Bamboo mat, out of real bamboo .......

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Framerguy

Framerguy

PFG, Picture Framing God
Joined
Apr 12, 2001
Posts
7,261
Loc
Destin, Florida
I had a customer in the other day and she wanted to have a print matted with real bamboo! I thought about this and came up with one of these bamboo roll-up shades. But I am having a problem figuring out how to cut the opening in the "mat". Bamboo doesn't cut well with a mat cutter.

Does anyone have any words of wisdom about cutting a nice clean opening in a bamboo shade? There will be another mat under the bamboo so there is no problem with acid migration. (Is bamboo acidic? It is a grass. Hmmmmm.) I am thinking that a straight cut would look better than a bevel because of the bamboo being hollow.

I have the top and bottom cuts figured out already so half the work is done for you. I just need some suggestions on the vertical cuts.

If I can get the mat opening clean and neat, I am going to frame it in Tai Chaing from LJ. It should look ......... uh, well, different.

Framerguy

[ 10-17-2003, 09:31 PM: Message edited by: Framerguy ]
 
Tom,

I think I would try to mount the bamboo shade to a mat or 2 ply rag etc before cutting. It seems like it would be more stable if it was stuck down for cutting. Draging a blade through something flexible can cause the material to move and make your opening uneven (as you have discovered, I'm sure). Did you try to cut it with a utility knife in more of a chopping motion? You better post a picture of this!
 
FGII,

Is this another one of those "implant" type projects?

I like the idea of mounting the shade to a mat board and then cutting it. Seems to be the most stable idea. Can you drymount it?

Then are you going to use some sort of spacer or walls to keep the bamboo off the glass? Makes me want to try this when I get to the shop.

Did you look at some of those Bainbridge mats with that type of material on them already? I thought I remembered seeing something similar to what you are talking about.

Good luck, I'm sure you'll figure it out.

Mark
 
Dermot,

Perfect! But the only Japanese saw I have is a Ryoba (the double sided saw, rip on one edge, crosscut on the other). The teeth appear too course even on the crosscut side to cut the tiny bamboo without hanging up. There is a very fine veneer saw that they make but I don't remember the name.

I thought I bought this Ryoba at Constantines many years ago but am not sure. Since I have not carried most of these woodworking catalogs in years, where is the best source for Japanese saws now?

Thanks.

Framerguy
 
Suggestion #1: Bamboo grows quickly, especially in the Fort Walton Beach climate. Dig up a little garden patch in your back yard and grow your own, harvesting it when it gets to the proper length for the mat. Then you won't have to cut anything.

Suggestion #2 (in case you're not a gardener): Disassemble the roll up shade. Glue the slats to the backer mat with the factory-cut edges lined up along the opening. You'll still need to trim the excess bamboo but those cut edges will be under the lip of the frame and no one will ever see them.

Good luck

Kit
 
Tom,
www.garrettwade.com
for fine Japanese saws

I would think that the bamboo would outgas in the frame and it would probably be acidic.

Check with a local interior design firm about faux bamboo wall paper.

[ 10-18-2003, 12:00 PM: Message edited by: wpfay ]
 
The very thought of gassy bamboo is just plain disgusting, Wally!!


I suggested wall paper but the lady didn't like the idea. She wants REAL bamboo! (Like the Tai Chaing line is "real"!)

Kit, I have to award the 1st Annual Bamboo Mat Opening award to you for your really cogent idea of placing the framer-cut ends under the rabbet and using the factory cut ends at the opening. (Trophy to be shipped at a later date.)

Oh, and happy 50th, old guy!


How does being a semi-centurian feel?

Do the joints ache any "better"?

Is the fishing rod getting harder to cast out there amongst the breakers?

Do you find that your shoelaces are positioned farther away from your hands than they were at 49?

Did AARP send you their "Gold" card yet?

Happy B'day to ya, my friend!

