A quick Bamboo Chubby.

I was about to shut down for the night when I saw this blank of Bamboo staring at me. It's been staring at me for a while saying " You've never turned bamboo, why don't you give me a try...... you know you want to!!! Come on Mossy, what are you waiting for? Bet you can't, bet you can't!!" So I decided to make a challenge out of it and see how fast I could whip a chubby style handle out of it. I hand it turned and sanded in around a half hour. Not bad. Really the only reason I was moving so quick was I really want ed to go to bed. I knew my youngest was going to be up at 6, and my wife was out for the night at a Baby shower, so she wouldn't be getting up. Haha. I digress....

The bamboo came from some left over flooring my Dad installed at his place a year ago. I hung onto it, cut it up and glued up a blank. This was the first time I've turned bamboo and I was surprised at how nicely it turns. Although bamboo is very hard, it turns very soft and would say it's actually a good candidate for a beginner. So any of you newer turning guys looking for something cool to turn, don't over look bamboo. Titebond iii and a bit of clamping and you've got a great medium for wood turning.

The Badger knot is a 26mm silvertip, set to a loft of 50mm. I'm still working on the finish and will be rubbing in 3 more coats of oil over the next week.

Thanks for checking it out fellers!!


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That's pretty cool. :tu
I would have guessed the fibers would have broke apart when turning. I like the checkering on the bottom.

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Originally Posted by Leatherstockiings

That's pretty cool. :tu
I would have guessed the fibers would have broke apart when turning. I like the checkering on the bottom.

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I know, right. It's grain is so fibrous and linier, I thought it would be much more difficult. Even boring down the end grain was so nice. Long silky shavings.

That is pretty attractive. Bamboo, who would have thought it would turn out that well.

Bob

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Originally Posted by BobH

That is pretty attractive. Bamboo, who would have thought it would turn out that well.

Bob

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I think a different shaped handle with a few more curves would really set it off better. It would reveal more of the layers and also more of the tubular or grass like pores.

You say a different shaped handle, but that looks a perfect complement to the knott shape and loft imho.
Spot on, congrats like others mentioned I would never of thought of bamboo,
Does it feel light weight? Compared to other woods?

Sent from my D6603 using Tapatalk

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Originally Posted by alpla444

You say a different shaped handle, but that looks a perfect complement to the knott shape and loft imho.
Spot on, congrats like others mentioned I would never of thought of bamboo,
Does it feel light weight? Compared to other woods?

Sent from my D6603 using Tapatalk

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Thanks.
Compared to a lot of the exotics I work with, and also acrylic, it is on the lighter side. Slightly lighter than maple I would say.

Nicely done!

Beautiful work as always mate.

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Originally Posted by markbignosekelly

Beautiful work as always mate.

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Thanks man. :beer1:

I do like bamboo!


Mike

Very nice. Reminds me of Ivory. I'd have one!

Won't you need to seal it with glue or shellac or something to stop the fibres wicking up water? Or will they wick up oil and that be the end of it?

Man! THAT is COOL! Once again, good original thinking and application! :bow

A good looking handle Andrew! Well done.

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Originally Posted by Sxot

Very nice. Reminds me of Ivory. I'd have one!

Won't you need to seal it with glue or shellac or something to stop the fibres wicking up water? Or will they wick up oil and that be the end of it?

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The oil I'm using is a Marine grade teak oil. After 4 coats, ain't nothing getting inside it. The cup for the badger knot I've also sealed with 4 coats of CA.

Thanks Tony, Thanks Tom. I couldn't let a good board of bamboo just get thrown away, and I really wanted to turn this stuff. I thought it would be challenging..... It was the opposite and was quite relaxing.

I love the seeing the layers laminated together despite the fact that the wood is so light in color.
Beautiful job in record time!

Pete <:-}

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Originally Posted by HARRYWALLY

I think a different shaped handle with a few more curves would really set it off better. It would reveal more of the layers and also more of the tubular or grass like pores.

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A little late on this thread but.. That looks great! Very clean looking design, there's also something about bamboo that I really like.
About more curves, would look good either way, but i have thought about those pores in other woods and the different ways to bring them out. Often not using CA as to leave the pore/indentations open and tactilely available..
Those checkers on the bottom are very cool looking and seem planned.

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Originally Posted by MikeT

A little late on this thread but.. That looks great! Very clean looking design, there's also something about bamboo that I really like.
About more curves, would look good either way, but i have thought about those pores in other woods and the different ways to bring them out. Often not using CA as to leave the pore/indentations open and tactilely available..
Those checkers on the bottom are very cool looking and seem planned.

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The checkering was not really planned. The piece of flooring was side grain, so very thin pieces of bamboo laminated together. I only glued 4 pieces together to get this blank but I did have to put it through a thickness planer to get the front and back surface completely smooth so I could glue them together. Flooring has those grooves on the bottom to allow air movement between it and the subfloor, which had to be planed flat. But you're right, it ended up pretty cool looking.

Beautiful! I need to get some bamboo and start working a few myself.