Anyone ever worked with bamboo panel

[Lplates]

Hey Guys,

I'm looking at building a TV unit for my brother and I like the look of some "strand woven multi colour" bamboo panel from this mob....LETO BAMBOO - Bamboo Boards, Bamboo Edge Banding, Bamboo Veneer, Bamboo Flooring (http://www.letobamboo.com/) ... this is what it looks like

http://www.letobamboo.com/assets/gallery/GALLERY_Strand_Multi.jpg

Has anyone ever worked with this stuff. I'm curious about how it cuts, specifically if it is hard on blades, router bits, etc. I don't want to ruin all my tools if the stuff is too abrasive to work easily.

Let me know if you've seen this stuff in action.



Cheers
mat

[Tung tied]

Hi Matt,

I bought an 8 x 4 sheet a while ago and have used for panels in some lamp tables. Mine is like a thick ply sheet with a veneer facing. It's nice stuff but can be a bit tough to work for a nice flat edge that you can band or cap. I've capped mine with red gum.

There's plenty of chip-out to be had when you cut it so any techniques you can use to reduce it helps; like a fine skim cut across the face before the full cut; putting masking tape along the finish side of the cut before cutting or using a flush trim router bit.

255330255331255332

It comes up nice though and will take stain, oil and varnish etc.

Because the way it is compressed together using steam, it doesn't take water exposure well and will swell a fair bit.

I've got bamboo floor boards on my floor as well. Not the click stuff but T & G boards.

Cheers

Bryan

[nrb]

As Tung Tied said it does not like moisture,if you use waterbased finishes you may get some mould,this happened to me when I painted some toys with acylic paint:no:

[Lplates]

Thanks for the info guys, good to know about the water because My plans did call for some acrylic in parts of the build, also i have been using shellac a bit lately so i gather that would have the same effect.

What i was more keen to know though was how it affects your tools, did you noticed any blunting on your saw/router bits?

It sounds like there probably isn't much to worry about but just keen to know anyway.

Thanks again
Mat

[elver]

I use edge laminated carbonised bamboo for skin on frame kayak ribs.

'Carbonised' stuff is fine in water. The rest is not.

It moulds up badly if left wet for long periods ( like in the bottom of a wet boat in the shed....) but for general use is fine.

Carbonised edge laminated bamboo steam bends really well.

Its tough on tools. Dense and splintery too. Often is hard to plane sharp edges with low angle planes due to long grain tearout. use sharp high angle planes if you care. But when you do plane edges be carful, the edges can be very sharp and cut your hands.

really just treat it like a cantankerous dense wood.

Tom

[Lplates]

I use edge laminated carbonised bamboo for skin on frame kayak ribs.

'Carbonised' stuff is fine in water. The rest is not.

It moulds up badly if left wet for long periods ( like in the bottom of a wet boat in the shed....) but for general use is fine.

Carbonised edge laminated bamboo steam bends really well.

Its tough on tools. Dense and splintery too. Often is hard to plane sharp edges with low angle planes due to long grain tearout. use sharp high angle planes if you care. But when you do plane edges be carful, the edges can be very sharp and cut your hands.

really just treat it like a cantankerous dense wood.

Tom

Thanks Tom,

That is what i suspected. I have seem samples of this stuff and it felt very dense although i didn't click about the tearout....it makes sense though given how the stuff is put together.

Thanks for the advice.
Mat