Treat Tons of Bamboo...AT THE SAME TIME!!!

One of the best ways to treat a lot of bamboo to last a long time is by letting it soak in a tank filled with a borax based treatment solution.
We call it the Cold Soak Immersion method of treating bamboo.
Interested in learning how to do it yourself? Then watch this video.
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[@wanderingdoggo]

You should dry the bamboo horizontally, not vertically. When kept vertical the force of gravity will push down the solution. Also is better not to dry it in the sun but in a shady ventilated area, because drying in the full sun can cause it to crack. And covering the pool with something can prevent accidental poisoning of pets and evaporation of the solution. Also if you want to throw away your used solution (although as you said it can be reused many times) it can be a good idea to put some baking soda in it just to neutralize the boric acid. Anyway, thanks for the nice video, just my 2 cents here.

[@HomesteadinHawaii]

Thanks for sharing. I learned from bamboo u that after soak to let it drain vertically in the sun to drain for a few days, then put them horizontally in the shade to continue drying. But there’s probably a few ways to do it. I like the baking soda trick. Thanks

[@melvincan7761]

How do you know that you needed to add more borax to the solution after a long period of time? Or you'd just depend on the water volume then add water + borax accordingly

[@sararichardson737]

Great info. Thank you.

[@mandyflora]

we are so grateful for this post, thank you very much for selflessly sharing information like this, we will be doing this method soon, aloha!

[@HomesteadinHawaii]

Just sharing info I wish I had

[@RetreatfarmFarmvilleVirginia]

I Would treat green bamboo with Pressure treatment chemicals for wood decking and Boron to keep the Bugs out and off of it. Both are considered "Permanent" Chemicals and gloves should be used to handle wet Bamboo to avoid skin saturation. You can also buy the 1 or 5 gallon roofing tar patch with the fiberglass re-enforcement fibers in the steel cans and take the cans and heat them up in a open fire so you can dip the ends of the bamboo in the tar for when you place the bottoms of the bamboo in ground contact situations. It will help the ends to resist rot 5-10 years. Make sure you drill a drain hole about 6 inches above the ground so water can escape.

[@HomesteadinHawaii]

Thanks for the tips

[@kanikimcnicholas2077]

Aloha and Mahalo for another video that answered all my questions about my bamboo cure!

[@HomesteadinHawaii]

This one was for you!

[@rafajuice3228]

Happy I heard the Puerto Rican native coqui in background! Mahalo from the Caribbean

[@HomesteadinHawaii]

We have lots of coqui frogs here

[@yoBigWave]

Just got my seeds in the mail, arrived healthy and ready for planting. Mahalo Sean! -Andrew

[@HomesteadinHawaii]

Oh cool! You’re in PA? I hope those things grow for you. The Likikoi might be a little more hardy. Thanks for the support. I really appreciate it.

[@BlintonBerg]

👍👍👍

[@TSis76]

THANK YOU!

[@HomesteadinHawaii]

Your welcome

[@kanikimcnicholas2077]

Just an FYI to your followers, I just ordered the NaTiddy Yellow Mini Chainsaw, 6" Brushless Mini Cordless Chainsaw with 2 x 2000mAh Batteries, 2 x Chains from link on your video. Pleasantly surprised there is a discount link on the website of $35 off of price right now making it $74.99!!

[@HomesteadinHawaii]

That’s awesome! I hope it works out for you. I love mine

[@avishaizipkin2538]

Hi! Thank you for Your great Chanel and all the info you share! I'd like to ask if I use borax in an Intex swimming pool which is used in summer- will it affect the plastic of the pool? Also, most the water be super clean? My rain water becomes a bit green from algae

[@HomesteadinHawaii]

It did not affect the plastic of my pond liner at all, just make sure the pool drains away from any plantings you care about when you refresh the water. I do not know what algae in the water might do though. Experimentation?

[@jayfridayaq]

Hello from NY. I live in the mountains north of NYC and there is a large amount of bamboo growing in the woods behind my house (not quite sure who planted). I'm trying to figure out how I could use this beautiful, strong plant to make something nice in my yard. So here I am trying to learn a little bit and I'm reading the comments. I'm only commenting here bc i think it's awesome that you seem to reply to everyone. I will not be bashful about asking your advice. Thanks for contributing to the community with your content and responses to the viewers questions. I learn from that interaction. Take care, and you'll be hearing from me.

