Flatten out bamboo?

Gene Gillis · January 07, 2011, 01:52:00 AM

Anyone try heating up bamboo backing to flatten it out before sanding it flat? It works to straighten out shafts. If it would work to make it lay flat before sanding, it would sure make wider pieces.

KellyG · January 07, 2011, 02:18:00 AM

I have thought the same thing. Sand down the inside nodes, heat (steam or dry) and try to flatten like gemsbok horn. Never tried I think the problem is the nodes on the inside would split.
Good question I am sure we will find the answer to the question soon.

KochNE · January 07, 2011, 02:59:00 AM

If I understand what you're saying...

The slats that I got (2" wide Moso) won't flatten any other way than removing the "proud" parts on the edges. I did heat a couple pieces to temper them for use in compression, and it caused the concave section to raise, so the piece was mostly flat. But this doesn't help when used in tension, and the slats are about 3/8" thick. So you'd still end up removing 1/4" to make it acceptable for a backing strip.

In short...you can't transform ( into | in order to gain additional width.

Ricker · January 07, 2011, 05:16:00 AM

Gene,
I heat my slats with a heat gun right around the node area and work them as flat as I can before sanding. I have noticed it allows for a much more consistent piece in thickness and an even width.
I am careful not to overcook the boo. I feel if it is burnt looking I ruined it.

Gene Gillis · January 07, 2011, 10:08:00 AM

Thanks guys. I was just thinking in my own little world. I started out with 5 or 6" bamboo and ripped them on a table saw and they average about 1 3/4" before I take them down. If I had a trough type frame to put them on I could plane them some on a planer. Anybody have an easier way to bring them down to size?

No-sage · January 07, 2011, 12:21:00 PM

Bamboo cuts fine with hand tools. I used to do all mine by getting a rough flattness with a bandsaw and then using a block plane to get it flat. I've done plenty with just a block plane too.

Now, I still get it started with the bandsaw, then I switch to the beltsander to get it flat and ready for glue.

Make sure you have it totally dry before you flatten it. When it's drying, the outside shrinks more than the inside and it pulls the inside flat section to a slight curve. Not a major problem, but it really messes with your glue lines

Gene Gillis · January 07, 2011, 07:40:00 PM

Thanks, Sage, Kelly,Chupa,and the rest. When ya spoke of the concave rising which way were you talking about, and which side was it heated on?
Also how long does it take to dryout?

Ricker · January 08, 2011, 02:01:00 AM

It gets thicker in the center...convex I guess you'd call it.

KochNE · January 10, 2011, 10:41:00 PM

Heated mine both sides over the stove. Don't have a hot box. Went slow on low heat. Maybe 10 mins per side. The "inside" wall of the bamboo raises, so the slat is more (| rather than ((

Gene Gillis · January 11, 2011, 10:28:00 AM

Well thats kinda what I was hoping to do KochNe. Did you heat before it was totally dry or wait?

KochNE · January 11, 2011, 12:44:00 PM

I got mine as a bundle of 25 for $100 from a bamboo place online. Usually sold for use in interior decorating, I think. So they were all completely dry when they showed up.

Don't have any experience w/ splitting my own, but I've heard you want to leave it out in the sun to dry/ cure & bleach out to the golden color. Heard of problems w/ cracking during drying, but that was w/ whole poles, so you might not have to worry since yours is already split?