Clean, Chic Bamboo Cups

I've always loved drinking out of naturally formed substances. I like the look and feel of bamboo. In addition, bamboo is tough and durable.

There are a ton of places you can buy bamboo cups online, but those are dime a dozen. I'll outline how to craft your own, custom bamboo cup. It is unique, and it will make you feel like you are living in feudal China or Japan. Caution: you may find yourself inexplicably craving rice wine while using this cup.

Step 1: Supplies and Materials

Not too much needed for this project:

• Large piece of bamboo
• Hand saw
• Dremmel
• Food grade wax or sealant
• Wood Chisel or knife (optional)

Comments

[juanangel]

Cut the bamboo keeping two notches. Work the ends first, scrape, sand and decore the bamboo. After that cut the cups any size you want. You will get two cups or whatever use you want for the objects. It is a lot easier to work it. By the way, do not be afraid of the bamboo dust except in excess, when it should be treated as any wood dust. In the tropics where we use it, helps ashma sufferers. plus it have many more uses. Chek the internet for information.
By the way, this is true to natural bamboo. not the ones treated with chemicals or processed for selling.
Do not discard the damaged or not nice. use them as flower pots, pencil holders,etc. use them for your advantage..

[slylee]

Hi Juanangel- I'm interested in how or why dust would be used to treat asthma? It seems counterintuitive.

[juanangel]

To make the story short; it was a school working with asthmatics at a bamboo workshop. The kids were told to wear masks but it did not help breath at all, so they removed them and that is when they noticed the changes. A study was conducted, and some searches performed and finally accepted the benefits of bamboo for asthma. It was so long ago that I could not find the information. But here are some sites that give some information about the subject. Also search using: antispasmodic properties of bamboo (I am not patronizing the sites)
http://www.itmonline.org/arts/bamboo.htm
http://herbs.ygoy.com/2009/03/26/health-benefits-of-bamboo/

[djimdy]

With your dremel, you should be able to get one of those bushy-sanding bits, which ought to make short work of the bottom as well as the sides.

[prince-of-weasels]

Many long years ago I made a set of these .But I left the notch unsanded and cut the bamboo a half inch below the notch then carved 'decorative dentals' below .Instead of shaving the outer layer with the chisel try outlining a design {flower-tribal tattoo-geometric lines - initials etc....} and use the Dremel to chip carve a 1/32 deep through it.

[Deewheat]

Very nice. OK....now I'll be on a mission to find bamboo....at someone else's house. I made the mistake of planting it once. It's not one I'll repeat LOL.

[diegofenner]

Result is beautiful :)

[Osquar]

I might be stating something obvious, but I'm gonna ask anyhow since bamboo isn't anything local in scandinavia;
How easy are they to wash after use? Machineuse is out of the question right?

[slylee]

Hey Osquar- I'm not too sure- I would probably only hand wash only. The wax would probably come off in a dish washer.

[prank]

I love it!

[slylee]

Thanks a lot

[jdaley99702]

That is sweet!! I think you can order babmboo online if you can't find any locally. Although it would be awesome to find it around town. Great job!

[slylee]

Thanks! That is a good idea; I didn't think about that. It would be the way to go if you can't find any in your area.

[sherrycayheyhey]

Any tips on where to find bamboo large enough to make a cup out of? I've only ever seen bamboo the size of the kind found in decorative planters.

[slylee]

I guess it depends on where you live. I live in Mississippi, and there are quite a few bamboo forests around town. I would drive around town and look of bamboo in various parks, neighborhoods, etc. (and be sure to ask permission). I have no idea what species of bamboo it is unfortunately.