NEW Lumber! Is Bamboo for You?

It's time we took a stab at demystifying some grass that's great for woodworking. That's right, we're talking about bamboo! I picked up some bamboo to build a shelf for my bathroom. So what better time to break down the intricacies of working with bamboo, and what you need to know for your woodworking. Hopefully, this helps show you the joy of working with bamboo and inspires your next project.
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Chapters
00:00 Who and why?
00:53 What's Bamboo?
1:36 Tips for Using Bamboo
3:09 Help with Finishing
4:57 Let's Build a Shelf
7:15 Thanks for Watching!
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[@Splarkszter]

Bamboo should be used as a no brainer, i'm glad is this good and the fact that bamboo grows sooooo quick, the potential it has to completely replace trees is the dream. We can save our forests with bamboo wood!!!!

[@pempem9053]

Clear forest to farm bamboo😂

[@jasonsyeatts1116]

Probably THE BEST Presenter and most knowledgeable on KZbin!!! Always learn something. Who’s with me?

[@WoodworkersSourcecom]

Haha .... You're the best!

[@jaymzx0]

This is a criminally underrated channel. It looks like a great material, Mark. I'll keep it in-mind for future projects.

[@vjaneczko]

Nice to see bamboo in the shop. Fun fact; bamboo isn't wood, it's a grass. Thanks for sharing Mark!

[@energem133]

You forgot to mention a couple of things. One is that laminated bamboo plywood and lumber is made from flat rectangular bamboo strips that are cut from the bamboo stem. These strips or "slats" are then glued together end to end and in overlapping layers to form a "solid" sheet. Sometimes when thicker panels are cut, any voids between the ends of the strips are exposed which will need filling with matching wood filler. Sometimes the side and end edges of a cut panel will need edging to conceal the voids and end grain. This can be done by cutting strips from a 1/4" bamboo "ply" sheet and reducing the thickness down to 1/8" then gluing on and finishing the edges like veneer. This "void" problem is especially true for larger and lower grade 1" thick sheets sold for table and bench tops and not intended to be cut into planks. Also Bamboo is a grass with long fibres that contain sap with high sugar content that mold spores and mildew love to feed on. It's not good enough to just finish with wood oil e.g Dutch Oil if it is to be exposed to moist conditions e.g. outdoor furniture or bathroom and kitchen steam. After just 3 months the bamboo will soon be discoloured with black stains contained within the fibres (not easily removed). If exposure to high humidity or moist conditions are expected at least 5 coats of marine grade mineral-based poly will be needed. When choosing a finishing oil or stain, read the label carefully as the manufacturer will often exclude Bamboo because of the mildew and mold problem.

[@triggeredtroll6466]

How does the price of 4x8 bamboo sheet compare to other options? I would think since it grows so much faster, you could get a 4x8 solid instead of ply? I haven't been able to source locally, so I'm just curious before I really start digging for it

[@stevebettany8778]

What a relief someone talking about wood instead of just making gadgets for the workshop. Thanks for some real information.

[@mattrinne]

Now folks don't have to be afraid of bamboo. Even though... wait for it... bamboo shoots.

[@eggsngritstn]

Bah dum bum tiss.

[@cheryldawkins7486]

#Matt Rinne 🤣

[@kojimanuel211]

😂😂

[@lorenl3078]

Absolutely love this wood now that I have seen it stained!

[@trcmf]

I’m so glad you posted this. I’ve heard about bamboo plywood. So glad to learn more about it

[@milesmargritz6124]

Would love to see more content from you! One of my favorite guys to watch!

[@WoodcraftBySuman]

Your videos continue to amaze; they're so approachable, friendly, and easy to watch. While I know a fair bit about lumber, its always refreshing to see your take on things! Cheers!

[@WoodworkersSourcecom]

Thank you, glad you like them 👍

[@40redfox40]

This is fantastic! Great video. Thank you!

[@crankstonshnord6591]

Thanks Mark! Always appreciate your videos and how you get a lot of good information in a short video! Also really appreciate Danny and the Tucson crew, they are always super helpful! I gotta say though, while I'm sure that french cleat is super strong, man does it take away from the rest of the beautiful work there. Trying to think of a different way to hang something like this without sending metal rods into the studs or something like that

[@pancua978]

Thanks Mark. Love how you break all these different woods down. Appreciate you and Woodworker’s Source!

