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Sord
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What makes good bamboo? - 2005/03/16 16:23 I've look at bamboo at the store. It tended to fall into two catagories. First, thin, short and bendy. Second, Long, thick and brittle. What should I look for when selecting bamboo for pole cores? Do cracks down the length render the bamboo useless? How thick should bamboo be for a given length? Any other aspects which I should look for?

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Orlando Ebasdotter

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Re:What makes good bamboo? - 2005/03/16 17:10 My experience is that the thicker the internal diameter of the bamboo (there are some out there that are uber solid, which is good) the better.

And I personally think those cracks kill the durability, because the stress that you're going to put on the core during combat are going to make it break and snap long before you want to rebuild your pole.

That's just been my experience, though. Any one else to share? Count Orlando
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Takezu

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Re:What makes good bamboo? - 2005/03/17 11:59 cracks are bad mmmka. In addition to what obie said cracks are sharp as hell and will tear up the fun noodle imho.

Takezu It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it. --Aristotle

Patriotism: The willing act of putting one's life & well being at risk for politicians who are not similarly disposed.

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Yoto

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Re:What makes good bamboo? - 2005/03/17 21:21 However, if all you can get is cracked bamboo, buy it. Wrap a couple of spots of the cracked area with some duct tape to reinforce it, and it will work for a while.

About three quarters of an inch thickness is excellent for crafting a pole. At that diameter, the bamboo will be thick enough all over to work well, but not so thick as to almost be ratan. Make the thick end of the stick your handle.

My two yen...

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Rewth

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Re:What makes good bamboo? - 2005/03/18 08:00 totally agree. my polearm is made from a piece of bamboo that is cracked down its entire length. i made it back in 97 for ifgs, rebuilt it a dozen times since for amtgard. but the single layer of duct tape i ran down it has held jsut fine.

course... i don't exactly use it every week. it's seen the field no more than two dozen times i'd guess. "But right now I'm a little concerned about my pants, since I don't know where they are." - Valathina Nailo

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Grendel

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Re:What makes good bamboo? - 2005/03/18 14:45 regardless of cracked or not,

I still wrap a thin peice of duct tape on either side of each 'knuckle' in the bamboo, (tape about as wide as the knuckle itself, just a little strip) it helps durability and in case it does crack the tape can lessen some of the immediate spray of bamboo shards Strike First. Strike Hard. No Mercy.
Hús Vetra Skald

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