Thread: Pros and Cons of Bamboo

Just to clear some things up from the original question...the bamboo pattern scales you mention on vintage razors were fairly common replacement scales and were made out of plastic, not bamboo.

As far as the appropriatness of using bamboo (the plant) for replacement scales...it should work just fine so long as you are aware of some of it's properties. Most importantly, it is very straight grained and quite brittle. So, as the scales are relatively thin you should be very careful about not trying to flex the material too much while pinning the razor. Also, make sure the holes are drilled to the proper diameter because splitting is a real problem when using fasteners (screws or nails) in bamboo. Along these same lines, be careful when pinning...one tap too many and you will certainly split the scales.

Just another data point,
Ed

Would stabalising the material in CA help at all in posable splitting?

Bamboo cutting boards are popular with most people, and they do look good, but they are brutal to your knives. The boards are very hard and dull the edge of thin knives.

I have no idea. I'd consider using epoxy, and I guess you could use a portion of bamboo with the grain running perpendicular to expected forces on it so it doesn't split.

go go bamboo shoots.. *Does a Steve Austin Six Million dollar Man Pose*

Also Bamboo by its nature is very bouyant and is filled with air pockets. As a matter of fact if you heat a bamboo stalk it will explode.