A technical question about bamboo on pipes.

[daimyo]

The interior of Alaska is actually a desert and low humidity can be a problem with certain wooden goods. Just how stable is the bamboo on pipes? Is there any concern with it getting dried out, cracking or is it fully stabilized/treated? I've always loved the look but never taken the plunge. Thanks for any input.

 

[metarzan]

No idea but it is pretty damn cold in Denmark where a lot of these bamboo pipes get made. I would think that a desert climate would only help with longevity.

 

[captainsousie]

On the flip side, Denmark is a maritime climate which is quite humid and the colder it gets, the higher the relative humidity.
I've only had one pipe with bamboo and it seemed fine in this desert climate but I only had it for less than a year and it was already an older pipe.

 

[mso489]

I've wondered about the durability of bamboo, but since no one ever mentions it cracking, I somewhat

think it is pretty stable. Regular old yard grade bamboo that you use for trellises and fishing poles

cracks like crazy, but for those purposes, the stem usually holds up.