[@WoodworkersSourcecom]

Glad you like them! More to come! 👍

[@JonFordWoodworks]

Awesome video, I always appreciate your lessons on different species of lumber!

[@WoodworkersSourcecom]

Glad to hear it!

[@jameshelm7321]

Thanks, will do!!

[@johnbeeck2540]

Love the sustainability of Bamboo too!

[@robertball3578]

It's not very sustainable when you consider the harvesting, resin matrix, and transport outside the source countries.

[@MazzaRawrs]

Thank you so much for sharing this video. I've wanted to use bamboo in projects and this video really sealed the deal. Great video Mark. Love how those shelves came out

[@WoodworkersSourcecom]

You are so welcome! 👍

[@TimSchoffelman]

Well done!!!

[@RichGrisak]

Thanks for the info Mark. As a relative newbie into woodworking, your videos have been a great resource for me. I'll have to give bamboo a try on a future project.

[@WoodworkersSourcecom]

👍👍 glad you liked it

[@tsc4945]

I love the tone that came up with linseed oil

[@MatthewHarrold]

During a composite bamboo kitchen benchtop install a contractor "stuffed up", replaced the $240 benchtop material (no charge for labour), and promptly quit. I was left with two benchtops with one slightly ruined. After a bit of KZbin tutorial learning, I bought a trim router, finished the job, and now have a killer composite bamboo workbench under my house basically for free. I love this material, but score the cut line every time with a marking knife to avoid a mess. $0.02 Nice video, cheers.

[@sreekanthvaidya7282]

Lovely video. Thanks mate

[@bambooman1956]

Looks awesome

[@travis6359]

Definitely hoping that you guys do some beginner classes again. I've got a bamboo desk project that I need to stain and brace against sagging and I've never done woodwork, so your channel has helped.

[@rebecca5837]

Wow, the bamboo took the color really well. The Java Gel is my favorite.

[@WoodworkersSourcecom]

Agreed, looks really nice 👍

[@samuellourenco1050]

Bamboo is great. Very hard and it finishes very well.

[@SurvivingTechnology]

Another great video thank you!

[@WoodworkersSourcecom]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@stephenebenezer8238]

Awesome!

[@victorglaviano]

Bamboo is a strong as steel... The build scaffolding 6 - 7 stories high in Asia with it, have been for centuries. I lived in Asia for over a decade, and it's used throughout Asia, has been like I mentioned for centuries

[@allanwilliams679]

Another great video Mark. Just wish I could subscribe again every time I watch one of your videos. You deserve more subscribers. Keep up the great work...

[@oakleyjack7600]

Well put together video Mark 👍🎩

[@WoodworkersSourcecom]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@hishamhamdan2105]

Pro video.. From a pro. Well done from Syria.. All respect

[@petergarcia8225]

Good to know...you can preserve lumber and give it more time to recooperate. Use Bamboo lumber.

[@bosse641]

Very interesting product. I like it.

[@munishsharma1178]

amazing... would appreciate a short video on the manufacturing process of these boards from bamboo. If possible! 🙏

[@chm1701]

I’m in the UK, so unfortunately, I’m unable to deal with your store (well, I suppose I could if I was rich), but either way, this channel is superb. This was another great video and I never would have thought of bamboo. Once again, thanks so much for the tips and tricks 👊

[@joseville]

Thanks! Great video. Would Bamboo be strong enough for a van build cabinetry?

[@0ctatr0n]

I'd love to see Bamboo used by the building industry for housing. Could you do a video comparing the compressive strength of a bamboo beam vs a pine beam?

[@randyrice7214]

This was hugely informative, thank you! How does bamboo stand up presentation-wise when making things like bowls and trays out of it?

[@WoodworkersSourcecom]

Oh man, it's great. Very tough, can handle some spills . . . you'll be impressed

[@CycoBillywoodworking]

what a price on that it would have to be a special project and I enjoy this channel I buy all my good wood from them great people fast shipping

[@victorglaviano]

It's cheap

[@ManfredGMarshall]

This is fantastic! Thank you Mark! Where can I source bamboo boards? Looking to build a cabin for the beach.

