Mark Meckes
23rd May 2001, 03:24 AM
Hi All,
Does anyone know what happens to the `sugars' in bamboo when it is steamed?
The posting at the end of this message about the process of making flooring, was sent to bamboo-plantations at yahoogroups and forwarded here, courtesy of Ian Hunter/INBAR
Date sent: Sat, 19 May 2001
> Hi Ian,
I would like to ask this question(about the process)
> > They must be steamed to remove sugar...
Does the process of steaming bamboo, remove the
sugars or does it change the molecular composition of the
sugars?
Would you have an answer to this question, that I can
include with this posting ?
Thanks,
Mark Meckes
The straight answer is - I'm not sure - but I'll try
to find out.
Best wishes, Ian Hunter
--- Ian Hunter wrote:
Bamboo flooring is made by splitting bamboo culms into lathes about 2cm wide (the width is determined by the rounding of the culm - the lathes must be nearly flat) and then gluing them back together again.
Most of the flooring manufacturers seem to have copied the wood floorers and made planks that are 10 cm wide.
These planks have a tongue and groove edge so they can be fitted back together again.
The planks are sanded and then coated with varnish.
In essence, its very simple.
In China its mainly Moso bamboo that is used but I think there is no reason why it should not be any large diameter bamboo.
There are endless "tricks of the trade" to get right before an acceptable product is produced. The culms must be mature. They must be steamed to remove sugar and thoroughly dry.
The final squaring of the lathes must be perfect - and that isn't easy to achieve because the high silica content of bamboo blunts the machinery. Not too much of the outside surface should be removed to square the lathe - otherwise durability is affected.
The lathes must be stacked together with their outsides up. The underside of the bamboo is softer.
The glue must be adequately strong but acceptable environmentally.
The final finishing must be perfect.
The product must be kept dry.
The varnish must be hard. UV-setting varnish is used.
I.R. Hunter
Director General and Head of Mission
International Network for Bamboo and Rattan
Does anyone know what happens to the `sugars' in bamboo when it is steamed?
The posting at the end of this message about the process of making flooring, was sent to bamboo-plantations at yahoogroups and forwarded here, courtesy of Ian Hunter/INBAR
Date sent: Sat, 19 May 2001
> Hi Ian,
I would like to ask this question(about the process)
> > They must be steamed to remove sugar...
Does the process of steaming bamboo, remove the
sugars or does it change the molecular composition of the
sugars?
Would you have an answer to this question, that I can
include with this posting ?
Thanks,
Mark Meckes
The straight answer is - I'm not sure - but I'll try
to find out.
Best wishes, Ian Hunter
--- Ian Hunter wrote:
Bamboo flooring is made by splitting bamboo culms into lathes about 2cm wide (the width is determined by the rounding of the culm - the lathes must be nearly flat) and then gluing them back together again.
Most of the flooring manufacturers seem to have copied the wood floorers and made planks that are 10 cm wide.
These planks have a tongue and groove edge so they can be fitted back together again.
The planks are sanded and then coated with varnish.
In essence, its very simple.
In China its mainly Moso bamboo that is used but I think there is no reason why it should not be any large diameter bamboo.
There are endless "tricks of the trade" to get right before an acceptable product is produced. The culms must be mature. They must be steamed to remove sugar and thoroughly dry.
The final squaring of the lathes must be perfect - and that isn't easy to achieve because the high silica content of bamboo blunts the machinery. Not too much of the outside surface should be removed to square the lathe - otherwise durability is affected.
The lathes must be stacked together with their outsides up. The underside of the bamboo is softer.
The glue must be adequately strong but acceptable environmentally.
The final finishing must be perfect.
The product must be kept dry.
The varnish must be hard. UV-setting varnish is used.
I.R. Hunter
Director General and Head of Mission
International Network for Bamboo and Rattan