[@HomesteadinHawaii]

No worries. Feel free to ask away. You should look into wattle and daub. Using bamboo and cob

[@jayfridayaq]

@@HomesteadinHawaii thank you, I will.

[@andreslommatzsch6548]

Aloha and Mahalo from the Caribbean island of Tobago, Trinidad and Tobago. Sean, if the bamboo is split before submerging it in the tank, would this shorten the drying time? We are about to build our cob/earthship home out of pocket and we want to use the bamboo in our land as the skeleton for our walls. I would appreciate any advice on this. Thanks.

[@HomesteadinHawaii]

As long as it’s fresh that’s fine

[@greatslambino]

Is there a way to dry quicker without having to wait months to use it?

[@HomesteadinHawaii]

You can use fresh and then readjust all your connections as the bamboo shrinks

[@jmeethao4768]

My neighbors has some bamboo that has been cut and setting out on their yeard for a few months now. Can I still use it for little project as soap holder etc.. I know it can be cure anymore but would the bamboo still have sugar where bugs will still what to eat it? Also, can I cure it with olive oil to see if it will last a little longer? Thank you!

[@HomesteadinHawaii]

It's always good to experiment. It may never get hit by bugs, or it may. But go ahead and make your projects. Worse thing is it goes bad after a few years. I don't think olive oil will help though. But you can try that too!!

[@GarysBBQSupplies]

New subscriber here. What is the best method to remove the small branches from the main stalk?

[@HomesteadinHawaii]

If you don’t mind how your bamboo looks after a machete, other wise pruners and a grinder

[@vishnujanstrayhorn7897]

How long should the bamboo soak for in the cold immersion?

[@HomesteadinHawaii]

2 weeks

[@ren.oooooo]

Any recommendations for dried bamboo that’s getting cracks? Will something like oil help?

[@HomesteadinHawaii]

It mostly depends on the drying process. At this stage its mostly too late. Can try oil but that's mostly to protect the outer skin

[@LomaHassell]

Aloha from Maui. I am enjoying your videos. Are there any options if the cut bamboo was cut more than 48 hours ago? Maybe like making a new saw off at the base (like a Christmas tree)?

[@HomesteadinHawaii]

It really should be fresh. How it works is the bamboo is still drawing up liquid through its capillaries up until 72 hrs after cutting. When you do it within that time frame it replaces the sugars in the capillaries with your solution, making the bamboo inedible to pests.

[@BigcheesinCindy]

What if you heat the bamboo first and polish. Can you still soak it

[@jimhood1202]

Nice to see someone else operating a small scale treatment plant. You are doing more or less the same as me although I've gone for a 2:3 ratio on the boric acid and borax. Still a 5% solution though. What length of poles are you treating? My tank can handle up to 23 feet or 7 metres.

[@HomesteadinHawaii]

I only made a tank large enough for ten foot poles and use vsd for longer poles

[@jimhood1202]

@@HomesteadinHawaii I was keen to set up a vsd system too but unfortunately we have a lot of boring beetles here and although they don't affect the strength of the culms the holes they make would be a lot of work to plug well enough to hold the treatment solution.

[@marymalko5105]

@@jimhood1202 wow! I guess we’re lucky then. Borer beetles sound like no fun

[@vietbaboon]

Thank you! Do you also stain the bamboo after?

[@HomesteadinHawaii]

Yes, this process is to protect from bugs, if you have the bamboo in the sun you should use a bamboo preservative to keep the outside looking good

[@terring6214]

What bamboo variety to you like best for building? Can I buy some cuttings from you? Do you think they'd survive shipping to Colorado? Love your channel!

[@HomesteadinHawaii]

Thank you. You should read my blog post on bamboo www.homesteadinhawaii.com/bamboo-construction-beginner-guide-to-building-with-bamboo/

[@baminorchez683]

Sir, how long does the treated bamboo lasts after using it for construction???

