Beruflich Dokumente
Kultur Dokumente
Chinese Style
Bamboo Furniture
Acknowledgement
This hands-on training manual is the outcome of the 'International Training Workshop on Furniture Processing
Technologies, held in Hainan, China, from October 13th to 24th 2003. It was jointly organised by the International
Network for Bamboo and Rattan (INBAR), the Ministry of Science and Technology of China (MOST), Deutsche
Gesellschaft Fur Technische Zusammenarbeit (GTZ) and International Farm Forestry Training Center, CAF.
Thanks are particularly due to Master Chen Yunhua for his excellent guidance and training during the workshop, as well
as to both his assistants, Mr. Yang yongqing and Ms. Fan yuequn. To Mr. Xu Zhangliang and Mr. Xu Huiliang from
Hainan Global Bamboo and Rattan Product Co. Ltd, we wish to express our deep gratitude for providing the
comfortable venue and facilities.
We also wish to thank Ms. Wang Qinfang from the Sino-German Forestry Cooperation and Ms. Chen Yujie from the
Chinese Academy of Forestry, for their excellent support rendered to the workshop participants.
The Uttaranchal Bamboo and Fiber Development Board (UBFDB), we gratefully acknowledge for providing the
authors with their facilities during the compilation of this manual.
Most of the photographs included in this manual were taken by the authors during the workshop. Exceptions are the
photographs on page 11; page 12 (storage and drying); p. 13; p.14; p.15; p.16 (steeping) and p. 17, which were copied
from the Bamboo Preservation Compendium, by W. Liese and S. Kumar.
The authors.
Contents
8
11-12
Introduction
9-10
13-17
Durability measures
Preservation methods
18-19
Drying
Processing culms
20-24
25-38
49-54
Making furniture
components
Assembling and
Finishing
39-48
Additional design
features
Annexure I
Tools
60-63
55-59
Annexure II
Culm age
Introduction
Bamboo is ...
'The poor mans timber'
in INDIA
in CHINA
'The brother'
in VIETNAM
Introduction
Structural components
Surface slath applications
Weaving
Structural components
Weaving
Suitable species:
Arundinaria amabilis;
Bambusa
balcooa; Dendrocalamus bambusoides;
Dendrocalamus latiflorus; Phyllostachys
pubescens; Thyrsostachys siamensis
10
Durability measures
Compared to timber, bamboo has a low natural
durability. When used indoor as furniture, it may last 4
to 7 years. Factors that reduce bamboo quality are
cracks, splits and attacks by fungi and insects.
Durability measures
Species selection
Har vesting
Storage
Drying
Manufacturing
2
11
Species selection
Harvesting
2
Storage and drying
Manufacturing
12
Durability measures
Preservation methods
The durability of bamboo culms can be significantly
improved by using preservation methods. The
preservation requirements vary from species to species
and depend on the climatic conditions of the place
where the product is made and used.
Chemical methods
Chemical methods are more effective than traditional methods,
but not necessarily economical or feasible. Moreover, their
application may be hazardous to the user's health and the
environment. In this section only some low-cost and relatively
safe methods are described.
Preservation methods
13
Principle
Process
Clump
curing
Smoking
14
Smoking chamber
Preservation methods
Soaking
Lime washing
Principle
Process
Soaking in water
15
Chemical preservation
Sulphur
smoking
Principle
Process
Steeping
Sulphur smoking
16
Preservative methods
Soaking
Sapreplacement
Principle
Process
17
Drying
In this process the content of both starch and moisture
is reduced. The method of drying varies with the
market requirements. If the product is used in a moist
environment, the moisture content of the bamboo
should be lower.
If dried too quickly, bamboo will split and shrink around its
solid nodes. Cracks and splits will develop and lead to
subsequent deterioration by fungi and insects.
Traditional Drying
Commercial Drying
18
Drying
Traditional Drying
Drying by exposing the culms to natural air, preferrably under
a shed, is traditionally practised in many countries. This is the
most economical method. Drying depends on prevailing
temperature, relative humidity, and natural movement of
atmospheric air to which it is exposed. For local markets
traditional drying may suffice.
