Making Bamboo Furniture

Historical Overview of Bamboo

Bamboo is a sturdy, self-sustaining plant that grows in a wide variety of climates. Bamboo is a member of the grass family. The primary source of bamboo is Asia, though it can be found growing in many climates and regions. Bamboo has been used for centuries as raw material for a variety of products. The Chinese use bamboo to treat infections. Bamboo has been used to make household items, weapons and torture devices, as a weaving material, and as a key ingredient in Asian cooking.

Harvesting and Processing Bamboo for Furniture

Bamboo for furniture is harvested from mature trees and checked for imperfections before being transported to a plant where the raw bamboo will be treated. It's best to harvest bamboo during the driest part of the season. Bamboo poles are cut to uniform lengths and tied together in clumps. The treatment process involves standing the bamboo poles straight up with their leaves intact and soaking them in a copper sulphate solution that prevents insect and fungal attacks. The bamboo poles are then dried slowly and prepared for export.

Constructing Bamboo Furniture

In the hands of skilled furniture makers, processed bamboo poles quickly become beautiful pieces of furniture. Bamboo is used to make CD/DVD storage racks, bookcases, beds, patio furniture and just about any other kind of furniture you can imagine. Bamboo poles are cut and glued together for reinforcement, then pieced together to form the furniture. Sometimes the bamboo furniture is adorned with hemp or rope not only for aesthetic reasons but also for strength. Bamboo comes in a variety of natural shades that range from dark, earthy tones to warm, golden tones, but properly cured bamboo holds stain well, allowing furniture makers to offer bamboo in almost any color while still retaining the natural beauty of the bamboo.

Pros and Cons of Using Bamboo Furniture

Bamboo is the fastest-growing plant in the world, so harvesting it has almost no negative impact on our environment, making it ideal as a raw material. Another benefit of bamboo furniture is its lightweight properties combined with its durability. The downside of bamboo furniture is its high price. The cost of importing, combined with increased demand from consumers who are environmentally conscious, has driven the cost of bamboo furniture as high as expensive hardwood furniture.

Resources

• Fresh Bamboo
• Bamboo Rainforest
• American Bamboo Society