[@HomesteadinHawaii]

Depends on how you use it. Do you have a good roof and foundation? Decades. Exposed to weather, 7 years

[@cavyguy6287]

If my bamboo was not properly treated before making the privacy screen that I did, how long do you thing it will last? It's been up for about 6 months and I see piles and piles of dust of where, I guess, the bugs are eating it. Would it help if I took it down, split it and somehow treated it?

[@HomesteadinHawaii]

It’s too late. Bamboo should really be treated within 48hrs. Keep it out of the weather it might last longer, maybe varnish, but it won’t soak up the treatment solution anymore

[@dineshchandana5650]

It's you can apply white wax keep some long time finally..

[@kiyakaisaac626]

Can already dry bamboo be treated in the same manner and produce the same result?

[@HomesteadinHawaii]

It really needs to be fresh. Within 48 hrs. 72 max

[@aessedai6540]

is there any way of curing if it's already been cut for a few weeks? I"ve been searching for bamboo for years and I finally found someone giving it away, but it's already been cut and laying for almost a month. Will it still be usable for projects, such as a fence or crafts?

[@HomesteadinHawaii]

You won’t be able to treat it but you can still use it. It just won’t last as long. You have to treat within 72 hrs

[@jimhood1202]

What I do in this situation is recut the ends of the pole. Keep taking an inch or so until you reach material that still has a decent moisture content. Then continue as normal. The poles tend to dry from the ends especially if the nodes are still intact.

[@double.dsbigislandpov]

Do you think strawberry guava be treated this same way for construction projects, or have you done any construction with guava treated another way? Asking for project in Kalapana. Mahalo!

[@HomesteadinHawaii]

I think they normally pressure treat for wood, but it could be worth a try, treat them while they're fresh

[@double.dsbigislandpov]

@@HomesteadinHawaii for a kids playhouse & thinking of fencing too. So if no can, no worries. 🤙🏽 & Mahalo!

[@DrakeWeezy]

Can you do this on hardwood also? or its just for bamboo?

[@HomesteadinHawaii]

I think this is what they do for luber, just different chemicals, hibor

[@ernstpeterlegrand]

Is there a way to treat bamboo that has been cut for 1 or 2 weeks?

[@HomesteadinHawaii]

That's too old already

[@vichethCHAN]

Dear Sir, how would treat solid bamboo poles?

[@HomesteadinHawaii]

Just like I show in this video

[@wongfeihung1847]

This is so cool and awesome but downside that it’s waaay too time consuming

[@HomesteadinHawaii]

You have to do the same to wood. There’s just a company that does that for you.

[@divinasalazar7125]

Can we cut in half lengthwise the bamboo?

[@HomesteadinHawaii]

Sure. Then soak that’s fine

[@evolvin12]

Is it necessary to fill the holes, if you use the holes drilled method? and is this method less effective?

[@HomesteadinHawaii]

You don’t have to fill the holes, it just looks better. It’s as effective, just make sure to drill two holes in each node and that the bamboo fills up with the solution. You’ll have to hold them under the solution till they fill and stay submerged in their own

[@jimhood1202]

Drilling a single hole at each node (always the same side and all in a line) is a useful additional step since there can be air trapped between the nodes even if you've punched holes in them all. Hold one end of the pole towards the bottom of your tank and keep the holes up until all the air has come out. It should sink to the bottom now even if it's not a straight pole.

[@duncanmurrell9203]

I started with the vertical soak method but switched to the cold soak because I found it very difficult to withdraw the metal rod after puncturing the partitions, even when coated in vaseline. I tried two different diameters of metal rods but equally difficult to withdraw because of the grip of the partitions. I had do drill a hole in a block of wood to slide the rod through and then hammer furiously on the block of wood to get the bamboo to release the metal rod. I sharpened both rods to a good point with an angle grinder. The more partitions the harder to withdraw. Maybe it's easier when they're freshly cut but after a day or two .....forget it. Not worth all the effort. I'm happy with my cold soak bath now.

[@HomesteadinHawaii]

Are you drilling holes in the nodes? You still need a way for the solution to get in.

