Bamboo

[HamMike]

Does anyone have a good source for bamboo stock? I'm lookin to put together some lightweight poles.

[JohnSawyer]

Your local home-and-garden centers normally have bamboo up to about 5/8" diameter. 6', I think I paid $2-$3 ea....

Find a neighbor with bamboo. The stuff grows like a weed. I can get 12' lengths from my neighbor, I just have to cut and dry them myself...

[Law Dawg (ret)]

Maybe a set of Kendo Shinai would be a good place to start. They could easily be transformed into mondo strong trekking poles with very few modifications. Bamboo comes in grades and the strength varies widely. How did you want to build yours?

http://www.trueswords.com/kendo-bamb...et-p-2395.html

[HamMike]

Maybe a set of Kendo Shinai would be a good place to start. They could easily be transformed into mondo strong trekking poles with very few modifications. Bamboo comes in grades and the strength varies widely. How did you want to build yours?

http://www.trueswords.com/kendo-bamb...et-p-2395.html

I don't have a plan, but wanted to get my hands on some bamboo to formulate one.

[TiredFeet]

Your local home-and-garden centers normally have bamboo up to about 5/8" diameter. 6', I think I paid $2-$3 ea....

Find a neighbor with bamboo. The stuff grows like a weed. I can get 12' lengths from my neighbor, I just have to cut and dry them myself...

Agree - find a neighbor with a bamboo patch - it grows like a weed and they will be delighted to find someone who wants to cut down some of their "crop".

Hint - let it dry for at least a month indoors or outside if it's dry. You can speed the drying with either a propane torch or heat gun. Play the heat over the outside evenly and don't dwell long in one spot. As it drys, it will will turn a light brown and start steaming out one or both ends. Be careful of scorching the surface. A film of "oil" will develop on the surface. Just use a clean rag and rub the oil to even it out on the surface - protects the bamboo from water damage.

Plugging the ends of the cut bamboo will keep water from seeping into the inside and help prevent the ends from splitting with use - do NOT plug the ends before thoroughly drying the bamboo. If you plug before thoroughly dry, the end will split wide open from the pressure developed inside from water vapor - learned that the hard way. We use oak or poplar dowels for the plugs - 1/2" to 1" long. Drill and glue in place. Super glue works great.

[Roadrunnr72]

I have a bamboo walking stick. I cut the length so that it is just past the inner bands, so the ends look solid. Then just wrapped the middle for a hand grip. Nothing special about it, so I'm interested in what you come up with.

[kayak karl]

i can get whatever you want, but i'm in jersey. shipping would be a lot. ps it's fresh cut, needs to dry.

[Shug]

My Dad used to take me on Sundays into the woods. Quietly we would just walk. I was quiet then. My Dad looked happy and carefree. He had a bamboo thicket he found and shared it with me. We would harvest some and make wind chimes for family friends for Christmas.
Pencil holders for lesser friends!
He taught me to love the woods.
My Bamboo Moment.
Shug

[SkyDog]

My cycling buddy gets bamboo from the local County dump. Since it is a weed, the County cuts it down and they have a huge pile. My buddy got it for HIS cycling buddy to make a bamboo BICYCLE.

If you have a landfill / dump nearby, it may be worth checking for bamboo.

[Shadowmoss]

Turtle Lady made an awesome portable hammock stand from bamboo poles. I'm wanting to find some down here to make my own. My regular one is kind of heavy to transport.