[@WoodworkersSourcecom]

At woodworkerssource.com bud👍👍 thanks!

[@cutterboard4144]

These are strands of bamboo grass glued and pressed together to make wood panels. Now with normal plywood and the like there is a problem with formaldehyde gassing out over time. I guess bamboo boards have the same problem?

[@randeaux3090]

Is plyboo still around? I used to find it in 1/4”, 1/2”, and 3/4”.

[@tcbridges]

Love the woodworkers wood selection. My problem buying from them is The shipping from the west to Pa is unbeleavable. Not worth the overcharges they want. I go to Rockler for most specialty woods

[@StopTryingSoHard]

Might be the construction lumber of the future since they are just much more efficient. Sometimes people will say that bamboo isn't wood, but that itself isn't actually true, from a materials standpoint it's still wood, not to mention from an evolutionary point of view, bamboo and maple are far more closely related than that same maple and say a pine tree.

[@MikeBramm]

Someone ought to harvest it from the Santa Ana river beds here in southern California. It's basically 20 foot tall weeds.

[@todddammit4628]

I've been dying to work with bamboo. I just can't find it locally anywhere yet.

[@KingFox76]

Hello Mark, great video awesome looking shelf I really like your projects. I didn’t see how you were able to fasten the top shelf to the lower shelf. Did you cut in from the back or did you basically make a mortise to bring the shelf inside the bigger shelf. Can you expand on that? Thanks very much. One more question I have is your biscuit joiner didn’t cut a biscuit, it cut a rectangular dowel. Can you list the brand of that tool? Thank you very much. Matt

[@richardcorcoran1151]

Unless I missed it you didn't mention cost. How does it compare to like conventional wood?

[@atxjaphotos4217]

Cost prohibitive.

[@tylercousins7779]

I have used it many times. Around here it’s 4-6 times the cost of other veneer sheets. Almost $500 per sheet. However, it typically saves a lot of time in the finishing because you don’t need to do any edge banding. I find its more of a substitute or replacement for solid wood projects that are flat. Eg. You wouldn’t want to do a raised panel type cabinet with it. It’s really nice to work with other than the splintering on cross cuts but usually it’s minimal depending on what grain orientation you chose.

[@alphamods92]

$100 FOR A 3/4X9-1/4X8'. Would be nice to get some to make a project out of, but at that cost, I cannot afford to just tinker with it.

[@KSFWG]

How well does it plane (lunch box type planer) and joint?

[@MichaelGoulding]

Hey love this video and the different stains you've demo'd. I've just bought a bamboo desk (it isn't solid, rather a ply it seems) and it is a bit yellow for my liking. Do you think it's possible to sand it back a little and stain it darker?

[@WoodworkersSourcecom]

Yea, bamboo actually stains quite well especially with an oil gel stain

[@OneIdeaTooMany]

For places like Australia where a huge amount of pine trees were burned in bushfires, I wonder if bamboo could be used instead given it grows much quicker than pine and Is harder.

[@troywalker8078]

I assume bamboo wood prices are going insane as well.

[@kaivalyasuryawanshi8292]

How to join the bamboo lumber will it not split if nailed or using screw?

[@redcloud9700]

Wish you guys had a store in Massachusetts.:(

[@WoodworkersSourcecom]

Likewise 😞

[@stellarnomad6736]

engineered dimensional bamboo is an excellent candidate for use in astroponics.

[@lupegalvan9993]

How do you prevent splintering if using a circular saw?

[@Luckybamboo53]

❤❤❤

[@prabhanjanakumartripathy4140]

Can you make a bamboo wheel by using heating method

[@Alumac]

Is it usable for food contact? Or does the glue that holds the bamboo in board form have unpleasant chemicals in it?

[@glowing_kitty]

“It just stays flat”… Ehm can’t agree when it comes to CNC machining bamboo plywood. Any suggestions how to prevent bending of a CNC machined part, once it’s released from the plywood plate?

