TOP ACHIEVERS PRIVATE SCHOOL, INC.

(TAPS)
Alicia; Cauayan; Santiago; Sta. Ana; Roxas; Solano; Ilagan Campus

Technology and Livelihood Education

9th Monthly Summary

BAMBOO CRAFT

L1 - BAMBOO GROWTH AND USES

Bamboo is a precious gift of nature to humans because of its excellent growth rate and
remarkable properties.
It is one of the most sought-after materials, especially in tropical countries.
Bamboo resembles some of the characteristics of wood although it is not durable.
It also deteriorates after several years of use, putting heavy pressure on the resource, owing to
increased demands for frequent replacements.

Bamboo Growth
A bamboo is an evergreen plant belonging to the true grass family. It is known to be one of the
fastest growing plants in the world.
Some bamboos grow up to 100 cm because of a unique rhizome-dependent system but the
growth rate is partially dependent on local soil and climate conditions.
Unlike other trees, all bamboos have the potential to grow to full height and girth after three to
four months.
During the first season, the clump of young shoots grows vertically, with no branching. The
following year, the pulpy wall of each culm or stem slowly dries and hardens.
The culm begins to sprout branches and leaves from each node.
On the third year, the culm further hardens. The shoot becomes a fully mature culm.
In the next two to five years (depending on species), fungus and mold begin to form on the
outside of the culm, which eventually penetrate and overcome the culm.
About five to eight years later (depending on species and climate), the fungal and mold growth
cause the culm to collapse and decay.
This means that the culms are ready for harvest and are suitable for use in construction after
three to seven years.
Bamboo Uses
The Philippines is rich in bamboo and bamboo products. Bamboos grow abundantly.
Bamboos are used for building materials, as source of food, and as a versatile raw product
especially in South Asia, South East Asia, and East Asia
1. Some bamboo shoots are edible and are used in many Asian dishes and broths. These are
available in sliced forms, both fresh and canned version. The shoots of some species need
to be boiled before they can be eaten because of their toxic content.
2. Bamboos are used for treating infections.
3. Bamboos are a good source of protein and potassium.
4. Bamboos are used for treating infections.Bamboos are a good source of protein and
potassium.
5. Bamboos are also used in making furniture.
6. The fibers of bamboos can be made into fabric because of their softness, strong
absorbency, and antimicrobial quality.
7. Bamboo fiber has been used to make paper.
8. Bamboos are used to make musical instruments. The hollow form makes a good choice
for wind and percussion instruments.
Bamboo
Products
1. Furniture made from bamboo include sala set, dining tables, corner and center tables,
cabinets, beds, lounging chairs, sofa beds, and rocking chairs
2. Handicrafts are nontraditional products made of indigenous raw materials like bamboo.
Some examples of products include trays, brooches, penholders, wall decors, boxes,
decorative baskets, vases, fans, and fancy items.
3. Processed food such as bamboo shoots are either pickled or diced and are being exported
to more than twenty countries including the Philippines.
4. Construction material for low cost houses among Filipinos especially those living in the
countryside. The bamboo house, which can easily be built, is well-ventilated, sturdy, and
earthquake resistant.
5. There are other various product lines for the construction industry that include panel,
plyboo, sawali, and laminated boards that are potential substitutes for plywood and
lawanit.
NUTSHELL
 • Bamboos are perennial evergreens in the true grass family and are among the fastest
growing plants in the world.
• Bamboos are a versatile material with many useful and creative values.

L2 - BAMBOO TREATMENT
Bamboo is a precious gift of nature to humans because of its excellent growth rate and
remarkable properties.
It is one of the most sought after materials, especially in tropical countries.
Bamboo resembles some of the characteristics of wood although it is not durable.
It also deteriorates after several years of use, putting heavy pressure on the resource, owing to
increased demands for frequent replacements.
WAYS OF TREATING BAMBOO
Bamboo is subject to attack by insects, such as termites and beetles. and fungi.
Thus, the bamboo must be treated to extend its usefulness the treatment of bamboo generally is
divided into the treatment of fresh bamboo and the treatment of dry bamboo.
The choice of treatment method-traditional/nonchemical or chemical-will depend on whether
the bamboo is fresh (green) or dry.
The treatment of fresh bamboo usually involves steeping or placing culms upright in containers
of concentrated solutions of preservatives,-
sap displacement, and diffusion where culms are submerged in a solution for a period of time.
Dry bamboo undergoes soaking pressure treatment, among others.
TRADITIONAL AND NONCHEMICAL TREATMENT METHODS
These are ancient methods used by artisans in places where bamboo grows.
These methods include controlling starch content in felled bamboos, baking over open fire, and
lime washing and other coatings.
Controlling starch content in felled bamboos is riding the bamboo of sugars that nourish
parasites. This is done through:
a) Harvesting/cutting down bamboo during low sugar content season-between August and
December
b) Harvesting/cutting down bamboo at maturity age. Bamboo matures at three to four years.
Normally, sugar content in bamboo is lowest during its first year.
 c) Keeping culms upright for a few days after harvest so stored food materials are utilized
d) Soaking bamboo in water to leach out starch and other sugars
e) Baking over open fire
Baking, over fire after applying oil on the surface is another traditional method for preservation
of green round bamboos.
This causes rapid drying of the outer shell and induces partial charring and decomposition of
starch and other sugars.
Baking is recommended over a gentle fire, taking care that the surfaces are rotated constantly.
3. Lime washing and other coatings
Bamboo culms are painted with slaked lime prolonging their lifespan by delaying and reducing
the absorption of moisture while being a repellent against insects.
Moreover, a variety of coatings, such as tar, lime wash, tar and lime wash and tar sprinkled with
sand are also used.