Commercial Drying
Drying
19
Processing culms
As a raw material, bamboo culms have to undergo a
series of treatments before their actual application in
furniture making. These collective treatments we call
processing.
Processing culms
Checking for
straightness
When applied
How applied
Straightening
Scraping skin
Processing
culms
Pro
5
21
Removing
outer nodes
When applied
How applied
Node
punching
22
Processing culms
Sand
filling
When applied
How applied
Cross
cutting
Processing culms
23
When applied
Heat bending
How applied
24
Processing culms
Leg poles
Stool leg supports
Mortise frame
Bamboo or wooden plugs
Surface supporting batterns
Bamboo nails
Surface strips
Concealing belt
Flattened Bamboo surface
Making furniture components
25
Leg poles
Leg poles are important components, as they
support the entire furniture piece.
26
Bent Mortise
A bent mortise is the basic element in chinese style
furniture making which ties the other components
together and forms a strong framework.
Mortise Groove
27
Triangular (3 legs)
Square
(4 legs)
Pentagonal (5 legs)
The groove length in each case can be
determined using the paper technique.
Starting point of this technique is to make a
paper strip that is equal in length to the
circumference of the leg pole. This is done in
two stages:
Start
Step 1
Step 1
Fold the strip into half to make foldline 1.
Step 2
Step 2
Step 3
Make the left end meet fold line 2 and cut through the
new fold line 3.
Result
The longer part of the strip corresponds to the correct
groove length of a triangular mortise.
Step 3
a
a'
Result
1/4
1/4
Calculations:
1(aa') - 1/4(2a') = 3/4 (a2)
3/4(a2) : 2 = 3/8 (a3)
1/2(a1) - 3/8(a3) = 1/8 (31)
1/8(31) + 1/4(12) + 1/4(2a') = 5/8(3a')
Inference: the required length of the strip is 5/8 th of the original strip.
29
Start
Step 1
Step 1
Fold the strip into half to make foldline 1
Step 2
Fold the right half into two quarters to make foldline 2
Step 3
Step 2
Step 4
Make the left end meet fold line 3 cut through the new
foldline 4
Result
The longer part of the strip corresponds to the correct
groove length to make a square mortise.
Step 3
Step 4
a
Result
4 1
a'
Calculations:
1/4
1/8
1/8
Inference: the required length of the strip is 9/16 th of the original strip.
30
Start
Step 1
Step 1
Fold the strip into half to make foldline 1.
Step 2
Step 2
Step 3
Fold the right quarter into one eighth to make foldline 3.
Step4
Fold the right eighth part into one sixteenth parts.
Step 3
Step 5
Make the left end meet fold line 4 and cut through the
new foldline 5
Result
Step 4
Step 5
Result
51
3 4 a'
Calculations:
1/32 1/4
1/8 1/16 1/16
1(aa' )- 1/16(4a') = 15/16 (a4)
15/16(a4) : 2 = 15/32 (a5)
Groove length is 5a'
1/2 -15/32(a5) = 1/32 (51)
1/32(51) + 1/4(12) + 1/8(23) + 1/16(34) + 1/16(4a') = 29/32(5a')
Inference: the required length of the strip is 29/32 th of the original strip.
31
Template stick
32
Cutting outside
marking
Groove
Cutting outside
marking
Groove
Cutting over
marking
Cutting inside
marking
Cutting inside
marking
Culm end
33
4.
a.
34
b.
Lower part
removed
35
6
Surface supporting batterns
Take a culm of approximately 8-10 mm
wall thickness and cut strips of desired
length and width.
36
Bamboo nails
Split a thin-walled culm into square
sections of which the size depends
on the application. Chisel and taper
to get a nearly pointed end.
Surface strips
Concealing belt
Split a thin-walled culm to make a
long strip of bamboo. Remove the
white material to make it more
flexible.
