Treatment

We often discuss Guadua Angustifolia because of it inherent strength and beauty. The Guadua Angustifolia that has been studied extensively is from the Caldes region of Colombia. This particular Bamboo grows at an altitude of 2000 feet above sea level. This altitude causes the cellular structure of the culm to become quite dense, thus it the strongest Bamboo material available. Tests have proven that Guadua Angustifolia grown at sea level is not as dense as that grown at altitude. This does not mean that all other species of Bamboo are inferior its simply that they have not been investigated to the extent of this Guadua. Many other species of Bamboo are used in fascinating manners. such as the picture below a structure built out of Dendrocalamus Gigantis In Brazil by Celinna Llerena and the friends, Guadua Angustifolia has been studied for many years in Europe and South America.

Guadua Bamboo has been tested by engineers, scientists and architects for strength in compression tension, Flexibility more than any other species of Bamboo. As the native species of timbers in the worlds forests become depleted the idea of using renewable materials such as Bamboo becomes quite tangible. Notably Colombia has restrictions on the harvesting of Guadua and because of this the Bamboo forests or "Guaduals" will survive and be preserved as a natural renewable resource. Strict minimum wage laws and a form of social security is also in effect so as not to exploit the people of this country. As for architecture and construction many interesting techniques have been discovered. Bamboo is a strong and light and flexible material comparable to steel. These features make Bamboo an important tool in the artistic palette of architects, engineers, designers, furniture builders or hobbyist. In South America and Germany it has been discovered that Bamboo structures built with the proper connection techniques and design will withstand earthquakes.

The Age of the Bamboo culm is probably the most important factor in the preservation of Bamboo. Typically Bamboo is 3-6 years old before it has matured to the maximum wall strength and thickness. The age factor and the time when the culm is harvested are critical. Moon phase, time of year and the hour of day all play specific roles in the durability of Bamboo timbers. The treatment process of Bamboo is complicated but necessary to prevent the materials from being attacked by insects and mold. The methods of treatment vary from grower and country. Some of the methods include immersion smoking and the Boucherie method.

The Boucherie method and modified Boucherrie are similar to pressure treating but it is incorrect to call it so. The system uses pressure and the natural vascular action of the bamboo culms. The Chemicals used are Boric Acid and Borax. These chemicals are less toxic than creosote and arsenic used in modern timber preservation but are toxic to humans and wildlife in its liquid state. This method is not as widely used with Guadua from the Caldes region due to the density of its fibers.

Most structures require Bamboo poles that exceed 12 feet. The Boucherie method is unable to penetrate the entire culm. This method can also be time consuming causing the prices of raw material to become exponential. Immersion is another commonly used method. After a long curing period each node is perforated with a small hole then the entire culm is bathed in a solution of proprietary chemicals developed in Germany specifically for bamboo and tropical hard woods. This method provides the ultimate protection against insect and fungal attacks that is not available through any other treatment processes .

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