Resort owners prize bamboo furniture for giving their establishments a natural touch and pleasantly rustic look. This attribute of bamboo furniture also makes it a highly viable and sellable product in export fairs and trade fairs.

According to Elvin-Dimasu-ay, technical education specialist and in charge of the bamboo section of the Department of Trade and Industry’s Cottage of Industry Technology Center (CITC-DTI), you can go into the making of Japanese bamboo armchairs with an investment of P20,000 to P40,000 for tools and equipment and another P1,900 for materials. For startups, though, it is best to first test the waters by just buying alternative tools and equipment. This can bring the startup costs down to about P21,000. You also have the option of just renting all the equipment you need form the CITC-DTI office in Marikina City.

Commercially, this Japanese bamboo armchairs sells for P5,000 per set, inclusive of a sofa, a center table, and another armchair.

MATERIALS NEEDED:

• Bamboo, per 10 ft to 12 ft, P40 for provincial rate, P120 for Metro Manila rate
• Plywood, per 1.2 m by 2.4 m, P380
• 5-mm split rattan (rattan rope), P180 per bundle
• 4 pcs 3-mm split rattan, P1.60 per 1.5 m
• Varnish, P134.75 per liter
• Sanding sealer, P300 per gallon
• PVC glue, P100 per liter
• Boric acid, P75 per kilo
• Borax, P75 per kilo
• 20 liters tap water
• Sand paper, P9.95
• Pencil or any marker
• Tape measure

EQUIPMENT AND TOOLS NEEDED:

• CITC-DTI-fabricated pole cutter,P40,000; for rent at P25 per hour. Alternative: 22-inch saw, P329.75
• CITC-DTI-fabricated treatment vat, P20,000. Alternative: metal drum, P100
• CITC-DTI fabricated bamboo scraper, P400. Alternative: bolo, P279.75
• CITC-DTI fabricated hand-splitter, P400 per blade
• Bench drill, P14,000; for rent at P8 per hour. Alternative: 600-watt hand drill, P7,000
• Air compressor, P6,000 to P7,000; for rent at P10 per hour
• Hole saw, P9,000 per set, P400 per piece
• Dowelling gadget
• Pneumatic kneeler, P3,000
• Varnish spray, P3,000 to P10,000
• Hammer, P360

In making Japanese-style bamboo armchairs, two kinds of bamboo are used: the kauayang tinik (Bambusa blumeana Schultes F.), which has thorns; and bayog (Bambusa sp.), which is a more solid bamboo, with a narrower hollow inside it. It is hairy because there are roots in its nodes and it has shorter internodes. You will need two 12-ft kauayang tinik poles and one 10-ft or 12-ft bayog pole.

Only mature bamboo of three years or more should be used. As much as possible, use stain-free and scratch-free bamboo.