I was sitting in a restaurant yesterday that has smoked bamboo furniture. As I was admiring the color and craftsmanship, I realized that our readers might be interested. Smoking bamboo is just one of numerous ways to treat bamboo and prolong its life. The final color of smoked bamboo is the main appeal for me. The photo above is the closest I could find. The furniture I saw was almost exactly the color of roasted chestnuts. The color will naturally vary. The uses and benefits of bamboo fill many books. There are thousands of bamboo products on the market now, and I see more all the time. For sure, bamboo is an important part of building a greener world.
Image source: Tropical Lifestyle.com
Smoked bamboo directions
More bamboo preservation methods at Bamboo Forums
INBAR – International Network for Bamboo and Rattan
We heat-treated bamboo for the purpose of building bicycles and using as rebar in the construction of an earthship-style wall last year…both worked tremendously well, although we didn’t complete the bamboo bikes.
We used a cob oven to heat treat the bamboo….worked great!
One advantage of this method is you don’t need to apply varnish or other coatings. I actually prefer the natural smoked look better than varnish or other coatings. As usual, make samples using different techniques to see what you prefer.
Hey Owen,
How do I water-proof bamboo for an indoor shower enclosure?
Mahalo,
Kiki
Use polyurethane, etc. to waterproof the bamboo. Bamboo decomposes very rapidly in the presence of water and humidity and insects. Even then don’t let water splash directly on the bamboo. Use stone and other more durable materials that will get wet.