While most of us focus on beautifying our homes, rarely do we ponder over aspects like suitability towards the environment, sustainability and the like. In using bamboo plywood for all your furniture needs, you are only moving an inch closer towards modern living.

The move towards bamboo

Basically, bamboo can be utilized in several ways- like paper backed veneer, different plywood where the bamboo lies at both the faces and core, or even laminated slabs. No wonder, it’s a renewable material that most homeowners are opting for, in terms of furniture making, floor making and other needs. The ‘green’ cache and chic look are add-ons of the plant species (Moso Bamboo specifically) that can be availed quite frequently, thanks to its superfast time of maturity. If one compares the same with hardwood, it takes decades unlike a maximum of two to five years for bamboo. Going by the comparative studies on both, bamboo plywood as a material is resistant to water and termites, durable, flexible and has great strength.

To use it for any purpose, the veneer or laminated plywood is usually chosen. This applies for floors, boxes, cabinetry, tabletops and many other items.

The making of the plywood

With the passage of time, bamboo plywood, which in other words is known as laminated bamboo, is enjoying popularity from all and rightly so. As stressed earlier, Mosa bamboo is the one from where plywood is made and that grows too fast with a height not less than 40 feet and the diameter of about 6 inches. The glue is derived from the plantations and is usually emission-free for most brands. Think of using for products like boxes, cutting boards and the like and you will know how it stands useful.

Thin strips of laminated bamboo are cut that goes into the making of the bamboo plywood, which is derived from the stalk wall. If seen carefully, the base wall can be an inch thicker and will taper towards the stalk length. Later, the strips will be milled completely flat and put in a solution of boric acid and lime mix. This results in extracting the starch that might cause small beetles, termites or any insect to settle down. Given both lime and boric acid acts as natural repellents, the bamboo plywood resulting from the process is pest-free and stays that way.

Another factor is that the strips get ‘kiln dried, sanded smooth and laminated edge’ so as to help in creating only one ply panel. Once the panels are ready, the lamination work begins so that multi-ply product is created. This should be totally free of emissions lest you have to deal with formaldehyde, particularly for cutting boards.

Variations

Ideally, there are two main types of bamboo plywood- natural and amber. While the natural one has a lot of similarities with Maple, alongside the yellow tones, the amber color is basically a derivative of a complex ‘heat treatment process’. As a result of it, the color darkens somewhat like a tea stained one and continues throughout the material. Long after you see, the amber shade resembles a caramel color mixed with cherry, but with a finish of acrylic. Surprisingly, one will also get a strange aroma of the caramel of a water based finish is sprayed on the material. The lamination begins soon after, so as to produce a flat surface grain or something more edgy.

The other side

However, not all things can be pleasant with bamboo plywood. There are chances of splintering, especially when one is not careful. Apart from professionals, even laymen can saw the same, but ensure that it’s done using a scoring blade to derive cross cuts and rips. Gluing doesn’t help always as excess use of it might result in the end grain coming out of the dowel holes. But overall, almost all the finishes are absorbed quite well by bamboo.

Bamboo plywood vs. Other categories

Compared to hardwood, MDF (medium density fiberboard), which is an engineered composite of wood, bamboo plywood is much denser and strong. Water damage can cause significant problems for MDF but not with this plywood. So you can use it for any project or item like cabinet tops, floors and so on. As long as the expenses are well managed, there is no harm opting for bamboo plywood.