Santiago - 11-20-2008 at 01:47 PM
I’ve become the proud owner of about a dozen pieces of bamboo, 3” to 6” in diameter, 15’ to 22’ long. I’ve decided to try and make a railing around
my second story balcony using this material but I can’t find a source on how to attach the posts – and I’m a stair builder! Because my deck is water
proofed I want to attach the posts from the sides but I’m uncomfortable with just drilling a couple of holes and lagging them to the rim joists.
Anyone know if this will work? The other idea I had was to get some 5” or 6” diameter pipe, cut them into 1 foot lengths and bolt these to the rim
joists with the bamboo inside. I’ve seen one picture on the www that shows the bottom 12” of the posts notched so that half sits on the deck and half
goes down the side of the deck – presumable the part going down the side is screwed to the rim joist but I can’t tell. I could just get some peeler
core logs for the posts and only use the bamboo for the rails but I think the 6" bamboo would make a neat post.
I’ve tried sending this to JR but he’s not answering.
Diver - 11-20-2008 at 02:37 PM
If you use solid posts, think about a closet rod holder ??
Maybe a solid block with a correct diameter hole drilled threw that you could mount to the posts when installing the bamboo railings ?
Or alternately, a male-type end to slide the bamboo onto ?
For the posts, a side lap or center-cut groove for the rim joist sounds like it would work although I might consider some kind of solid plug or filler
(bondo) to lag threw to support the bamboo better over time ?
Even a shim of 2x so the bamboo to rim connection is blocked solid where the lag penetrates.
Of course JR would probably have the native tie-on method perfected.
I wish he was here to help.
Sounds like a fun project !
Johannes - 11-20-2008 at 03:21 PM
http://www.japangarden.co.uk/knots-p-24.html
To attach fill bamboo , then drill hole oversized, use washer , don't overtighten.
Support w/o splitting?
Sharksbaja - 11-20-2008 at 04:08 PM
Here's how I would do it using deck screws for all joints.
