Grinding Bamboo

Flem · February 13, 2019, 12:35:38 PM

I was grinding some bamboo yesterday and once again I was dismayed at how much waste there is compared to the finished product. All you get is 2 skinny little lams from that big ol' slat. Am I doing something wrong, or is this everybody's experience?[attachment=1]
check out the arc on this one, least I know how to orient it in the stack!

Roy from Pa · February 13, 2019, 12:52:19 PM

Looks normal to me.

BMorv · February 13, 2019, 12:57:40 PM

Yeah that's my experience too, but I normally scrap the part you are grinding into lams. Are you using the backing? That's the only reason I get bamboo.

Is that how most bamboo lams are made? Cut from slats like that.....I may need to make an effort to keep them for lams if that's the case.

Flem · February 13, 2019, 01:07:03 PM

I've been wasting the rind. Might try cutting it off, but I'm afraid I would not have enough meat for a lamination. Stuff is kind of spendy to experiment on.

BMorv · February 13, 2019, 02:58:34 PM

Hmm....I'll start trying to cut the rind off squarely...Maybe when I get a few piled up we can do a trade, rind for core? No use both of us wasting the parts the other is wanting.

Roy from Pa · February 13, 2019, 03:07:31 PM

ROOKIES:)

BMorv · February 13, 2019, 03:09:44 PM

Quote from: Roy from Pa on February 13, 2019, 03:07:31 PM
ROOKIES:)

What do you do with your core cut offs? Sell them on the pink market?

Roy from Pa · February 13, 2019, 04:21:26 PM

By the time I'm done prepping the rind side, there hain't nothing left.

That's some thick bamboo there.

Those lams look wider than the boo..

Flem · February 13, 2019, 04:38:19 PM

Hey BMorv, now thats a good idea. I'll let you know if I can cut off the rind and still have enough meat to grind a lam.

Roy, it is thick. It's Japanese giant timber bamboo. I was hoping to get 4 lams per stick with this stuff. The lams are the same width as the slab.

Roy from Pa · February 13, 2019, 04:52:19 PM

I see now..

BMorv · February 13, 2019, 05:50:09 PM

Where do you get the boo from lignaphile?

Looks like the stuff from Frank's.

Flem · February 13, 2019, 06:04:28 PM

I get it from a buddy who lives in L.A.

Wolftrail · February 13, 2019, 06:38:53 PM

I dont use Boo but if I ended up with 2 skinny little lams like that I would be more than happy.

Roy from Pa · February 13, 2019, 06:45:56 PM

Ben, the place I told ya about in Florida has that, I think.

Flem · February 13, 2019, 07:09:01 PM

If you can get your hands on some of this stuff, don't hesitate. It's beautiful Bamboo, the spacing between nodes averages 15". My buddy said it's 5-6" in diameter!
I have used it correctly in the past, this bow was made from 3 pieces glued-up into a blank.[attachment=1]