Roach1948
regular
Reged: 27/04/2006
Posts: 1070
Loc: London - Suffolk
|
|
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?
--------------------
Roach
|
Mukes
regular
Reged: 30/09/2005
Posts: 263
Loc: Pin Mill
|
|
Watch out for this fellow if you try it:
|
KenMcCulloch
regular
Reged: 22/04/2007
Posts: 975
Loc: Edinburgh, Scotland
|
|
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)
|
Donncha
regular
Reged: 09/11/2007
Posts: 78
|
|
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
|
Forbsie
regular
Reged: 09/03/2002
Posts: 2763
|
|
My last boat had a bamboo boom and gaff that was probably over 50 years old although dry stored most of the time.
|
Simon_and_Tanja
regular
Reged: 30/07/2007
Posts: 27
Loc: North Essex
|
|
Not really sure you can call grass cuttings timber!?
|
Donncha
regular
Reged: 09/11/2007
Posts: 78
|
|
Looks like timber to me:
|
Cuchilo
regular
Reged: 19/04/2003
Posts: 4797
Loc: London
|
|
Are you talking about buying the man made bamboo decking and milling it down for your own needs ?
--------------------
Dont come running to me if you fall over and break your leg .
|
Roach1948
regular
Reged: 27/04/2006
Posts: 1070
Loc: London - Suffolk
|
|
No, I was thinking of a possible bamboo teak replacement business that could be sold to plastic boat owners who want a "wooden feel".
--------------------
Roach
|
Cuchilo
regular
Reged: 19/04/2003
Posts: 4797
Loc: London
|
|
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 .
--------------------
Dont come running to me if you fall over and break your leg .
|
anteak
regular
Reged: 28/01/2004
Posts: 1363
Loc: West Sussex
|
|
Quote:
Phew ! For a moment i thought you where going to deck out Roach with B&Q decking
Me too! I thought OMG, Roach has finally lost it!! 
--------------------
A man may fight for many things. His country, his friends, his principles, the glistening tear on the cheek of a golden child. But personally, I'd mud wrestle my own mother for a ton of cash, an amusing clock and a sack of French porn. EB
|
Roach1948
regular
Reged: 27/04/2006
Posts: 1070
Loc: London - Suffolk
|
|
Sorry for the fright....
Roach still has her very slippy varnished Honduras Mahogany decks and that way it will stay. Atleast when you go overboard your last vision is one of beauty!
--------------------
Roach
|
cliff
regular
Reged: 15/04/2004
Posts: 5843
Loc: various
|
|
Quote:
Looks like timber to me:
It may look like timber to you but bamboo is a group of woody perennial evergreen plants in the true grass family Poaceae hence it is a grass not a tree.
---------------------
 Artificial Intelligence is no match for Natural Stupidity
|
DownWest
regular
Reged: 25/12/2007
Posts: 226
Loc: S.W. France
|
|
First thoughts were: Very slippery and if not: Very splintery. Either not to great for proper bare foot matelots
Andrew
Havn´t seen that B&Q stuff, must look in Castorama.
|
AlexStone
new user
Reged: 01/07/2008
Posts: 1
|
|
Hi. Bamboo decking is now coming into UK. Builder Depot in London (www.builderdepot.co.uk) have started stocking it from this week. Its a rare product to get hold off and they are the only people in the UK who stock it at moment. I only know this because I supply them from China. http://www.stonetimber.co.uk/bamboo.htm
Hope this helps.
|
colvic987
regular
Reged: 02/09/2003
Posts: 776
Loc: irish sea, anglesey
|
|
And how about a guardrail to go with the decking.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/zhzheka/620835214
--------------------
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=4-PpU8MUbHE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dn5NQdinsM4&feature=related
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=qKGupz_9mGc
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=G1PhKhEo7mk
www.freethequay.org
|
Previous
Index
Next
Threaded
Edit
Reply
Quote
