How to Dry Bamboo
The bamboo plant has plenty of uses: fresh, dried or cured. The applications for bamboo are endless, including furniture making, gardening, the food industry and construction. There are several types of bamboo varieties; and humans, as well as animals, have found good use for every variety. There are also several ways to dry bamboo, constructing your own kiln; hanging them out on trees; stacking them horizontally; even freeze-drying them. The main consideration for drying bamboo effectively is location, humidity and aeration. Even with the ideal conditions, splitting or cracking is still bound to happen, so plan ahead for using split bamboo, or dry in huge quantities to get the most "whole" poles out the batch. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- Small axe or machete
- Wood saw (fine tooth)
- Wood blocks or cinder blocks (optional)
- Work gloves
Instructions
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1
Make sure you have adequate drying space for your bamboo. The drying space should have a roof and sufficient protection from the elements. It should be airy (preferably humid), and should have a cement floor that is not prone to flooding or general moisture. You can use your garage or your garden shed, but preferably not your basement.
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2
Trim the branches off the bamboo poles using a small axe or machete. This may make your bamboo more prone to splitting, but it will also speed up the drying process, and gives you more storage space.
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3
Cut the bamboo to the length for your desired use. Use a wood saw with a fine-toothed blade. You can also cut to two or three times the length required---so you can save on storage space---as long as you can still dry the bamboo vertically in your shed or garage.
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Position the bamboo vertically on the dry floor and lean the bamboo poles against the wall. If you suspect the floor may be prone to wetness or moisture, place the bamboo on blocks of wood or cinder blocks.
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Leave the bamboo to dry for approximately three months. Inspect for rotting or moisture at both ends of the bamboo. Cut off ends that have moisture, rotting or splitting. The bamboo should turn a tan color and will be ready for use.
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Re-cut or split the bamboo to the desired size for your use.
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Tips & Warnings
If you want your bamboo to last longer, you can cure it in saltwater for 90 days (regularly switching ends so the saltwater is absorbed from both cut ends), and then let it stand vertically to dry for another three months. If you want to use the bamboo whole (without any cracks or splits), opt for the smaller diameter variety, but if you really need to use large poles, use bamboo that is at least five years old. Tie the ends of the fresh bamboo with wire before setting them out to dry.
Use thick worker's gloves when handling split bamboo. Bamboo splinters can easily penetrate the skin.
