Bamboo

[Jim in Oakville]

Hi All,

I come to the group with a question for some assistance and guidance please. A client of mine would like me to make them a pen and pencil set from bamboo. I have never turned it before and I am even not sure where to get it for pen making. Are there orientations that look best when turning bamboo? What other considerations should i keep in mind when turning and finishing bamboo?

Thank You!!

 

[Russianwolf]

If memory serves, CSUSA has blanks. Others have cut up cheap cutting boards. Flooring isn't really viable except for maybe slims since it's 5/8s thick.

 

[ctubbs]

Jim, I have never turned Bamboo as such, but we have a thing here called river bottom cane that I have been told is a close relative of Bamboo. That I have turned and it turns very well with sharp tools. Mine came out very smooth and finished with BLO and CA real nice. As a matter of fact, I have turned a few pens from it. Once it is dried out, it is harder than oak. ours has a tendency to display very fine lines of brown to redish lines running length wise.
There should be samples of flooring available in your area at any flooring supply store. That is becoming a very popular flooring material. Hope this works out for you.
Charles

 

[wood-of-1kind]

Hi Jim
I have bamboo blanks to cover your needs. The Rotondo will be good to bring the blanks down to size. Let me know if this helps. I can post a picture of a finished Perfect Fit pen made with bamboo.

 

[Displaced Canadian]

Both of these pens are made with bamboo. One with a blank from CSUSA and the other from flooring. If you wax your bushings make sure to seal the ends of the blanks or the wax WILL run into the end of the blank. ( I read that in a book somewhere:redface Bamboo also has a tendency to grab your tools and cause you to make deeper cuts than you planned to. It finishes well and one side will have lines the others may have a lot of dots. the more crazy the grain the better it looks.

 

[hebertjo]

Jim -

You can get 2 different colors of bamboo here:

http://www.woodturningz.com/Wood_Pen_Blanks.aspx

Bamboo is fairly plain so you could do some segmenting with the 2 colors to spice it up.

Good luck,

 

[toddlajoie]

I've done 2 pens in Bamboo (can only find photos of 1 at the moment...) and it was, for me, no different to turn than most other woods. Maybe a tad bit toward the Wenge end, in that is a bit prone to splinter due to it's stringy nature. I also did one with just a wax finish ( sanded to 1200g, then the Hut PPP sticks) and it has a silky sort of texture to it that I really like, but I don't know how long it will hold up with daily use. The other was done with a CA finish, and it looks sharp. (My sister has this one, Pictured, and her boss keeps trying to steal it.) I'll agree that it is a bit bland, but not in a bad way Mine were the ones that CSUSA sells. I have a bunch of bamboo flooring that I keep meaning to glue up and try, and I also bought a striped bamboo cutting board that I need to cut up for blanks too, I just haven't gotten around to some of this...

 

[JerrySambrook]

Both of these pens are made with bamboo. One with a blank from CSUSA and the other from flooring. If you wax your bushings make sure to seal the ends of the blanks or the wax WILL run into the end of the blank. ( I read that in a book somewhere:redface Bamboo also has a tendency to grab your tools and cause you to make deeper cuts than you planned to. It finishes well and one side will have lines the others may have a lot of dots. the more crazy the grain the better it looks.

Hey Chris, where did you find the red striped bamboo?:wink::biggrin:

I did not think they could export it

 

[jaywood1207]

Pretty plain unless you dress it up. Another option and my take on it. I had a couple small canes that I used but not sure where you can get them from.

 

[aggromere]

I got some bamboo blanks from Big Robb. They were hard to turn, at least for me, tough and fiberous. But once you get it turned down and sanded and get the CA on it, it looks outstanding. I just made two pens for a father son that run a seafood market. Man them a black ti cigar pen kit with bamboo upper and a white hollow lower, with their fish logo decaled on. The over all affect was very pleasing to them.

 

[Penl8the]

Jim,

I just turned mine lengthwise. Finished it with Minwax Polyurethane.

 

[wood-of-1kind]

Bamboo on PF

This is "furniture" grade bamboo on a PF which as you are well aware comes both as a pen & pencil style. The "pock" marks give it some distinction which is not very evident on many bamboo species.

 

[JMT]

Oh wow....that is cool. The grain almost looks like scales or skin of somekind.

 

[arioux]

Go to the bargain store, they all have bamboo cutting board. This is where is take mine. $6. for a 12 x 10 x 3/4. makes few blanks and you can decide to cut it grain wise or cross grain.

 

[Jim in Oakville]

This is "furniture" grade bamboo on a PF which as you are well aware comes both as a pen & pencil style. The "pock" marks give it some distinction which is not very evident on many bamboo species.

Stunning!

 

[Jim in Oakville]

Thanks Every one for posting your pens and kind information, I really appreciate the time it takes to make a post when you help, it makes a difference ....I will let you all know what I do in time...Thank You!

 

[Jim in Oakville]

Go to the bargain store, they all have bamboo cutting board. This is where is take mine. $6. for a 12 x 10 x 3/4. makes few blanks and you can decide to cut it grain wise or cross grain.

Great Idea Alfred!