Post #807680 by Prikli Pear on Mon, Jan 30, 2023 1:23 PM

When I first started getting into tiki--I mean really, really early on--I got ahold of some bamboo and torched it. Kind of. I was terrified of overdoing it so I stopped applying heat once the resin started bubbling up. That left me with culms that were only slightly less green than what I started with. If you'll look at the video linked above, I'm much more aggressive with the flame these days. I put the torch nozzle right up against the bamboo. The trick to avoid burning it is constant movement. You don't have to move quickly, just constantly. Pour the heat on. For the nodes to get color contrast I do move more slowly so as to scorch and get that darker burned look. You might also want to drill tiny vent holes in the clum otherwise the heated air inside may burst some of the smaller, thinner sections. I also think roasted bamboo has a fantastic odor that never gets mentioned. Even my family likes it and they usually roll their eyes at my tiki projects.

Just commit to a couple of practice culms and don't worry if you overcook them. You'll get the hang of it in short order.