Professional Documents
Culture Documents
oak
iffusion
for
Preservation
E N V I R O N M E N TA L B A M B O O F O U N D AT I O N
Table of Contents
Environmental
Bamboo Foundation
Many thanks to Emerald Starr of Sacred Mountain Sanctuary in Sideman, Bali, who
used a high percentage of experimental VSD treated bamboo timbers when building
his resort. Seven years later, the bamboo he used is still in excellent condition.
Every effort has been made to ensure that all the information in this booklet is
B) Information about BORAX 23
accurate. However, due to differing conditions, kind and age of the bamboos, tools,
and individual skills, the publisher cannot be responsible for any injuries, losses, C) Job Sheet Sample 24
and other damages that may result from the use of the information of this booklet.
D) Financial Analysis 25
First Edition published 2-1-2003 by: LINDA GARLAND E) Local Names 26
Environmental Bamboo Foundation, Bali, Indonesia,
ebf@bamboocentral.info, w w w. b a m b o o c e n t r a l . o r g F) Bamboo Uses 27-28
1 E n v i r o n m e n t a l B a m b o o F o u n d a t i o n E n v i r o n m e n t a l B a m b o o F o u n d a t i o n 2
Preface Introduction
The use of bamboo products requires often its protection against Bamboo culms are a natural material susceptible to insect and
biodegradation by chemical treatment. Its application is hindered fungal attack. Without treatment products made from bamboo can
by the structure of the culm, the need for larger technical installations be expected to last for only up to 3 years.
and the danger of environmental side-effects. The VSD method
developed by EBF is obviously an efficient method to obtain well There are many different techniques for curing and treating bamboo
treated culms, safe to be handled. Its wider application, also to culms in order to prevent splitting,insect infection and fungal growth.
other species, will strengthen its base. In this booklet we present the Vertical Soak Diffusion (VSD) method
Walter Liese which uses minimally toxic borates as preservatives. The method
Universität Hamburg, Germany has been tested in Indonesia using three species of bamboo:
Dendrocalamus asper*
Gigantochloa apus*
Gigantochloa atter*
If you are intending to use other species of bamboo, follow the
methodology in this booklet to treat a small section (1-2 internodes)
and observe the rate of penetration of the red dye discussed in
step 14, page 18.
3 E n v i r o n m e n t a l B a m b o o F o u n d a t i o n E n v i r o n m e n t a l B a m b o o F o u n d a t i o n
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Managing Bamboo
Clumping Bamboo In the dry season, almost all
culms that are 3 years or older
can be removed from a clump
by cutting them just above a
node about 20cm above the
ground. Some younger ones
have to remain for further
nourishment of the rhizome.
10-15cm buffer
5 E n v i r o n m e n t a l B a m b o o F o u n d a t i o n E n v i r o n m e n t a l B a m b o o F o u n d a t i o n
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Harvesting Bamboo
Stored bamboo is
endangered by beetle Bamboo . .
. . yummy!
There are 2 different ways to tell the age of infestation which can be
bamboo culms: recognized in the form of a
talcum-like powder and
small holes in the area of
1) Mostly, culms at the inside of a clump the nodes and along the
are the oldest. internodes.
1.
2) Label the new shoots, this is the 6
mm
safest method.
02
The Powderpost Beetle
7 E n v i r o n m e n t a l B a m b o o F o u n d a t i o n E n v i r o n m e n t a l B a m b o o F o u n d a t i o n
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Planning a Treatment
Center Elevation 2.5 m
Floorplan
2m
make sure that all
6.4 m electrical appliances
7.3 m are grounded and
exposed piping is
4m protected
Treatment Area
8m
14.9 m
30cm
27 m 70cm
Concrete Concrete
32 m Floor of basin
Sump hole with to be sloped
sump pump Filter
towards sump
hole
D
Trough 10cm deep Acid Solution
ra
Storage House for
in
Chemicals and Misc.
Sl
op
Main vertical
e
concrete soak basin
6m 9m
9 E n v i r o n m e n t a l B a m b o o F o u n d a t i o n E n v i r o n m e n t a l B a m b o o F o u n d a t i o n
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List of Tools & Materials Hacksaw
11 E n v i r o n m e n t a l B a m b o o F o u n d a t i o n E n v i r o n m e n t a l B a m b o o F o u n d a t i o n
12
Mixing the Borax Solution
Calculate the internal volume of the culms.
STEP 1 STEP 4
There are 3 differrent ways to do this: Slowly add water stirring
constantly until
2
1. Volume in liters = inner radius squared x 3.1416 x height in BORAX/BORIC ACID and
cm of culm divided by 1000 dye are completely dissolved
Example: bamboo with radius = 6cm, height = 400cm and no more crystals are at
((6x6) x 3.1416 x 400)) / 1000 = 45 liters bottom of container.
2. Fill one punctured culm with water and simply measure how
many liters it takes to fill it up. Multiply by the number of culms.
3. Fill one average internode; measure the amount in liters and Buy only high quality
textile dye.
multiply by the number internodes and by the number of culms.
STEP 2 STEP 5
Mix 3 kg of BORAX with 2 kg of BORIC ACID and add 45 liters water. This
A 10% Solution
gives a 9 to 1 or 10% solution Test the solution with a should give you a
reading between
BORAX BORIC hydrometer under normal 1.000 1.030 and 1.040
3 kg ACID 2 kg temperatures of your 1.005
region. 1.010
13 E n v i r o n m e n t a l B a m b o o F o u n d a t i o n E n v i r o n m e n t a l B a m b o o F o u n d a t i o n
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Treatment
STEP 6 STEP8
Thoroughly clean the Place the bamboo against a
outside of the bamboo wall. Insert the iron rod and
culms with water and punch holes through the
brushes (or coconut husks nodes.
and sand, or scotch brite) Make sure the last node is
not punctured.
