- Then cut out `blanks' or equal lengths of these strips.
I use a Band Saw with fine teeth for these cuts, because (I think) it does a better job of cutting straight (perpindicular) cuts then a Scroll Saw.
Again, this could be done with a fine tooth hand saw. Make sure to keep the pieces from each strip together.
With earrings, and many other things, you need pairs (two identical pieces) A piece from another strip of bamboo will not match as well in color or texture.
- I like to have a lot of different lengths of these blanks, and cut them in increasing lengths of 5mm increments.
They can be used for a lot of projects.
- I have a series of measured markers on the Scroll
Saw table to make specific cuts that enables each earring
piece to be equally cut and be oppositely symetrical...I
will try to illustrate this some day, but this is an example where participating in a workshop and observing crafting techniques, is very helpful.
For the Jewelry,Ornaments and Accessories picture, the
items were either roughly drawn out first with a china
marker pencil (type of wax pencil), or cut out freehand with the Scroll Saw.
I also dye or paint or leave the undersides plain, and seal it all with a satin acrylic water based varnish (2-3 light coats) to prevent discoloration through wear.
~ Mark
Bamboo Earrings from Phyllostachys sp.
http://www.bamboocraft.net/gallery/data/528/thumbs/1MVC-043F.JPG See photo (http://www.bamboocraft.net/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=527)
Bamboo Jewelry Ornaments and Accessories
http://www.bamboocraft.net/gallery/data/528/thumbs/1MVC-044F.JPG See photo (http://www.bamboocraft.net/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=528)
These were all made from domestically grown (USA) Phyllostachys species.
For the earrings shown, these are the steps I take:
- Select split pieces of bamboo
- Smooth the edges so that each piece is of even width.
I use a 1 inch wide belt sander for quick work, but this could be done by hand.
- Then cut out `blanks' or equal lengths of these strips.
I use a Band Saw with fine teeth for these cuts, because (I think) it does a better job of cutting straight (perpindicular) cuts then a Scroll Saw.
Again, this could be done with a fine tooth hand saw. Make sure to keep the pieces from each strip together.
With earrings, and many other things, you need pairs (two identical pieces) A piece from another strip of bamboo will not match as well in color or texture.
- I like to have a lot of different lengths of these blanks, and cut them in increasing lengths of 5mm increments.
They can be used for a lot of projects.
- I have a series of measured markers on the Scroll
Saw table to make specific cuts that enables each earring
piece to be equally cut and be oppositely symetrical...I
will try to illustrate this some day, but this is an example where participating in a workshop and observing crafting techniques, is very helpful.
For the Jewelry,Ornaments and Accessories picture, the
items were either roughly drawn out first with a china
marker pencil (type of wax pencil), or cut out freehand with the Scroll Saw.
I also dye or paint or leave the undersides plain, and seal it all with a satin acrylic water based varnish (2-3 light coats) to prevent discoloration through wear.
~ Mark