Anyone trid to build cabinets using bamboo plywood?

[G]

I'm curious if there are any problems with gluing it or finishing it.

[John L]

Originally posted by G
I'm curious if there are any problems with gluing it or finishing it.

Actually, no. However, I have requested one of my sellers if he could find some reconstituted bamboo veneer, and he has not been able to come up with any,.....yet. I Really want to find some of that material.

Do you have access any?

[Kensai]

I believe chrisb has done that. I think the pic I saw was a bamboo Mileva or Dimitri.

Kensai

[chrisb]

Originally posted by G
I'm curious if there are any problems with gluing it or finishing it.

I've made several cabinets from the 3/4" block core laminated bamboo plywood. and it's been my experience that gluing is probably the least of the problems. Most recent project was the Fonken:


http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/attac...amp=1198431801

previous were Tom Z's PAWO, with suprabaffle;

http://homepage.mac.com/tlinespeaker...WO-collage.jpg


Mike at AudioMagus also has experience with this material in his build of the "LGS"/Demetri as demoed at RMAF:

http://lotusacoustics.com/a_images/wl1_web.jpg


Cutting and finishing, are a bit more fun - super sharp carbide sawblades and router bits are essential for all machining. When cut to an acute angled bevel, the material can hold an edge sharp enough to slice you up pretty good, so be careful.

It can also exhibit more of a tendency to warp when subjected to variations in humidity during transport and storage or due to release of internal stress after cutting than MDF or BB ply - so glue up as quickly as possible, use only Titebond or equal yellow glue, or even "Gorilla" glue, etc and leave clamped up overnight.

If you want to get fancy with dadoes and rebates along the long grain direction, be aware that the surface layers are quite thin and very fragile when the underlying cross grain blocks are completely removed. I discovered that with the Fonkens, whose beveled and layered side panels made beveled or lock-jointed corners aesthetically unappealing.

As for finishing, clear top coats of lacquer or polyurethane take quite well, but stain at your peril - my couple of tests came out very splotchy, and went directly into the scrap bin. Besides, both the natural (actually, probably bleached) and carmelized are so gorgeous with just a clear coat, that it would be a shame to hide.

[G]

Originally posted by chrisb



I've made several cabinets from the 3/4" block core laminated bamboo plywood. and it's been my experience that gluing is probably the least of the problems. Most recent project was the Fonken:


http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/attac...amp=1198431801

previous were Tom Z's PAWO, with suprabaffle;

http://homepage.mac.com/tlinespeaker...WO-collage.jpg


Mike at AudioMagus also has experience with this material in his build of the "LGS"/Demetri as demoed at RMAF:

http://lotusacoustics.com/a_images/wl1_web.jpg


Cutting and finishing, are a bit more fun - super sharp carbide sawblades and router bits are essential for all machining. When cut to an acute angled bevel, the material can hold an edge sharp enough to slice you up pretty good, so be careful.

It can also exhibit more of a tendency to warp when subjected to variations in humidity during transport and storage or due to release of internal stress after cutting than MDF or BB ply - so glue up as quickly as possible, use only Titebond or equal yellow glue, or even "Gorilla" glue, etc and leave clamped up overnight.

If you want to get fancy with dadoes and rebates along the long grain direction, be aware that the surface layers are quite thin and very fragile when the underlying cross grain blocks are completely removed. I discovered that with the Fonkens, whose beveled and layered side panels made beveled or lock-jointed corners aesthetically unappealing.

As for finishing, clear top coats of lacquer or polyurethane take quite well, but stain at your peril - my couple of tests came out very splotchy, and went directly into the scrap bin. Besides, both the natural (actually, probably bleached) and carmelized are so gorgeous with just a clear coat, that it would be a shame to hide.

How about just simple biscuit joining? I don't mind seeing the plys.

[chrisb]

Gavin -

I was eager to test myself in using the cross laminated end-grain of the bamboo plywood creatively, hence the dadoes, etc, - but there's no reason why biscuits shouldn't work structurally.