Framerguy

(Guess I could'a posted this on your B'day thread but the moment would have passed and I probably would have just forgotten about it.)
 
Thanks, Tom. That trophy is sure to become one of my proudest possessions. I'll be checking the mailbox daily.

Kit
 
Another idea would be to float the image above the still assembled shade.

Post a photo of the finished work too please!!!
 
Tom,
I went in to the local Harbor Freight (or is it Freight Harbor?) yesterday and they had some cool albeit cheap Japanese saws. They also had a reversible flush-cutting back saw, and a tenon backsaw. Either of these have fine enough teeth to cut bamboo.

Actually I'm feeling younger and more flexible since I hung up the racketball equipment. A pretty abusive sport.

Good luck with the mat, post photos.
 
Wally,

How are you defining "cheap"? A real Japanese saw looks cheap but is really a very good quality steel. The handle is ramin and is wrapped in bamboo stripping which looks different from our saws but they are fast cutters and easy to get used to. They cut on the pull stroke which is opposite of conventional saws.

I have a ryoba or double backed general purpose saw which has something like 16 tpi on one side of the saw for crosscutting and maybe 7 or 8 tpi for ripping. I have had it for at least 25 years and only paid about $18.00 for it back then. (They run about $40.00 for the same saw today.)The blade is about a foot or more long. The tenon saw is finer toothed but most that I have seen have a steel reinforcement on the back of the saw (like a back saw or miter saw) and would not be suitable to cut completely through on a crosscut. They make an azebeki (sp?) which looks much like the general purpose saw but has only about a 4" blade which is curved on the edges and is made to start a cut in the middle of a panel. That may work for me as the teeth on the crosscut side is 17 or 18 tpi which should be fine enough to cut bamboo. My 16 tpi tends to hang up in the fibers of the bamboo because of the coarseness of the teeth.

If I use Kit's idea I will probably run the bamboo through my table saw using a veneer blade. The cut edges don't have to be perfect as they will be hidden under the rabbet.

Thanks for the lead on Harbor Freight too. I didn't know that they had local stores anywhere. I always got their catalog which is huge and has a kajillion items in it. Their hand tools are pretty cheaply made except for the brand names but they do have some good stuff.

Framerguy
 
Tom, The Japanese saw they had was a back saw of some sort with a replacable blade. The handle was faux wicker wrapped ramin (plastic) so when I said cheap, I was refering to the quality as well as the price ($14.00).
Most of the stuff at Harbor Freight is cheaply made, tough usually it looks and feels industrial strength. I went looking for a roll around tool box and got a bench brush and a back saw. I bought a replacement motor for my table saw there and have been happy with it. I don't think I would buy any precision equipment there.
 
Wally,

I suspected as much.

For anyone who is looking for really fine quality hand tools in the woodworking line, you can find some really high quality things by going to your bookstore and buying a copy of "Fine Woodworking" magazine. It is worth the price if you are looking for tool companiees that carry the best quality, like Constantines and Lee Valley Tools, to name just 2 companies.

The finer quality tool companies will advertise in "Fine Woodworking" because the rates are so expensive that only the best tool companies can afford to advertise there. (along with some of the less-than-the-best companies also.)

FGII
 
Eric,

The latest word on the bamboo mat is this:

the print is still lying under my customer counter, I saw the lady about a week ago at a Business After Hours getogether with the Chamber and she is still looking for that certain color of bamboo that she thinks is out there somewhere. I hope she isn't as fussy about the frame package as she is about the color of her bamboo shade!

All in all, the framing is still in the infant stage.


Framerguy

P.S. When things come together, I'll take some photos and post them for ya'll. (That's Floridian for "youse guys")
 
Framerguy -
How 'bout a Ginsu knife :D ?

Instead of trying to cut the bamboo perfectly straight - how about a rough, jagged edge look? or is the piece too formal for that? Look forward to seeing the finished result! Have fun with it!
 
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