Question on preparing bamboo for water fountains

[kjhill]

Hello, I am trying to make water fountains with some bamboo I cut from behind my father-in-laws home. What do I need to do to dry and cure it? Do I just let it dry or heat it and also do I spray something on it like a sealer?? Any advise would help. Thanks, kjhill

[Mark Meckes]

Hi kjhill, and thanks for writing.
The subject of drying and curing bamboo can be quite complex, or simply straight forward, really depending on how much control you want over the procedure, and how crucial it is to get consistantly desired end results.
Here's a thread about Drying Bamboo (http://www.bamboocraft.net/forums/showthread.php?t=385 ) that ponders some of these issues.

Using bamboo for water features brings an interesting twist to this subject - making a bamboo product that is to be kept in a moist environment.
The subject also arises, if fish or aquatic life is involved, of whether or not to use any potentially toxic ingredients to preserve the bamboo.

In some traditional applications, or for aesthetic reasons, bamboo water features are made with green (fresh cut) bamboo, which provides a pleasant color contrast and makes the fountain appear even more alive, with water running through it.
The green bamboo can be wiped with a cloth containing, for example, some lemon or furniture oil to accentuate the green. Then as it ages, the color of the fountain gradually changes to shades of tan and brown, and the watermarked staining becomes part of it's integral character.
In using dried material to make the water fountains, the main concern is that the bamboo used is mature harvested, and that it was dried evenly so that it does not split. Heat tempering/caramelizing to shades of brown, (done when the bamboo is still green), is definitely another option that would make for a very attractive fountains.
Another problem in real life scenerios is that one part of the bamboo may be continuouly soaked or submerged in water, while another part is exposed to blisteringly baking sunlight. This contrast can lead to a crack/split forming, which might be only cosmetic or actually require replacing a part. Preventative practice can involve tightly binding a stress point with wire or some type of cordage.
Preventing algae and mold from coating surfaces of the bamboo water feature is a problem that affects all types of water features.
Years ago when I did landscaping, I used to make water gardens/waterfalls etc but they were primarily made of natural stone. Still, algae would build up over time, and a regular part of pond maintenance was to remove build up of slim-type algae, but encouraging and leaving mosses and lichens alone, as they imparted a beauty to the natural aging and character of the waterworks.

Whether it be a simple bamboo spout, or an elaborate fountain orchestrating musical intonations with every drop of water, this is a very interesting field of exploration with many possibilities!

All the best in your ventures, and hope to see some of your experiments!

Mark

[RobertL]

I too have been working on bamboo fountains and am interested and continously been looking for the right glue or resins that can be use with bamboo. Also the results of certain clear coatings on bamboo that stand in water. Currently been using strand copper wire to wrap bamboo that has split, found the strand copper wire can be wrapped and twisted very tightly, unsure how well it stands up in water. I've just started getting into bamboo and find it interesting and fun. Any ideas would be welcomed, thanks RobertL

[Maxim]

I wonder if fiberglass would do anything for you. I use it on drums/canoes and it is fairly easy to work with. Quite transparent, if done correctly.

[RobertL]

In what way did you use fiberglass? Could you elaborate please. And do certain types of bamboo hold up better than others (splitting, coloring & hardness). Thanks

[Mark Meckes]

Hi RobertL and Maxim,
A new thread has been started -
Waterproof glues for bamboo in wet conditions (http://www.bamboocraft.net/forums/showthread.php?t=1313)
... to allow gathering info and discusing this very involved subject.

RobertL wrote...
> And do certain types of bamboo hold up better than others (splitting, coloring & hardness)

Most definitely!, and just as important is the quality and condition of the bamboo being used, as are methods and techniques used to process the bamboo.

What kind of bamboo are you working with? Locally grown or imported?

Mark

[yoman]

When working for pine wood for the outdoors , I have an interesting technique:
I soak the pine for 2 days in Water Based Acrylic glue (designed for cement mixture).
After a while , the Acryl replaced the tree resin , making it very durable.
Maybe the same can be aplied for Bamboo ?