[@katiesiouxlamoureaux7757]

So a cordless hedge trimmer is the preferred cutting tool?

[@HomesteadinHawaii]

Not a hedge trimmer. A mini chainsaw, but a Japanese handsaw makes cleaner cuts

[@jimhood1202]

Also a battery sawzall is useful.

[@sararichardson737]

Would sea salt work as a substitute? Using real sea salt I mean

[@HomesteadinHawaii]

You can treat in the ocean but it’s not as reliable

[@salvereginamendros3969]

Whats the water ratio?

[@HomesteadinHawaii]

I have another video explaining it. 5% borax. 5% boric acid 90% water

[@Kjstankapapa]

Sir,how much quantity should mix in both borax powder n water?

[@HomesteadinHawaii]

Watch this video. It will tell you How to Make Borax based Bamboo Treatment Solution kzbin.info/www/bejne/kJSaeGibg5mBack

[@DebbieFishell]

It doesn't look like you are measuring the ingredients. Does it matter? Just pour a random amount in?

[@HomesteadinHawaii]

I made another video covering that, but I should probably remake that one

[@RIVERDOG-tp8lo]

How do you discard of the water, does is go down the drain? I dont want to harm the envirenment with poisend water.

[@HomesteadinHawaii]

Great question. It can last for quite a while in the tank, but I actually had a blowout once and it spilled all over. My longon tree lost all of it's leaves, but they have since grown back. It should be disposed of in a septic system or it can actually be heavily watered down and used as a fertilizer, but it has to be diluted, a lot. everchem.com.my/manage-the-boron-in-your-plants-with-boric-acid-fertilizers/#:~:text=Boric%20Acid%20is%20one%20fertilizer,absorb%20Boron%20through%20the%20roots.

[@abubkrshyk]

Can we use natural salt for treatment? Where i live natural salt is very cheap, does anyone have any idea?

[@HomesteadinHawaii]

People treat with saltwater but it’s not as reliable

[@abubkrshyk]

@@HomesteadinHawaii thanks for the rply, i am from Pakistan & we are working on eco living and cost cutting living solutions through Bamboo construction

[@nguyenhcm2173]

How to safely expose the solution into environment after finishing process?

[@HomesteadinHawaii]

The ingredients used are used to provide nutrients to plants or for organic pest control, but in high amounts it is not good for plants. I use a sump pump and pump the water to a part of the property where it will not affect plants I like. Right now it goes straight towards a tithonia plant, which I hate

[@jimhood1202]

Handy for keeping weeds down on gravel paths too.

[@koreannederr5593]

How much borax and boric acid do you use per gallon of H20?

[@HomesteadinHawaii]

This should help How to Make Borax based Bamboo Treatment Solution kzbin.info/www/bejne/kJSaeGibg5mBack

[@bmluz2276]

Is the water solution poisonous to animals? I just know my cats will drink from it...

[@HomesteadinHawaii]

They say it will cause stomach irritation and in high doses, kidney problems

[@Guiding100]

Are they termite proof?

[@HomesteadinHawaii]

If treated

[@Guiding100]

@@HomesteadinHawaii you mean if treated with boric and borax then it will be termite proof?

[@marymalko5105]

@@Guiding100 yes

[@gopalkshetry4320]

I request you to make KZbin using CCB to treat Bamboo!

[@HomesteadinHawaii]

It's hard for me to get that stuff here in Hawaii, but here's a good article www.guaduabamboo.com/blog/chemical-bamboo-preservation

[@jamesortega8681]

ill just use pvc bamboo

[@HomesteadinHawaii]

That’s no fun 😒

[@jamesortega8681]

@@HomesteadinHawaii what are u talking about they look great with zero maintenance. i guarantee none of your visitors will even care if theyre real or not

[@broodof7407]

Why is 48 hours important? Why right away?

[@HomesteadinHawaii]

The bamboo is still “alive.” The solution soaks into the walls of the bamboo better as the capillaries are still pumping, therefore soaking up the borax solution. This starts to wane out the older bamboo gets from being cut

[@Allenmassageguy]

How about just painting the bamboo?

[@HomesteadinHawaii]

That does not treat it for bugs, but helps with sun damage