Tig Dupre on tue 6 jul 04
Steve,
I use bamboo tools, and make my own. Get lengths of bamboo from garden shops, craft stores, and some dumpster diving.
I cut lengths using a traditional Japanese saw, which cuts on the back stroke. It has fine teeth and needs little finishing. I use very few power tools.
For sanding, I have a Masonite bat with a sanding disk glued to it. The sandpaper is wet/dry garnet for grinding the bottoms of pots, but this one is VERY old and worn. I wet the paper with the wheel going slowly, and sand and finish-shape the tools. I let them dry, then go over the outside surfaces with 320 grit wet-dry.
Makes great tools that last a LONG time.
Something else to look for is old bamboo rakes. When taken apart, they provide a huge amount of raw material for dragonfly gauges, carving tools, clay knives, and wire frames. If you need to bend bamboo, steam it carefully, bend it to shape, and allow it to dry in that shape.
Best of luck,
Tig Dupre
in Port Orchard, Washington
Hendrix, Taylor J. on tue 6 jul 04
Howdy y'all:
I haven't had the chance to look up from making metal tools long enough
to start in with the bamboo, but something that I have not seen
mentioned yet--some who make bamboo trimming tools sharpen their bamboo
piece so that the blade will fall at a node, where the bamboo fibers are
densest. This, I think, will provide one with a more durable cutting
edge. Could be wrong, but I still look good in a dress.
Taylor
Waco, TX
http://www3.baylor.edu/~Taylor_Hendrix/tjpots.htm =20
-----Original Message-----
From: Clayart [mailto:CLAYART@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG] On Behalf Of Tig Dupre
Sent: Tuesday, July 06, 2004 8:59 AM
To: CLAYART@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG
Subject: Bamboo Tools
Steve,
I use bamboo tools, and make my own. Get lengths of bamboo from garden
shops, craft stores, and some dumpster diving.
I cut lengths using a traditional Japanese saw, which cuts on the back
stroke. It has fine teeth and needs little finishing. I use very few
power tools.
...
=3D?iso-8859-1?B?VGlnIER1cHLp?=3D on thu 22 mar 12
Dear Mudbuds=3D2C
=3D20
Several years ago=3D2C my neighbor put an old=3D2C beat-up=3D2C broken bamb=
oo rak=3D
e out for trash pick up. No idea how old it was=3D2C but it all bamboo=3D2=
C in=3D
cluding the long handle. I snatched that puppy up!
=3D20
Since then=3D2C I have made brush handles=3D2C trimming tools=3D2C knives=
=3D2C meas=3D
uring guages=3D2C pot grabbers=3D2C and a host of other tools=3D2C all for =
free. =3D
Just had to put a little work and imagination into it. The steam-bent poi=
=3D
nts of the rake tines make good trimming tools for raku=3D2C carving=3D2C a=
nd t=3D
exture tools. I even used the old wire that held everything together.
=3D20
If you want a hardened point on your carving tool=3D2C fire up the propane =
to=3D
rch and carefully scorch the tip. Then grind and shape to the desired prof=
=3D
ile. The point will stay hard for a long time.
=3D20
I still have a stack of the old rake tines I intend to use for butterfly gu=
=3D
ages for making bowls and cups. =3D20
=3D20
Wonderful stuff=3D2C bamboo.
=3D20
Best to all=3D2C
=3D20
Tig Dupre
in Port Orchard=3D2C WA
=3D
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