Roach1948
regular
Reged: 27/04/2006
Posts: 1012
Loc: London - Suffolk
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As teak is becomming quite a rare luxury these days I was looking at the possibility of composite bamboo as an alternative.
It is often used for garden decking already, it is environmantal, it is cheap and very durable. What would forum tthink the the pros and cons be of using bamboo as an alternative decking material?
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Roach
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Mukes
regular
Reged: 30/09/2005
Posts: 231
Loc: Pin Mill
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Watch out for this fellow if you try it:
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KenMcCulloch
regular
Reged: 22/04/2007
Posts: 803
Loc: Edinburgh, Scotland
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I remember from my short and undistinguished career as a mountaineer that in the mid 1970s one well known maker produced ice axes with a shaft of laminated bamboo. This was much stronger than the ash or hickory traditionally used, and lighter than the metal shafts that were just coming into use at the time. I would think there is a lot of potential for bamboo in marine applications as a durable and very fast-growing timber.
Edited by KenMcCulloch (18/06/2008 13:46)
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donncha
regular
Reged: 09/11/2007
Posts: 68
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I remember reading a book by Tim Severin in which they built a raft in the style of the Chinese ocean going ones. They built it using high quality bamboo except for the deck house which was a last minute job. The raft itself wasn't troubled by termites and the like, but within a short time the deck houses had completely disintegrated. Bamboo isn't long lasting for prolonged marine use. As far as I remember the life expectancy of a bamboo boat is very short, about a year or two. This is once again based on the book. I don't remember if the voyage was successful in the end though. Bamboo has been used in marine applications longer then most woods, but perhaps it wouldn't be as well suited to a Northern European climate.
Look at http://www.timseverin.net/china.htm
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Forbsie
regular
Reged: 09/03/2002
Posts: 2645
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My last boat had a bamboo boom and gaff that was probably over 50 years old although dry stored most of the time.
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Simon_and_Tanja
regular
Reged: 30/07/2007
Posts: 26
Loc: North Essex
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Not really sure you can call grass cuttings timber!?
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donncha
regular
Reged: 09/11/2007
Posts: 68
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Looks like timber to me:
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Cuchilo
regular
Reged: 19/04/2003
Posts: 4405
Loc: London
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Are you talking about buying the man made bamboo decking and milling it down for your own needs ?
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The honest man has nothing to fear .
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Roach1948
regular
Reged: 27/04/2006
Posts: 1012
Loc: London - Suffolk
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No, I was thinking of a possible bamboo teak replacement business that could be sold to plastic boat owners who want a "wooden feel".
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Roach
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Cuchilo
regular
Reged: 19/04/2003
Posts: 4405
Loc: London
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Phew ! For a moment i thought you where going to deck out Roach with B&Q decking 
I read somewhere on this forum ( lounge i think ) that bambo was getting harder to get or something along those lines . I would be very carefull in trying to start a business on one timber as the timber prices change according to what is availible (stock market  )
I think you really need to know someone in the timber trade that will advice you on price changes . If i call my timber yard for an order i tell them what the timber is for and give them my cutting list . For example , my man would then ask if i really need Oak as Iroko is cheaper right now . If it changes and Oak is cheaper he will tell me .
Of course you may know something i dont .
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The honest man has nothing to fear .
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