I’ve searched the archives, but haven’t found very much information about the possibilities of using bamboo in surfboard construction. I’m working on a hollow wooden board now (many thanks to Paul Jensen for all the great resources) and have done a bit of bamboo sculpture in the past. I have been fascinated by the strength, flexibility, and versatility of bamboo for some time. Has anyone used it --either for a hollow or as an alternative to glass cloth with epoxy? I’d appreciate any info I can get. (Also, does anyone know where I can see a pic of one of Gary Young’s bamboo boards?)
Bamboo works on Kauai has two bamboo boards hanging on their walls. I know nothing about them. Their phone number is 808 632 0533. Mabey this will help the quest for knowledge.
Is that Gary Young currently residing in the island of Hawaii, the former owner of Woodwinds Sail and Surf boards? Wood laminate, epoxy, styro 9’2" boards that weighed right at 14lbs.?
I don’t know much about bamboo, and probably is of no help. A friend of mine, DDM, a dentist in training just immigrated to SanJose from the Phillipines, makes windsurf boards out of bamboo laminate, in sheets 4x8 which he buys from somewhere (wish I knew where). His boards are really strong and lightweight (talking about the bamboo deck and bottom) look really “custom”, and are sound and solid.
But I haven’t seen him at the beach this year yet, as windsurf season just started.
He usually checks the gaastra.com forums, under Barry Spanier.
Ahh - I just saw a link in a thread this morning, that linked to a page with bamboo boards from Aus. Looked good, hooked to there sight, claims bamboo “cloth” is much better than glass, tried to find out more, but got distracted. If someone finds it paste it up here.
There is one for sale on Ebay Right now.Just go to Ebay and search"Bamboo Surfboard" it brand new and came from the phillipines.Maybe the guy selling it can help you.
I spent some time looking for some bamboo veneer to make kite surfing boards with but I couldn’t find anything suitable. Seems there is a big market for processed flooring and panneling but no raw veneer to be found.
I think I want to use 1mm or so rotary cut veneer that is at least 60" along the grain. A 4x8 sheet would be great too as long as its not $150 a sheet like some of the thin panneling I found on the web.
If you have any ideas where I should look please post them.
I bought a bamboo shortboard around about two years ago - stuipidly believing the marketing claims ie that it’s lighter, better in every way etc. Truth is the board was so heavy (much heavier than a 6 oz glass job) that it just feels dead - the rocker line is also a bit suspect - a number of flat spots and sudden curves. The board, however, does look beautiful and is very strong. A good shaper might be able to make something out of this technology, but the one I’ve got is now relegated to being an expensive wall hanger.
the possibilities are great if you find the right bamboo. the best is guadua angustifolia, the size and the physical properties are great to build a surfboard. the problem is that guadua angustifolia only grows in colombia and ecuador. here in mexico there is guadua aculeata, a little shorter and thinner than angustifolia, but with the same physical properties. the problem with aculeata is it’s scarcity.
An alternative is bambusa otatea, very common and with a wide distribution in north america. In certain favorable areas it can grow to 30 feets with 4+ inches in diameter. If properly laminated and glued you can get something nice to build a surfboard.
Actually I’m trying to locate bambusa otatea with the right characteristics, and will start to build my 2nd hollow as soon as i get it.
Has anybody made any progress on finding bambo? I have found a plethora of information about bamboo but nothing concerning sheets of the stuff for sale. I’d like to make a stubby with a bamboo/wood combination. Any ideas would be helpful.
I worked for the Bamboo surfboards Australia company briefly, in Byron Bay.
I can tell you a lot about why those guys never hit it big, but guess what the main problem was, construction wise???
Yep.
Bamboo has major issues. Those lumps every foot or so, which make up the bamboo’s natural rings. When the log is stripped to veneer those segments are still there. There’s bumps in the bottom line of your skins…
The veneers split easily and don’t like going around compound curves much.
The stuff came from the Phillipines, especially sourced. If you, as the proprietor of “BSA” did, have a Phillipino wife, then, too easy!!!
Woven fibre matting may make the difference. It is a whole different line to take there…
Since CMP turned me on to the stuff, I’ve made about half a dozen EPS boards with bamboo laminate skins. Even sent a roll to Benny1 who fortunately or unfortunately made the “peanut” with it.
I also had a 9’6" mal from Bamboosurfboards AUS and although pretty and light it didn’t perform as expected. Tropical Rush used to sell them a couple years ago when Sunny made the news.
Like LeeDD said they make a very tough external skin when epoxy laminated even though they are only 1mm thick. They are hard to work with so I like to use them as deck patches or on the bottom where it’s nice and flat. It takes to bottom contours very well without softening them like 1/16-1/8 balsa does. trimming and sanding the epoxied edges of the woven stuff is like playing with razorwire, not alot of fun.
Gary Young is the master.
He’s on the big island building canoes now.
He layers the bamboo laminate over the foam for strength then lams thin koa veneer over then bamboo for looks. You end up with beautiful looking foam core canoe that looks like it’s made of solid koa but weighs a fraction of the weight.
working with strips its going to be tough like someone said the rings and the narrowness of the stalks aren’t going to give you long wide flat pieces to work with.
These guys sell strips but they are thin and curved and would need to be thinned out.
The 1mm woven laminate is readily available here at city mill and Homedepot for about $30-$35 for a 4’x8’ sheet. enough for a full top and bottom of a shorty…I have glued up left overs to make deck patch so you can go longer tha 8’ if needed.
I’ve also used the stuff as an internal horizontal stringer between two thin sheets of 1lb EPS using epoxy glue. strap that up to your favorite board and bam you’ve captured the rocker.
You could build a Paul Jensen frame using the sticks and then lay a bamboo/corecell/bamboo top and bottom sheet to build your board. even substitute luan mahagony door skin in place of the corecell to say money…
You want to know much more you’ll have to find Gary but I bet he isn’t talking since most of his work is patented and the Aussie thing left a bad taste in his mouth…
Oneula gave me a 7’ish blank with a bamboo horizontal stringer. Look forward to seeing how that’s going to spring. More innovations coming out of Ewa Beach.
I’ve also thought about using bamboo for surfboards and ran into www.fustar.com/home-j.html a chinese company which make different bamboo products and they do make bamboo veneer but dont know about price.
Glass cloth both under & over was a must for me. The resin doesn’t really penetrate the bamboo. Or maybe saturate. I mean, it works its way between the pieces in the weave, but if doesn’t get into the grain at all like it does with wood.
I had some uh adhesion issues. Eventually, it all stuck together fine and the peanut is proving both a fun design and a very durable board. Sanding is a nightmare along the edges - the weave likes to separate & tear chunks out of your sanding disc and then the disc tears a piece out of the weave and before you can even jerk the sander away, you’ve wasted a disc and given yourself a patch job.
So really, mine’s just the core of a sandwich skin. Its thin for a structural core, but its strength, weight, and resin saturation properties are good…
I’d use it again, especially for something that wants to be stiff. I’d guess the sweet spot for that material is in the heavy beachie/barrell semigun space - your stiff, rockered, round pin tail 7’6" thruster. I think that would be a good, practical application for the material. For other boards, there are materials which are lighter, or flex more, or are easier to work with…
Benny, I have a ~ 7’6" Spyder single-fin gun that I was planning on making a template out of and attempting to make a bamboo/wood board. Perfect!
Oneula, I like the purpleheart/bamboo. I’ve made a few hill bomber skateboards out of purpleheart/maple and purpleheart/mahogony. Beautiful woods. Did you have any problem with the adhesion of the babmoo to the ph wood? I guess it’s time to start working on a vaccuum bag set-up.
