Building with bamboo

**mathetes** · 11-13-2009 11:47 AM

Does anyone have any advice for building with bamboo when it comes to how many ply's for a flex similar to the dervish, landy drop carve with rider weight of 180-200 lbs? Also, is there any advice for ordering bamboo when it is not readily available in your local area. Thanks for any replies.

**cawlin** · 11-13-2009 07:32 PM

also curious about this. Should we just try to find 1/8th inch thick stuff? How is the stiffness compared to baltic birch? could you use the standard 3/8th to 5/8th thickness for most boards?

**rconley148** · 12-13-2009 01:07 PM

i am also looking into bamboo since i cant seem to find baltic birch anywhere. how many sheets do i need for small flex for rider of 150lbs

**RiRak** · 12-13-2009 01:56 PM

I've built a couple boards with bamboo, you need to use composites with it, bamboo is very strong lengthwise but across the grain it is very weak and without fiberglass (prefferably 45*45*) it will split, i had the rail break off my first bamboo board and my pumper with 0*90* glass on it cracked by the mounting holes from the twisting it did during pumping. it has since been repaired. I was using 3/16 bamboo and two layers with carbon fiber weave top and bottom was just flexy on a 29ish inch wb (i'm 150lbs)

The stiffness is similar to bb with more snappy flex, in similar thicknesses probly about the same stiffness.

Major rules is mainly to use composites or some use it as a core b/c alone it will split

Hope this helps some

**rconley148** · 12-14-2009 02:34 PM

bumping this thread

**cawlin** · 12-14-2009 02:52 PM

Originally Posted by RiRak

I've built a couple boards with bamboo, you need to use composites with it, bamboo is very strong lengthwise but across the grain it is very weak and without fiberglass (prefferably 45*45*) it will split, i had the rail break off my first bamboo board and my pumper with 0*90* glass on it cracked by the mounting holes from the twisting it did during pumping. it has since been repaired. I was using 3/16 bamboo and two layers with carbon fiber weave top and bottom was just flexy on a 29ish inch wb (i'm 150lbs)

The stiffness is similar to bb with more snappy flex, in similar thicknesses probly about the same stiffness.

Major rules is mainly to use composites or some use it as a core b/c alone it will split

Hope this helps some

that helps a ton. Thank you.

**Dimm** · 12-14-2009 04:37 PM

You don't need to use composites. You just need to make a layup which strengthens the bamboo against it's grain.

I use BB as a core for bamboo boards because 1/8" plies have equal strength in the horizontal and vertical directions.

Using bamboo as a core doesn't really make sense because bamboo has more tensile strength and compressional strength than any wood, is harder than any wood, and is more beautiful than any wood. The last one is a matter of opinion but I still think it's a good point. It should be used on the outside. That's where it's properties will work best!

**old_timer** · 12-15-2009 10:20 AM

Originally Posted by Dimm

You don't need to use composites. You just need to make a layup which strengthens the bamboo against it's grain.

I use BB as a core for bamboo boards because 1/8" plies have equal strength in the horizontal and vertical directions.

Using bamboo as a core doesn't really make sense because bamboo has more tensile strength and compressional strength than any wood, is harder than any wood, and is more beautiful than any wood. The last one is a matter of opinion but I still think it's a good point. It should be used on the outside. That's where it's properties will work best!

I have used bamboo as a core for a number of decks and its been very successful. It is incredibly strong (no argument there) and when skinned with an appropriate ply it makes a very strong core.

I do agree that, when using bamboo on its own it needs some composite to hold it all together. The vertical laminations in a lot of bamboo plies are not strong at all and the stresses that come from riding will eventually pull them apart.

I also agree that its a damn shame to cover up bamboo. When its finished right it looks spectacular.

**bombhill_bong** · 03-09-2010 08:21 PM

would cross graining a couple plys help with torsional twist at all? it should and would you still need to fiberglass?

**mgraves805** · 03-09-2010 10:30 PM

bamboo has a tenancy to split longways you can combat this problem by puting a layer of wood on the outside of the board you are pressing or you can us a layer of fiberglass

**boogaloo28** · 03-10-2010 12:53 PM

a lot of this depends on the type of bamboo you use
you can always build up a crossply too if you're worried about the joints splitting but don't wanna go the composite route, this helps out a lot with torsional flex too

**ErikB91** · 03-10-2010 05:52 PM

I found bamboo but its furniture grade is that good or bad?

**kingspadesdgaf** · 03-11-2010 02:40 PM

im about to build a new board and i was thinking about using baltic birch for the core then bamboo on the outside.. im not fiberglassing or anything just pressing.. how many plys of each should i use.. im 150 pounds.. but i want it to have decent flex also..

**boogaloo28** · 03-11-2010 04:42 PM

length?
wheelbase?
concave, camber etc?
depending on these somewhere between 3/8" and 5/8" overall thickness probably

furniture grade sounds like a good thing to me, the bamboo I used was for furniture building (chairs specifically)

**Dimm** · 03-11-2010 06:18 PM

Originally Posted by ErikB91

I found bamboo but its furniture grade is that good or bad?

No idea. Is it a vertically laminated sheet? It's hard to know these things.

**kingspadesdgaf** · 03-12-2010 08:54 AM

i was thinking about making a board sorta like the komodo or old school dancer... about 50 inches long, and 9.25 inches wide at widest.. and no clue wwhat wheelbase, and for the first bamboo and whatnot i would just do a complete flat design.. no camber or concave..does that help any?

**kingspadesdgaf** · 03-12-2010 08:55 AM

so then would i do lets say bamboo then 3 layers of 1/8 baltic birch then another bamboo?... or would i have to make it thicker if im doing 50 inches... i want some flex .. not anything to crazy but i good amount

**Dimm** · 03-12-2010 09:51 AM

Originally Posted by kingspadesdgaf

so then would i do lets say bamboo then 3 layers of 1/8 baltic birch then another bamboo?... or would i have to make it thicker if im doing 50 inches... i want some flex .. not anything to crazy but i good amount

I would go with

1/8" bamboo
1/8" BB
1/8" BB
1/8" bamboo

And give it some camber.

Should be flexy. If you don't want it to be like a trampoline though, yeah go for 3 layers of BB inside. Then again... it depends on the wb.

**lynnd218** · 05-04-2010 12:39 AM

im slightly concerned about breaking or cracking wood. surprisingly i've only ever purchased full bamboo boards and as such i am not used to the baltic birch. i built a bb drop board with dimm's very own instructional. i haven't had a chance to ride it lots as i haven't done the finish on it yet. it is 4 layers of 1/8 bb with 2 inch concave( crazy, i know) yet it still flexs to the ground. im used to being able to force my bamboo boards to the ground. so my question is that if the board wasn't already close to the ground (via the drop) would the board by prone to breaking? (i weigh 130lbs) i know im getting nit picky and should probably experiment, but im not in the most ideal financial situation so any help would be great

**lynnd218** · 05-04-2010 12:46 AM

sorry for beating around the bush i guess what i would really know is how much flex can i achieve with dimms recommendation with bamboo, bb bb bamboo as opposed to the four layers of bb on the board i just made. how much flex until it breaks?