Mark Meckes
5th January 2004, 08:02 AM
If bamboo is bent while it is green, and allowed to dry, it'll stay pretty much in that form.
http://www.bamboocraft.net/workshop/data/508/thumbs/1Mvc-219f.jpg
In this picture (http://www.bamboocraft.net/workshop/showphoto.php?photo=699), a wreath was woven from Phyllostachys aurea, allowed to dry, then unwoven, and the springy mass was re-shaped into these.
http://www.bamboocraft.net/workshop/data/508/thumbs/1MVC-104F.JPG
About this picture (http://www.bamboocraft.net/workshop/showphoto.php?photo=907)
This is a Phyllostachys aurea 1 3/4" dia. pole that was harvested about a month prior to bending.
In this experiment, after cutting out the strip at the top of the pole, I shaved off some of the inside of the culm, then bent the strip into a u-shape. This was done without applying heat.
Gradually working on the bend, up and down the strip helps prevent kinks, abrupt bends or breakage
After bending, the strip was inserted inside the culm and allowed to dry.
I have pulled the strip out for this pic, which also demonstrates the amount of spring-back the bent piece contains.
If I had applied a source of heat to the bend, the spring-back would be much less. This is because the extra heat would have further `plasticized' the strip, making it more supple, and upon cooling, the bamboo hardens and retains the bent shape.
Mark
http://www.bamboocraft.net/workshop/data/508/thumbs/1Mvc-219f.jpg
In this picture (http://www.bamboocraft.net/workshop/showphoto.php?photo=699), a wreath was woven from Phyllostachys aurea, allowed to dry, then unwoven, and the springy mass was re-shaped into these.
http://www.bamboocraft.net/workshop/data/508/thumbs/1MVC-104F.JPG
About this picture (http://www.bamboocraft.net/workshop/showphoto.php?photo=907)
This is a Phyllostachys aurea 1 3/4" dia. pole that was harvested about a month prior to bending.
In this experiment, after cutting out the strip at the top of the pole, I shaved off some of the inside of the culm, then bent the strip into a u-shape. This was done without applying heat.
Gradually working on the bend, up and down the strip helps prevent kinks, abrupt bends or breakage
After bending, the strip was inserted inside the culm and allowed to dry.
I have pulled the strip out for this pic, which also demonstrates the amount of spring-back the bent piece contains.
If I had applied a source of heat to the bend, the spring-back would be much less. This is because the extra heat would have further `plasticized' the strip, making it more supple, and upon cooling, the bamboo hardens and retains the bent shape.
Mark