Bamboo construction?

[mikeschn]

This sounds like an interesting material for my next build as well. How much do those 4x8x3/4 sheets cost?

Mike...

[Ageless]

Well, ya wanna build a Rolls Royce TD? 3/4" ply is $165 per, 1/8" 3 ply is $65

So much for that idea

[wanders]

Don't know about a bamboo teardrop, but it does make one helluva fly rod IMHO!

[robertaw]

Well, ya wanna build a Rolls Royce TD? 3/4" ply is $165 per, 1/8" 3 ply is $65

I wonder what's up with that??? This stuff grows at an alarming rate...you would think it would be cheaper.

[chili]

Actually, the bamboo counters I have are not encased in epoxy. It is the ply that has been mentioned. It has to be treated with 2 coats of mineral oil to begin with and then one coat annually. Even with the oil it stains very easily and absorbs water like a sponge. I think that with proper coating the 1/8 in. would make for a nice tiki type interior. . Again just my 2 cents.
Chili

[oldtamiyaphile]

I just recently laid a bamboo floor in my toy room.

It looks wonderful, but it's the last thing I would put in a TD.

Main problem with it is it's extremely heavy, about on par with MDF.

As far as being environmentally friendly goes, yes it grows fast and it's renewable. But it takes an awful lot of energy to turn bamboo chutes into a usable building material. Extreme pressure is used to flatten what is a grass into sheet form, after which a lot of chemicals are added to make it stable. Realistically it's on par with MDF which is essentially using waste timber that the mills couldn't use.

The smell is really strong even after a couple of months.

Enviro friendly? Only if you're building with chutes and string.

The best way to be green is to build light, even if that means using composites or other 'nasty' materials. The fuel savings will offset any carbon used in construction rather quickly.

Although actually, paying attention to aerodynamics is typically more important than weight on a trailer, which will typically see mostly of highway miles.