Bamboos are a group of wood-like, perennial evergreen plants. They are part of the true grass family Poaceae. Bamboos are known for their strength, hardness and lightness.
The use of bamboo depends on its age. They can be eaten when they are less than 30 days old. They’re used in making baskets and also clothes when they are 6-9 months old.
They are also used in woodworking, such as in making bamboo boards and utensils. This is when they are 2-3 years of age. For construction work, they can be used when they are 3-6 years.
How to Use them in Woodworking
Bamboos create greater yields of raw material for use. This is because of its 10-30% annual increase biomass versus 2-5% in trees.
Bamboo is processed into solid bamboo lumber. This is done for it to be used in woodworking. There are two kinds of bamboo plywood.
Laminated bamboo plywood is made from flat rectangular strips cut from the stem. They are glued together either vertically or horizontally. The more layers added, the more stable the bamboo panel is.
Strand woven bamboo, the second kind of bamboo plywood, is made using the same process. The only difference is that the strands are not glued. They are compressed under high pressure to make a new composite material.
This is much higher in density than laminated bamboo, with 1200 kg/m3 instead of 700 kg/m3. The strand woven planks are best used for tables, chairs, and even instruments.
The strength bamboo has makes it sturdier than other woods. It is 2-3 times stronger than timber like the red oak.
Bamboo lumber is used in making chairs, tables, and cabinets. They’re also utilized in making toys and utensils like spoons and plates. Things made of bamboo are usually sturdier and lighter than those crafted from wood.
Bamboo panels can be used in floors. The panel consists of stalks (culms) that are cut into strips. It is then planed to about ¾-inch thick and glued together.
Horizontal-style strips are cut into pieces that are 1-inch wide and laminated in 2-3 layers. These can be used for making table tops and chopping boards.
In making vertical planks, the strips are face glued. This exposes the stalks’ edges. This is best for making cabinets or cupboards.
The smoothness of bamboo makes it easy to use for finer wood working projects. Aside from that, its lightness makes it easy to handle when doing a big project.
Bamboo is also hard; this makes it durable and more compact than other woods. This helps make the furniture last longer.
Why is Bamboo Used in Woodworking?
Bamboo is becoming quite popular as of late in the woodworking scene because of its availability. Well, it’s also used in woodworking because it is strong. Some varieties of bamboo are even stronger than steel—in fact, in some countries, it’s being used to build scaffoldings and bridges.
Have you tried doing projects using bamboo? If you haven’t, maybe it’s about time that you discover firsthand the benefits offered by such a remarkable material.
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