STEP 7 STEP 9
End of Iron Rod Weld hex nut to one end Move the bamboo to the
of iron rod. With this rod concrete basin.
Hex Nut
you can punch holes Stand up vertically.
through the diaphragms. Tie culms securely together
The hex nut will create so that they cannot move
large diameter holes thus when they are being filled
preventing air bubbles from with the BORAX/BORIC
forming in the culms during ACID SOLUTION. Culms
the filling procedure. become very heavy when
filled.
15 E n v i r o n m e n t a l B a m b o o F o u n d a t i o n E n v i r o n m e n t a l B a m b o o F o u n d a t i o n
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Treatment continued
STEP 11 STEP 13
Fill the entire bamboo with On Day 14, test check the
the solution. Every morning culm by sawing off the
refill the culms which have upper internode. The fabric
absorbed approximately dye has now penetrated
1% of the liquid overnight. the culm walls sideways
Every day absorbtion rate and colored them pinkish.
is less. Carefully carry the filled
culm close to the sump hole
and break the last node
using a metal punch. Make
IN
sure you wear face
protection.
The diaphragms of large
culms should be punctured
OUT IN
by using the iron rod.
The solution will now flow
Slope
on the sloped basin floor
into the sump hole.
17 E n v i r o n m e n t a l B a m b o o F o u n d a t i o n E n v i r o n m e n t a l B a m b o o F o u n d a t i o n 18
Treatment continued Notes
STEP 14
Leave the bamboo for a minimum
of one hour in the basin for the
solution to fully drain out of culms
into the sump hole.
Pump leftover solution back into
container through a filter for re-
use. The filter should be regularly
changed. Test again with the
hydrometer and add more
BORAX/BORIC ACID if necessary
(see appendix page 23). Wipe down
the whole culm to remove excess
borate.
STEP15
Store the bamboo
horizontally or
vertically in the
shade (hot sun
splits it) to slowly
dry. Make sure that
it is not exposed to
rain which could
wash out the
preservative.
19 E n v i r o n m e n t a l B a m b o o F o u n d a t i o n E n v i r o n m e n t a l B a m b o o F o u n d a t i o n
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BAMBOO CONSERVATION - THE $ EN$ IBLE WAY
WOOD BAMBOO
GLOBAL WARMING
O1 CO2 O1 CO2 O1 CO2 O1 CO2 O1 CO2 O1 CO2 O1 CO2 O1 CO2
EROSION
0 5 10 15 20 25 YEARS 0 5 10 15 20 25
21 22
Cov
Appendices continued
B) Information about Borates B) Job Sheet
Customer Name
BORAX/BORIC ACID is more environmentally friendly than other
wood preservatives currently used. Customer Tel. No.
Bamboo Species
Reuse Guidelines
1 2 3
The BORAX/BORIC ACID SOLUTION can be used more than once Date Arrived Quantity of
for treating bamboo, as long as the hydrometer reading of the Culms
solution is still at the initial level, of approximately 1.035. Keep Date Treatment Length of Culms
in mind that, as the bamboo sap gets partially drained out of the Started
culm, the starch/sugar from the sap will move into the treatment Date Treatment Average Inside
Finished Diameter
solution. This can lead to inaccurate hydrometer readings. After
the 3rd or 4th use gradually increase the BORAX/BORIC ACID Average Outside
Diameter
concentration to 1.040 and 1.050. At the point when the drained
solution foams significantly and/or mold is forming on the surface New Liters Added Liters of Used Solution in Tank
of the solution and on the bamboo culm it is time for the solution
Day 1
to be disposed of.
Day 2
Day 4
BORAX/BORIC ACID is non toxic to the environment, but is highly
saline. When a moderate amount of it is absorbed into the ground, Day 5
the ground filters out the salt to the point where it does not pollute Day 6
Day 11
Tel 021-424-0202, 424-7141, 425-5563 Total Liters Added Liters of Solution Left in Tank
Fax 420-5588 Total Liters Used
23 E n v i r o n m e n t a l B a m b o o F o u n d a t i o n E n v i r o n m e n t a l B a m b o o F o u n d a t i o n
24
Appendices continued
rebong china
Yearly Running Costs (for 2000 culms, 6m, 6.75cm dia) Singapore
Transportation 500 L a o s
Tools 100
Labor, 3 workers for 24 weeks 865 phai-tong
Labor during Off Season 335
Admin. Wages 290 Thailand
Repairs & Maintenance 300
Utilities 230 manh tong
Loan paid back (5Yrs, 3.5% Int.) 600 Vietnam
Misc. 120
Total Running Costs per Year US$ 3,860 Tetun patung au ora
E.Timor
If 2000 treated culms were to be sold for US$ 0.60 a piece this would
generate a net profit of 45% of gross sales.
25 E n v i r o n m e n t a l B a m b o o F o u n d a t i o n E n v i r o n m e n t a l B a m b o o F o u n d a t i o n 26
BAMBOO Financing
USES
Mid-Culm:
Houses
Furniture houses are
built
products
Base: are made
Construction & consumed
Charcoal
Furniture
products
are sold
RootSystem:
Food
Water Shed
Erosion control bank gets
Toxic Cleanup loan back
Charcoal plus interest
Medicinal
village is happy
27 E n v i r o n m e n t a l B a m b o o F o u n d a t i o n E n v i r o n m e n t a l B a m b o o F o u n d a t i o n 28