[@KevinDC5]

Curious as to how it responds to the glue on the miter joints? Doesn’t seem like it would “drink” as much as some other hardwoods.

[@WoodworkersSourcecom]

You could be right about that, but still .... reinforce them.

[@frenchygigi]

What is comparison between bamboo and magnolia? Didn't find any of your videos on magnolia

[@macmaccourt]

Great video, Mark! Is Bamboo receptive to a partial depth hole saw with no splintering or tear out?

[@WoodworkersSourcecom]

I think it’ll work

[@macmaccourt]

@@WoodworkersSourcecom Thanks! I made it work, and it worked well.

[@VikramKumar-ve7em]

What about threaded inserts?

[@gowtham313]

Can you try working with hemp wood?

[@1972Russianwolf]

No mention of how sustainable it is given the fast growth of the grass vs the growth of timber?

[@MR-kc9xt]

Can you use a hole saw on bamboo planmks?

[@billlarrabee9436]

Great looking wood, but you didn't mention the cost. How does it compare with other wood?

[@WoodworkersSourcecom]

That's a good question. 👍 In today's market it costs less than premium walnut but more than hard white maple. (Prices of hardwoods and sheet goods can fluctuate so dang much that we don't like to put the info in the video)

[@craigmonteforte1478]

I appreciate the Video onBamboo , my Curiosity on Milling and Fabricating with it would be what types of Adhesives are best and on Commercially available Glued up Boards is what did those Suppliers used for Glue Up ? i am a retired ProfessionalWoodworker and i suffered some Major Health Issues in my 40s some of which i personally beleive were results of Woodworking keep in mind when i was Young we didn’t always have proper PPE or utilize it our Dust Collection and VOCs weren’t monitored like they are in more modern times or Currently and Chemicals like Formeldahyde were used Often obviously many of those things have been resolved over the years and i’ll be honest some of my Health Issues may be results of working with Natural Exotic Woods that put off their own Toxic Scents and Saw dusts ? i remember working with a lot of Mahogany at one point and the Silica content was so high that i would get Nose Bleeds in the evenings at home and not think too much about why a lot of those issues may had been from the Finishes we applied years ago

[@robwiencek9608]

Can it be used for cutting boards and what’s the cost of bamboo? Great video by the way!!

[@WoodworkersSourcecom]

Cutting board, yes, absolutely. In today's market it costs less than premium walnut but more than hard white maple. (Prices of hardwoods and sheet goods can fluctuate so dang much that we don't like to put the info in a video that will outlive the price changes)

[@robwiencek9608]

Thank you!

[@julietphillips1991]

Looks exceptional! How affordable/pricey is it?

[@WoodworkersSourcecom]

In today's market it costs less than premium walnut but more than hard white maple. So it's not exactly cheap, not exactly expensive. (Prices of hardwoods and sheet goods can fluctuate so dang much that we don't like to put the info in a video that will outlive the price changes)

[@victorglaviano]

Reasonable

[@ElectricIguana]

Bamboo grows like crazy, and is actually really nice. Why isn't it as widely available in the US as pine or even OSB? Is it too costly to manufacture the boards? I would love if bamboo were as readily available as pine the Pac Northwest.

[@WoodworkersSourcecom]

Good question. I can only guess why, and I'd surmise that it's a combination between 1). the economics don't work out (yet?) and 2). it hasn't caught on by the market consumers (yet?). You know the old saying, "the beatings will end when morale improves!" -- it's sort of like that 🤣 More places will sell it when more of the market wants it. It is a catch 22, though, isn't it?

[@HungViet-rz7kl]

Hello, I wonder if bamboo plywood is more popular in your country, what type of products you would want it to be available for? Have a nice day!

[@garlapatiupenderreddy5471]

Hi mark Infuture market mahogany or bamboo witch is the best cultivation iam pkaning pls telme thanq

[@chivi4liffe]

Is it possible to cut a bamboo plywood with a regular saw

[@vasilikikoulianou1800]

what kind of glue do you use there? does standard wood glue do the job when it comes to attaching smalls parts that will take no load?

[@WoodworkersSourcecom]

Wood glue is the way to go here. No prob.

[@Borescoped]

How well does these bamboo boards handle being hand planed with extremely sharp blades (16K)?

