Bamboo Single Speed Build

[BLITZKRIEG]

Bamboo poles were cut from a forrest.

The poles were then cut to the rough length needed for the various sections.

The poles were then washed and the nodes punctured to avoid the tubes exploding during heat treatment.

The poles were then heat treated, this is done three times first to remove the waxy layer then second to remove the chlorophyl layer and a lot of the moisture, i let them stand for about a week before i did the third treatment, this is to remove more moisture and give the poles a nice colour..

[BLITZKRIEG]

A jig was then built (there are many ways in which to do this) and a parent frame chosen for the build. I copied the geometry of the frame in the picture..

 

I cut the frame up and took the necessary pieces i needed for the bamboo frame..

 

These all need to be ground in order for the epoxy to adhere properly..

 

The bamboo then needs to be cut and shaped to fit into the jig and onto the various pieces..

 

I will post more stuff tomorrow

[Cav']

Mal!

[Woolf]

Excellent work.

[jugheaddave]

Looking awesome!!

[Beefy]

Very impressive

[Vetseun]

Wow!!! GOOD ON YOU MATE!!! Very impressive. Do keep us updated.

[Warren911]

Now this awesome. Good luck and keep the updates coming.

[hentus.matthee]

I think this is an amazing idea. How long till you think until build will be finished?

[deanbean]

It is finished. Look on the singlespeed thread. Amazing project.

[deanbean]

Wouldn't it have been better to have lugged the bb? Made it stiffer?

[BLITZKRIEG]

A lugged BB might have been stiffer but unfortunately the frame I bought didn't allow for that so I just used some more carbon in that area..

[BLITZKRIEG]

After all the pieces were mitred, I fitted the tubes together and made sure everything lined up.

 

I then used a normal quick setting epoxy to glue the pieces together..

[shaper]

I liked the way you used a donar frame to creat your jig

[Skylark]

Moar Pics!!

[BLITZKRIEG]

I then sanded all the joints, I sanded the ends of each pole prior to gluing to make this part easier.

 

For the rear stays I added a wedge to fill in the gap as the radius there was too tight to wrap in carbon neatly(you could give it a bash).

 

I dont have any pictures of the carbon being layered on because it was very messy and I didn't want to get my camera dirty.

 

When applying the carbon, just ensure that there are fibres in all directions..

 

Once you are satisfied with the amount of carbon, the joint must then be wrapped in insulation tape with the sticky side up, I perforeted the tape once it was on, this allows extra resin to seep out..

 

The particular resin I used was ampreg 21 and can cure at ambient temperatures..

 

The last picture is the finished joint..