Bamboo handicrafts

Researchers from the Mariano Marcos State University in Ilocos Norte developed a simple process that converts the bamboo pole into materials that can be readily used for furniture and handicrafts. Engineered Kawayan, or E-kawayan, is an advanced form of bamboo products put together to form a whole new different product—Kawayan tiles.

The bamboo, known locally as kawayan, grows just about anywhere across the country. Its use can range from making houses, fences, bridges, walking sticks, furniture, chopsticks, food steamers, toys, construction scaffolding, hats, abaci and various musical instruments. Flooring made of bamboo has become popular throughout the years. Its culms may also be cut and made into vases or tubes, or pipes to transport water or as containers.

Culms, also called the stems, can range in height from a few cm to 40 m, with stem diameters ranging from 1 mm to 30 cm. The stems are joined together by a node. Each node bears one leaf, and may also have one to several side branches.

Dr. Stanley C. Malab and Jose A. Zafaralla of MMSU developed both the process and the machineries for the development of kawayan tiles – the basic material for manufacturing engineered kawayan products.

Tiles production starts with choosing the finest bamboo trees. The culms are harvested and cut to lengths maximizing the straight portions. The researchers noted that irregularly shaped parts of the pole are cut into not less than 18 inches.

The poles are then split manually with an approximate width of 33mm. The split parts are treated with wood preservatives, boiled, and dried in a bamboo dryer – also developed in MMSU – and are left to dry for 4 days. This process improves the slats’ resistance to borer.

MMSU also developed the Kawayan Tile Machine, for the shaping of slats into desired width and thickness. Flooring made of bamboo pieces are steamed, flattened, glued together, finished, and cut. The bamboo slats, after they are treated and dried, are jointed together in the machine to minimize gaps after gluing them together.

The laminated slats are sorted to minimize apparent color differences. The laminates are cold-pressed at 150 kg/m2 vertical and 5 kg/m2 side pressures. This is done for three hours. For making planks, the slats are applied with white glue commonly found in local hardwares. The semi-finished products are smoothened through a sanding machine.

The researchers noted that the process and machines they developed were able to maximize the utilization of bamboo even its most unwanted part.

************************************************************************************

AGRI-INFO/MAY 9, 2006


TITLE: BAMBOO TILES MADE EASY


NARINIG NA BA NINYO ANG TUNGKOL SA BAMBO TILES?

ITO AY NAISAKATUPARAN NG MGA EKSPERTO MULA SA MARIANO MARCOS STATE UNIVERSITY SA ILOCOS NORTE SA PAMAMAGITAN NG SIMPLENG PROSESO NA MA-CONVERT ANG MGA PUNO NG KAWAYAN BILANG MATERYALES PARA SA PAGGAWA NG MUWEBLES AT HANDICRAFTS.

ANG ENGINEERED KAWAYAN O TINATAWAG DING E-KAWAYAN AY MAITUTURING NA ADVANCED FORM NG BAMBOO PRODUCTS NA SADYANG BINUO PARA MAKABUO NG BAGONG PRODUKTO NA KILALA NA NGAYON SA PANGALANG KAWAYAN O BAMBO TILES.

ALAM NAMANA NATIN NA ANG KAWAYAN AY TALAGANG POPULAR SA IBAT-IBANG GAMIT NITO TULAD NG PAGPAPATAYO NG BAHAY, BAKOD, TULAY, TUNGKOD, MUWEBLES, CHOPSTICKS, FOOD STEAMERS, LARUAN, CONSTRUCTION SCAFFOLDING, SUMBRERO, AT MGA INSTRUMENTONG MUSIKAL.

BUKOD PA DYAN, SA LALAWIGAN AY GINAGAMIT DIN ITONG PANSAHIG SA BAHAY MAGING SA KAMA O TULUGAN, GINAGAMIT DIN ITO BILANG FLOWER VASE, O DALUYAN NG TUBIG O SISIDLAN NITO MAGING NG TUBA.

PINANGUNAHAN NINA DR. STANLEY MALAB AT JOSE ZAFARALLA NG MMSU ANG PANANALIKSIK PARA MAISAKATUPARAN ANG BAMBOO TILES.