Date: Wed, 20 Sep 1995 22:38:01 -1000 From: oakden@vo5.ph.liv.ac.uk (M.N.Oakden) Message-Id: Organization: nil Subject: Re: Bamboo Knives In article harris@bhc.com (Bob Harris) writes: Does anyone have a source and or a recommendation for knives or methods for splitting bamboo? tks -- Bob Harris harris@bhc.com I have always used French made "Opinel" knives. These are available >From most outdoor shops in the UK in several sizes. (I think mine is a size 9). These knives have sturdy, comfortable wooden handles and a simple but effective locking collar. The blades seem to take and keep an edge well, and the knives themselves have the minimum of frills (no sprung bits/latches etc. like some other locking knives) i.e. less bits liable to break! I use the same knife both for splitting, and for subsequent shaving of the split pieces. Hope this helps, Mark. (no connection with Opinel, other than as a satisfied user of their products) -- oakden@dice2.desy.de oakden@hep.ph.liv.ac.uk | Autumn storm - I'm not politically incorrect, | wild boars tossed I'm just differently articulate. | with leaves. = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = Date: Wed, 20 Sep 1995 15:04:17 -1000 From: harris@bhc.com (Bob Harris) Message-Id: Organization: BHC Subject: Bamboo Knives Does anyone have a source and or a recommendation for knives or methods for splitting bamboo? tks -- Bob Harris harris@bhc.com http://www.nbn.com/people/harris /|\ / | \ / | \ \ / \ / \ / + + + + + +++ = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = Date: Wed, 20 Sep 1995 22:38:01 -1000 From: oakden@vo5.ph.liv.ac.uk (M.N.Oakden) Message-Id: Organization: nil Subject: Re: Bamboo Knives In article harris@bhc.com (Bob Harris) writes: Does anyone have a source and or a recommendation for knives or methods for splitting bamboo? tks -- Bob Harris harris@bhc.com I have always used French made "Opinel" knives. These are available >From most outdoor shops in the UK in several sizes. (I think mine is a size 9). These knives have sturdy, comfortable wooden handles and a simple but effective locking collar. The blades seem to take and keep an edge well, and the knives themselves have the minimum of frills (no sprung bits/latches etc. like some other locking knives) i.e. less bits liable to break! I use the same knife both for splitting, and for subsequent shaving of the split pieces. Hope this helps, Mark. (no connection with Opinel, other than as a satisfied user of their products) -- oakden@dice2.desy.de oakden@hep.ph.liv.ac.uk | Autumn storm - I'm not politically incorrect, | wild boars tossed I'm just differently articulate. | with leaves. = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = Date: Fri, 22 Sep 1995 14:58:46 -1000 From: johnsen@eskimo.com (Brian Johnsen) Message-Id: Organization: Tethered Airfoil R&D Pty. Ltd.(C)(R)(TM) CD CASS Subject: Re: Bamboo Knives In article , M.N.Oakden wrote: >In article harris@bhc.com (Bob Harris) writes: > > Does anyone have a source and or a recommendation for knives or methods > for splitting bamboo? > >I have always used French made "Opinel" knives. These are available For splitting, I like to use a non folding sheath knife that's flat on the spine so I can give it a tap with a mallet to initiate the split. I like both sides of the knife to taper up from the edge on both sides with the same profile, not flat on one side. You don't want the crack to tend to one side or the other. I always split bamboo down the center of any given piece, not trying to cut small splints off the side of a larger piece. This tends to split straighter. For shaping I use either a small pen knife or a carving tool I got at a woodworking shop. Always very sharp. I buff the blades on wet 600 grit wet-or-dry sandpaper to keep them sharp and smooth. -- "Hiawatha Got The Skitters From Eating Limes", Insists Heloise Seventy-Three Witnesses Institutionalized With Shock -- Brian Johnsen johnsen@eskimo.com Seattle, Washington USA = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = Date: Mon, 2 Oct 1995 22:41:43 -1000 From: oakden@vo6.ph.liv.ac.uk (M.N.Oakden) Message-Id: Organization: nil Subject: Re: Bamboo Knives In article johnsen@eskimo.com (Brian Johnsen) writes: In article , M.N.Oakden wrote: >In article harris@bhc.com >(Bob Harris) writes: > > Does anyone have a source and or a recommendation for knives or > methods for splitting bamboo? > >I have always used French made "Opinel" knives. These are available For splitting, I like to use a non folding sheath knife that's flat on the spine so I can give it a tap with a mallet to initiate the split. I like both sides of the knife to taper up from the edge on both sides with the same profile, not flat on one side. You don't want the crack to tend to one side or the other. Just to clarify about the Opinl knives: The above reasons are also the reasons I use that particular knife. It has a flat back which can be tapped with a hammer, and the taper away from the edge is symmetrical. I always split bamboo down the center of any given piece, not trying to cut small splints off the side of a larger piece. This tends to split straighter. Yes, me too. this seems to work best. [snip] Striaght splits, Mark Oakden. -- oakden@hep.ph.liv.ac.uk - I'm not politically| South Valley - incorrect, I'm just differently articulate. | wind brings | a scent of snow. = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =