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How to Cut Bamboo

Bamboo is a very versatile material and can be used for a range of projects and uses. It is used for food, for clothing, for furniture, for livestock feed, for fences as well as simple garden stakes. It is the fastest growing woody plant there is, with some species growing feet per day. If you are so fortunate as to have a culm, there are a few guidelines for cutting it to prevent it from cracking or splitting.

Things You'll Need:
Fine toothed saw or sharp pruning shears
Masking tape
Stable work area

Instructions
1
Decide how wide of a stalk you want to cut. If you are cutting a small piece around 1 inch thick or less, you should be able to cut it with a sharp hand pruner. If the blades are not sharp enough, though, it will crush and splinter the ends.

2
Use a fine toothed saw to cut stalks larger than 1 inch. A sharp saw will make quick work of your harvesting. Just make sure the saw teeth are straight and not flayed outwards or it will tear the fibers instead of slicing them.

3
Tape the bamboo stalk with masking tape for final cuts in a project. This will help hold the fibers together as you cut through them. A number of different electric saws or hand saws can be used for this as long as the sawing teeth are fine and close together (40 per inch).

4
Position the bamboo stake on a hard surface with the area that needs to be cut just off the edge. Make sure you support the end you are cutting off if it is extra long. This will keep the wood from bending and possibly cracking. Also, cutting the wood while it is green seems to lessen cracking.

5
Heat the wood before cutting, especially if it is cold outside. If it is 90 degrees outside, then the wood should be warm enough, but on the other hand, if you are working outside in 32 degree weather, then there is more of a chance the wood will split.

How to Make Your Own Bamboo Staff

Have you ever thought of making your own customized bamboo staff? All it takes is a little time and some imagination.

Instructions

Things You'll Need:
• Single stalk of bamboo Sharp knife Dull knife (or just use your sharp one carefully) Small rock (optional) Hot glue (optional) Cloth, ribbon, leather (optional)
1.
Find yourself a sturdy piece of bamboo. It can be any length that you want it to be but the perfect staff either comes about a foot above your head or right above the top of your ear.
2.
Once you have your bamboo, sand or cut off any twigs or bumps. Make sure your ends are flat and even.
3.
Try walking around with the piece of bamboo.
4.
Once you've found where your hand will rest while using it, sand the spot until it's very smooth.
5.
Decorate it.

Tips & Warnings

• When finding your bamboo, you don't have to measure it there on the spot. For the perfect fit, cut it first and measure it later.
• Some bamboo looks strong, but it breaks easy. Make sure you use a fresh piece instead of a dead one, and if it is a dead one, make sure it's strong before using it.
• There may be some "gunk" on your bamboo. Use a dull knife to scrape it off.
• You may want to put some cloth or ribbon around the handle.
• Try hot gluing a small rock to the top of the staff. Use a sharp knife to make animal markings, dots, or lines on the staff everywhere but the handle.
• Be careful while handling the knife.

How to Make Bamboo Baskets

Bamboo comes from the stem of a woody tropical plant that grows in China, Japan, and Indonesia. It is used for multiple purposes, such as building houses, making furniture, and even making baskets. Baskets made from bamboo are considered works of art in many cultures and are quite functional. Making bamboo baskets is no easy task and takes a high level of patience, however, when finished, these baskets are very durable and long lasting.

Instructions

Things You'll Need:
• Bamboo
• Knife
• Scissors
• Tapestry needle
• String

1.
Cut a three foot piece of bamboo into four planks by using a large knife to cut vertically down through the bamboo. Cut each plank in half using a knife. Cut the plank halves into long strips by using a knife to cut them into layers. Start cutting the strips from the back side of the bamboo first.
2.
Use scissors to cut the ends of the bamboo strips so that they are all equal in length. Peel apart each bamboo strip so that you have multiple miniature strips of bamboo.
3.
Cut a five foot long piece of string and thread it into a tapestry needle. Grab a small bundle of two to three pieces of bamboo and coil the loose end of your string around the end of the bamboo bundle for approximately three quarters of an inch.
4.
Bend your wrapped section of bamboo into the shape of a U and bind both sides of the "U" together by wrapping it with the string six times, this will create a small loop. Wrap the string around the loose bamboo pieces and run it through the small loop. Continue wrapping the string around the bamboo and through the small loop with the tapestry needle until you make a complete circle, this should take anywhere from ten to twenty stitches.
5.
Add another bundle of bamboo to your basket by adding it underneath the loose bamboo from your ring and wrap the string around the combined bundle six times. Start coiling the new section by wrapping the string around the bamboo and through the coil of the previous row, using the tapestry needle. Continue adding bamboo in this manner until you are satisfied with the size of your basket.
6.
Finish off the basket by simply wrapping string around the top coil of the basket, all the way around. Cut the string and tie a knot at the end of it. Tuck the knot into the coiled string.

Tips & Warnings

• If you run out of string while coiling the basket you can add string. Start by weaving the string that is running out down and through the previous coils. Use the tapestry needle to insert the new string three coils below the one you are working on. Run the string straight up to where you left off and continue wrapping and coiling the bamboo.

Bamboo wind chimes

Bamboo wind chimes look beautiful and have a pleasing, mellow sound that you can't get with ceramic or metal chimes. Making them yourself is not that difficult, since even if you don't have suitable bamboo growing nearby, you can get a few pieces at your local crafts store.

Things You'll Need:
Large diameter piece of bamboo, 20 to 36 inches long
Drill
6-inch lengths of thin jute rope, one for each cut piece of bamboo
Decorative beads, Shells, etc
Craft glue
Thin jewelry wire, long enough to make a hanger for your chimes
Scissors
Small diameter piece of bamboo, about 12 inches long
Ruler or tape measure
Pencil or marker
Hand saw
Sandpaper, medium to fine grade

Instructions
1
Measure different lengths on your larger piece of bamboo. Your wind chime will work best if the pieces are not all the same length, since the length of the pieces influence the sound the chime makes. Start with a piece 5 inches long. If your bamboo has a thick diameter, make the next piece 2 or 3 inches longer and so on. If it is on the thinner side, you might make another piece 4 inches long, then 3 and so on.

2
Cut the bamboo along the measurement lines you have marked with a small hand saw. Smooth the edges with your piece of sandpaper.

3
Decide which end will be the top and drill a hole about 1/2-inch from the top of the bamboo piece.

4
String the bamboo on a rustic fiber like thin jute rope. Jute is hardy and lasts a long time.

5
Add decorative accents like beads or shells to the bamboo and rope. Go for a harmonious effect with earth tones or an eye catching one with metallics or bright colors.

6
Tie the jute to the thinner piece of bamboo. Space your pieces of bamboo evenly and secure with a drop of glue. Trim the ends of the jute.

7
Take a length of the jewelry wire and twist it around to form a hanger. Wrap the ends firmly around the ends of the thin piece of bamboo. Find a place to hang your wind chime and enjoy!