Building bamboo structures and "binding" can be said to be a long-standing and most fundamental method. We have invited Master Hsiao Jui-li, a special-contracted instructor for vernacular dwelling construction, to teach this method.
Lashing - square lashing, twisting iron wire
Lashed joints are commonly used in small-scale bamboo structures. They are the simplest and most common type of joint, formed by placing bamboo poles tightly together and wrapping tension members around the outside, utilizing the friction generated on the contact surfaces of the bamboo when the tension members are tightened. With lashed joints, the bamboo generally does not need to be cut or perforated, leaving the bamboo culms undamaged and preserving their superior inherent mechanical properties. Traditional lashing materials were mostly natural materials, such as tree bark, bamboo strips, and rattan, which were soaked in water before construction and would increase in strength as they dried and shrank. Modern lashing materials include iron wire, nylon rope, and others, which require careful attention to tension control during the tying process.
Master Hsiao teaches the square knot. The square knot is a common knot with a very simple winding logic (refer to the attached image). However, controlling the tension and using hand tools as aids to tie the knot securely requires practicing many techniques. Next, we also learned how to tie with wire. Wire tying is faster, but it is less visually appealing, so it is a method that can be used in combination depending on your needs.
Confinement
Bamboo fibers are arranged longitudinally, so the longitudinal tensile strength of bamboo tubes is very high. Conversely, the transverse direction is a weakness and is prone to cracking under stress. Therefore, in design, fine rope is often used near the ends of the bamboo material to increase the confinement force.
split bamboo and cleave bamboo
How can you quickly split a bamboo tube into bamboo strips? A bamboo splitter, or splitting knife, is a tool designed for this purpose. First, hammer the bamboo splitter into one end of the bamboo tube, then strike the other end of the bamboo tube against the ground, using the weight of the splitter to gradually split the tube open. The sound of the bamboo tube splitting is very loud, and as an experience, it is truly very interesting.
