Tool for covering tall bamboo
Moderator: needmore
Tool for covering tall bamboo
I've been experimenting with different ways to protect my Moso during the winter. I just thought I'd share a video of a little contraption i made. It's basically a radio controlled funnel that gets pulled up the bamboo culm. It installs a wind-proof insulated sleeve on the bamboo.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=58TITD_PPqU
It's sort of extreme I guess, but it's nice to have a way to protect the larger culms when we get a blizzard, etc.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=58TITD_PPqU
It's sort of extreme I guess, but it's nice to have a way to protect the larger culms when we get a blizzard, etc.
- needmore
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Re: Tool for covering tall bamboo
How does the cover get removed? Where are you located, it looks like the leaves have fallen already?
Brad Salmon, zone 12B Kea'au, HI
http://www.needmorebamboo.com
http://www.needmorebamboo.com
Re: Tool for covering tall bamboo
I'm not sure if this is genius or outlandish... but I certainly like it. Well thought out.
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Re: Tool for covering tall bamboo
Is it attached to a boom, or a drone or something? Looks interesting, but video does not really show how whole contraption.
One culm down, 100 more to go.
One culm down, 100 more to go.
Re: Tool for covering tall bamboo
The cover has a seam, so you just separate it at the bottom, then walk away from the culm and it separates.
I filmed this several months ago when the leaves were down. I combined a few different takes for different angles, etc.
I filmed this several months ago when the leaves were down. I combined a few different takes for different angles, etc.
Re: Tool for covering tall bamboo
It's attached to a pulley hung between two oak trees. I have a wireless controlled winch to raise/lower it. You can see the wire going to the winch if you look closely.
Re: Tool for covering tall bamboo
It's also capable of putting lights or a heating element inside the cover. I was going to put up several of the tubes with lights inside of them last winter, but it didn't really get cold enough to justify the trouble of putting them up. I think if there were snow cover it would look really cool to have a bunch of them lit up.
Re: Tool for covering tall bamboo
This. Is. Crazy.
If you had a bigger sized sleeve you could put multiple close culms together in one, which seems like it would be better (more airspace, stronger support).
Definitely need a report in the spring to see how these fared compared to unprotected.
If you had a bigger sized sleeve you could put multiple close culms together in one, which seems like it would be better (more airspace, stronger support).
Definitely need a report in the spring to see how these fared compared to unprotected.
Alan.
My blog: It's not work, it's gardening!
My blog: It's not work, it's gardening!
Re: Tool for covering tall bamboo
Yea, I thought about making it for multiple culms. I guess I mainly wanted to use it for my Moso and they're space pretty far apart.
I put it on a few culms last winter and they definitely had less damage compared to the uncovered ones.
I put it on a few culms last winter and they definitely had less damage compared to the uncovered ones.
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Re: Tool for covering tall bamboo
That is a pretty cool device, the ingenuity is impressive, even if it might not be practical on a large scale.
What is cover and seam made of?
What is cover and seam made of?
Re: Tool for covering tall bamboo
The outer layer is ripstop nylon and there are two layers of N-Sulate fabric sewn on the inside. The ripstop nylon is windproof and the N-Sulate adds insulation and also strength. There's a seam of 3/4" Velcro along the edge to form the tube shape.
The funnel itself is made of 1/4" polycarbonate and was the hardest part of the project. I made a funnel shaped mold out of wood, then had someone from the local lathe club form it into a smooth funnel shape. Then I used an oven to heat the plastic and then drape-form it over the mold.
The funnel itself is made of 1/4" polycarbonate and was the hardest part of the project. I made a funnel shaped mold out of wood, then had someone from the local lathe club form it into a smooth funnel shape. Then I used an oven to heat the plastic and then drape-form it over the mold.
Re: Tool for covering tall bamboo
I should mention, the Velcro fastens rather quickly. It's not like you have to sit there and do it inch by inch. You can swipe it one or two feet at a time. It's actually surprisingly fast.
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Re: Tool for covering tall bamboo
I have to say I applaud this kind of commitment and technical ability!mshaffer wrote:It's sort of extreme I guess, but it's nice to have a way to protect the larger culms when we get a blizzard, etc.
Re: Tool for covering tall bamboo
you didn't mention how the contraption is lifted. ?
Alan.
My blog: It's not work, it's gardening!
My blog: It's not work, it's gardening!