The purpose of a concealing belt is
to cover any unattractive parts of
the furniture piece.
Making furniture components
concealing
belt
37
1.
38
7
39
in the
bent grooves one by one. Bring the two
opposite ends of the culm together to close
the mortise frame.
40
4.
5.
41
7
42
43
7
Place the surface strips
Place the surface strips across the batterns and
fix them with nails or weave them together
with fiber. Cut any surplus material.
44
2.
7
45
1.
46
Quality Check
Check for any irregularities
Apply
load to
check for
strength
47
Finishing
Remove surplus material
Chisel off any protruding material to
get a smooth surface.
Filling cavities
Use a mix of sawdust and glue to fill
in any cracks or unwanted cavities
Sanding
Use rough sandpaper for removing
surplus material and use fine sandpaper
for smoothening surfaces.
Heat blowing & cleaning
Using a blow torch, burn and remove
all the tiny bamboo hair.
Lacquering
Remove dust or any other impurity
before applying the lacquer using a
brush.
48
Backrest support
Back rest
Flat spokes
Pin joint
U-joint
Seat surface
Multiple mortise
Supporting poles
C-joint
49
50
Joinery
Plugging joint
A plug is inserted in the tube to be jointed
and a hole is drilled through it. Then the
other part is drilled and the joint is fixed
by applying a nail.
Pin joint
Two pins are made on one culm end to fit
a rectangular groove on the other culm.
U-cut joint
A deep U- Cut is made at both ends of
the culm to be fitted around another culm.
51
C-shaped joints
A culm is sharpened to a point to fit a
C-shaped cavity in another culm.
8
Flat spokes
Flat spokes are made of flat bamboo
strips and pointed at both ends. They are
vertically fixed by sticking the points in
drill holes. At seat level these drills are
made in a tube, with corresponding holes
made on the underside of the back rest
pole.
52
Round spokes
Round spokes are made of small-sized
culms shaped by applying heat bending.
They fit in holes drilled with a hole saw
bit on the underside of the backrest pole.
With their base, the spokes rest in a long
groove made in the spoke support, positioned on the seat surface.
Multipe mortises
For furniture pieces that require more
stength, two or more mortise bents can
be applied. In that case, it is important
to keep the joints on alternating sides of
the furniture piece.
53
Applications of a multiple
mortise bent...
8
Alternative application of
a single mortise bent...
54
ANNEXURE I
Tools
Hand plane
Use: scraping outer nodes of culms.
Annexure I
V-shaped knife
Use: splitting bamboo culms from the ends.
Pointed knife
Use: inserting culms for precise splitting.
Annexure I
55
Mallet
Annexure I
Wood saw
Use: cutting portions of the culm
Chinese Hacksaw
Use: cross cutting of the culm
56
Annexure I
Axe
Use: making flattened bamboo by crushing
round culms.
Annexure I
Torch
Use: applying heat to the culm to
facilitate bending.
Jig
Use: molding culms into desired shape.
Annexure I
57
Annexure I
Chisel
Hammer
Plier
Drill bit
Brush
Sand container
58
Annexure I
Adhesive
Use: glueing.
Annexure I
Steel Rule
Sandpaper
Use: measurement.
Pencil
Staple gun
59
Annexure I
Pencil
ANNEXURE II
Culm Age
Annexure II
old
Young
60
Annexure II
1 - 2 years
> 2 years
Branching
Green
Internode color
Internode cover
Often covered with tiny
white hairs or flour
No flour left
Fir
1 - 2 years
> 2 years
61
Annexure II
Annexure II
None
1 - 2 years
> 2 years
None
Internode epiphytes
Culm sheaths
All or almost all
sheaths are kept
> 1 years
Annexure II
1 - 2 years
> 2 years
Secondary branches
start growing, they are
lightly coloured and
not tough
Branches
are
becoming tougher
and colour is turning
into yellow-green
Branching
Annexure II
Remaining part
becomes harder
1 - 2 years
> 2 years
63
64