May I post about bamboo?

[Volvo_ST1]

Originally Posted By: Tempest
I just did a quick search online and you can get a bamboo bo for like $30. Seems a lot easier than trying to make one.

Your state gets a lot of rain. Is it possible for you plant bamboo? It grows incredibly fast.


Buying the thing ready takes the fun out of it. Growing bamboo here is not possible, since I don't have a garden. I'll make someone who grows bamboo an offer he can't refuse.

 

[UncleS2]

Try putting a few stalks in a bucket of water for while, anywhere from a few days to a few weeks. If it goes in green, wait until it turns pale gold.

Experiment- try mixing ethylene glycol antifreeze with the water.


Grow your own? NO!!! Do *NOT* plant bamboo anywhere, if it ever gets going it will take over. We've had problems with a stand of Japanese bamboo planted decades ago by an old man for fishing poles. Trust me, you do NOT want this stuff growing anywhere near you. Much worse than our native East Texas switch cane.

 

[Volvo_ST1]

Originally Posted By: Stuart Hughes
Try putting a few stalks in a bucket of water for while, anywhere from a few days to a few weeks. If it goes in green, wait until it turns pale gold.


The bamboo that I bought for under $2 at a garden center was a pale gold color. They had it stored outdoors where it was exposed to the elements. Within a week of keeping it indoors, a 5" fissure appeared. Second and third attempt ended the same.

Quote:
Experiment- try mixing ethylene glycol antifreeze with the water.

What will that do?

Quote:
Grow your own? NO!!! Do *NOT* plant bamboo anywhere, if it ever gets going it will take over.
People want me to be surrounded by bamboo!

 

[The_Jeff]

Originally Posted By: PandaBear

I'm suddenly more okay with my office job than I have been in a while.

 

[UncleS2]

You might try putting their dried bamboo in a bucket of water too. Just the lower end of it.

Antifreeze?

That's an old theory my Dad had almost 40 years ago. Someone told him that cheap tourist-type woodcarvings/statues from overseas were sometimes injected with ethylene glycol to prevent splitting. The stuff apparently evaporates *extremely* slowly, or maybe not at all. He put a little mix in a pan- maybe 3/4 antifreeze, 1/4 water-then stood an ax in it, head down. That ax head had never stayed on tight before that. It remained tight for several years after that. Dad died over 30 years ago, I tried the same trick myself on a problem ax about 10 years ago.
That ax head remained tight until it was stolen about 3 years ago. Antifreeze is cheap, might be worth a try.

 

[doitmyself]

NO ANTIFREEZE!!!!!! (ETHYLENE GLYCOL)

We dry "tree cookies" (thin,round trunk sections)at my workplace. What you need is POLYETHYLENE GLYCOL (PEG) as described in this article and others on the web:

http://www.rockler.com/blog/index.cfm?mode=entry&entry=7F49011C-1372-6771-F623DAC0E0A1171A

 

[Volvo_ST1]

Maybe I'll just use a broom handle.

 

[UncleS2]

Oh, OK. Just use straight water then. If the bamboo is uncracked when it goes in, soaking the bottom end, & allowing the water a chance to soak its way to the top through capillary action, may well slow down or even stop it from cracking later on. Best idea- Google for articles on "How To Cure Bamboo", etc.

Gee, if you're gonna worry about a little thing like *poison*...

 

[chevrofreak]

What you really want is rattan.

 

[Volvo_ST1]

Originally Posted By: chevrofreak
What you really want is rattan.


Rattan is not hollow, so no, I don't want it.