[@WoodworkersSourcecom]

It doesn't tear, but it is a tough one. What is 16K?

[@Borescoped]

Grit level the blade is sharpened to that I was asking about. IE: a plane blade sharpened Cosman style with a 16,000 grit Shapton Glass Stone

[@jameshelm7321]

How does it shrink - expand with moisture , like wood??

[@elund408]

its like plywood, they make it with a lot of glue. buy a cheep bamboo cutting board and play with it. should be real stable

[@WoodworkersSourcecom]

Yes and no. It's hygroscopic like wood, but it doesn't "move" nearly as much. Virtually indiscernible until the material breaks along one of the glue joints, which can happen.

[@MarkIreland_carrierband]

How much did materials cost?

[@kennethhudson8013]

As strong and renewable as bamboo is it would make a great osb.

[@duckhorn]

Hi if do you know how to bleach MERBAU? i want it lightly oranged color on natural merbau condition . .

[@jimspence0]

New?? - I remember trying it out after seeing a This Old House episode where Norm Abrams used it for some custom built-ins. Back in the mid 90's. Found it prohibitively expensive then and it's no better now. Most exotic's are cheaper(though admittedly more wasteful).

[@_Puddin92]

Hey.. i want to make bamboo cutting board but I'm not sure of idea to hole joining sticks of bamboo side way. Please help

[@WoodworkersSourcecom]

wood glue works just fine

[@pittschapelfarm2844]

Will water or UV affect the lamination?

[@WoodworkersSourcecom]

In time, yes.

[@pk-pj4sz]

Bamboo mambo

[@encabsss]

Does bamboo top need to be pre stain conditioner before using stain?

[@WoodworkersSourcecom]

Not really, no

[@keithgutshall9559]

Can it be glued to form a bowl turning??

[@WoodworkersSourcecom]

Yes!

[@raydreamer7566]

What does its cost compare to ?

[@Citnos]

I need that processed wood in my country, it looks so nice, export it to te rest on American continent

[@victorglaviano]

It will grow, I grew up in Louisiana and it grew wild in the swamps. There is only one species native to North America and its range is only in the deep South, Louisiana, Florida, parts of Alabama, Mississippi and possibly East Texas.

[@Epiderm91]

Bamboo is highly sustainable, grows very quickly, not require much care, the shoots can be eaten, and panda loves it 😂

[@WoodworkersSourcecom]

Done and done 🤭🤭🤭🤣🤣🫣

[@Dekowski911]

Why dont you have stores on the East Coast?

[@DuaneTheOakHirst]

How well does it turn on a lathe?

[@WoodworkersSourcecom]

Okayish, it will tear a bit

[@rrad3926]

How does it look as it ages?

[@WoodworkersSourcecom]

It hardly changes, actually

[@MA-vm6jl]

Where can I buy it. Never seen it sold. Rockler?

[@WoodworkersSourcecom]

Um..... Woodworkers Source!

[@dougprentice1363]

So is it basically thin plies?

[@WoodworkersSourcecom]

Yes

[@Zamboni-0805]

You forgot to mention the cost? How much a board foot? You said you are happy to answer any questions, so I hope you answer this one.

[@WoodworkersSourcecom]

Great. quesetion. In today's market you can expect it to cost less than premium walnut but more than hard white maple. (Prices of hardwoods and sheet goods can fluctuate so dang much that we don't like to put the info in a video that will outlive the price changes)

[@lukefitt56]

I looked on the website and today for a 3/4”x9-1/4”x8’ board it was $99

[@handyman7748]

@@lukefitt56 thats too much, i think i will stick with oak for my projects

[@jhersk]

How much of the bamboo "wood" is actually glue?

[@WoodworkersSourcecom]

A lot, frrankly. It's made of strips about 1/4" wide and that's what's laminated together. Pause it at 0:58 and take a look. So it's not ground into pulp-and-glue soup like a fiberboard is. This stuff is kind of different

[@kaptannimo7886]

You’re an Angel to me! We would like you to train our 1st batch of master bamboo craftsman in Assam state, India. How can we reach you? 🙏

[@utunyee8318]

How about the price comparison?