I have cut a fair amount of bamboo with a golok (like a short machete) and I can say that it is not too difficult. I have even cut the thick walled variety used for building houses, but only the smaller stalks (<1 inch diameter). However, the dry stuff is impossible. The golok just bounced off. That was why I was impressed when I saw a video of Scott cutting. Most of the stuff was green, though relatively thick, however at the end he cut a segment and it split so badly it almost shattered. A friend asked why he would put such a bad cut on the video, and I realized the bamboo was almost dry. Cutting it was actually an amazing feat.
It seems as though bamboo can be selected at different stages of dryness for different hardness. I don't know how dry is possible, but anything other than fresh and green is quite difficult. It could also be dangerous with a double-edged sword that might bounce back.
Josh
cutting bamboo dry vs. green
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Re: cutting bamboo dry vs. green
Thanks for the compliment... I appreciate your being observant...josh stout wrote:... was impressed when I saw a video of Scott cutting... I realized the bamboo was almost dry. Cutting it was actually an amazing feat.
Blade bounce back is even a concern with green bamboo, it is all a matter of the keeping the proper edge angle & cutting the stalk at the right angle, no less than 35 degrees, 45 degrees being the best.josh stout wrote:... It seems as though bamboo can be selected at different stages of dryness for different hardness. I don't know how dry is possible, but anything other than fresh and green is quite difficult. It could also be dangerous with a double-edged sword that might bounce back.
An experienced practitioner can cut completely dry bamboo. The technique isn't any different than cutting green bamboo, one simply needs more power & speed. One chooses to cut dry bamboo to test one's control when using greater power. I usually cut it when I find some bamboo that blew down in a winter storm & is dry in the spring, but I would stress than control & proper technique should be the core of one's test cutting training & so, in general, one should focus on training cutting on thicker green bamboo & green bamboo wrapped with rice straw.