CHEMICAL TREATMENT METHODS

The use of chemicals protects bamboo products from degradation. These are well-established
methods providing good protection.
An example of this method is treating bamboo with a mixture of boric acid and borax. Boron
salts are known to be effective against termites, fungi, and borers.
Methods include leaching in water or white washing and can be carried out without special
equipment and technical know-how.
Chemical preservation, on the other hand, needs skill and a definite treatment schedule.

NUTSHELL
• Bamboo, one of the most valuable gifts from nature to humans, needs to be treated to
protect it from insect and fungi attacks to extend its useful life.
• Traditional and nonchemical treatment methods include controlling starch content in
felled bamboos, baking over open fire, and lime washing and other coatings.
• Chemical treatment methods include treating bamboo with a mixture of boric acid and
borax.
L3 - PYROGRAPHY DESIGNING
What is pyrography?
Would you like to learn how to do it?

Pyrography translates to ‘fire writing’ and is the traditional art of using a heated tip or wire to
burn or scorch designs onto natural materials such as wood or leather.
Burning can be done by means of a modern solid-point tool similar to a soldering iron or a hot
wire tool or the more rudimentary method of using a metal implement heated in a fire. It is also
known as pokerwork or wood burning.
Pyrography has been practiced by the Egyptians, African tribes, Hungarians, Argentineans,
Europeans, and Americans throughout centuries.

Artists have used pyrography to decorate artworks, wooden masks, musical instruments, among
others.
O'Brien further discusses that pyrography designing makes use of an iron tool to allow a great
range of natural tones and shades to be
achieved-beautiful subtle effects can create a picture in sepia tones, or strong dark strokes can
make a bold, dramatic design.
Varying type of tip used, the temperature, or the way the iron is applied to material all create
different effects. Solid-point machines offer a variety of tip shapes, and can also be used for
"branding" the wood or leather.
Wire-point machines allow the artist to shape the wire of configuration to achieve broad marks
or fine lines.

This work is time-consuming, done entirely by hand, with each line of a complex design drawn
individually.
How to Create an Art Piece Using Pyrography
To create an art piece using pyrography, www.wisegeek.com says, prepare a heated tool of
some sort and an appropriate surface as canvas for the images. The tip of the tool is applied to
the surface leaving behind a slightly scorched indentation.
Use wood sections that are sanded and flat or inscribe images onto driftwood or sections of
tanned leather.
Use a heating tool such as a standard metal fire poker. It is possible to heat the tip of a section
of wire and create images in leather or wood.
Along with the traditional method, pyrography may be created using a machine.
There are two types of machines used to mass-produce this kind of art: wire-point machine
and solid-point machine.
• Wire-point machines produce highly detailed images and designs.
• Solid-point machines are configured with tips that vary in size, shape, and are often
excellent for stamping an image onto a piece of wood or leather.
• The choice of wood for the creation of this art affects the appearance of the final design.
• Artists who use woods with a finer grain require a relatively plain background. Those
who prefer wood with more pronounced grain incorporate the rich layers of shading into
the design itself.

Pyrography tips to get you started from Lynda Gibbs Eaves, a Canadian award winning artist
1. The choice of wood is important. It is recommended that you start with basswood, the
cross-cut type with or without the bark. It has a nice clean grain that makes it easier to
burn on. If basswood is not available, consider the grain when laying out the project.
2. Sand the wood according to what your pyrography project is. Always sand with the grain,
not against it as this will cause it to be fuzzy, disrupting the grain and maybe causing
problems as your burner crosses it.
3. Burn the project very lightly to begin with. Then establish the darkest darks, working
from dark to lighter. Pull the burner toward you even if this means turning the wood. You
must be aware of the grain of the wood also when you burn as crossing against the grain
will affect your strokes. Take time to rest. Do not burn longer than 15 minutes at a time.

NUTSHELL
● Pyrography is the traditional art of using a heated tip or wire to burn or scorch designs
onto natural materials such as wood or leather.

L4 - PROJECT PLANNING: BAMBOO CRAFT ARTICLES

Bamboo craft articles are useful and beautiful.

Generally, bamboo products are classified as primary (poles, shoots, and stumps), secondary
or semi-processed (sawali, splits, sticks, boards), and finished products (handicraft, furniture,
and ready-to-cook/eat shoots).
The primary and secondary products are inputs for various industries including housing,
fishing, agriculture, and manufacturing.
Finished products are directly channeled to end users in both domestic and export markets for
direct consumption.

Project Making
A. Name of the Project
Name of the Project: Bamboo Hand Fan
B. Objectives
At the end of a given period, the students should be able to:
• develop skills in cutting, assembling, and finishing a bamboo hand fan
• be accurate in measurements
• be creative and resourceful in making the project
• develop good work habits
C. Illustration
D. Materials
E. Tools
knife, pair of scissors, cutter
F. Procedure
1. Weave one strip over one under.
2. Begin at the middle using three to five bamboo strips, then weave across the strips.
3. Weave one over and one under, one after another until you reach the desired
measurement that is 25.4 cm x 25.4 cm.
4. Cut according to the desired shape (square, rectangle, heart shaped) and paste using a
glue or glue stick.
5. Split or cut the holder at the tip about 5.1 cm to 7.6 cm then insert and glue it on the
bamboo weaver.
6. Add other accessories to make your hand fan more attractive.

Other bamboo craft projects include wind chimes, picture frames, candle holders, pen and
pencil holders, and jewelry boxes.
NUTSHELL
● Bamboo products are classified as primary (poles, shoots, and stumps), secondary or
semi-processed (sawali, splits, sticks, boards), and finished products (handicraft,
furniture, and ready-to-cook/eat shoots).

RATTAN CRAFTS

L1 - TYPES AND PREPARATION AS CRAFT MATERIALS

The Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and
Development (PCARRD) in a report in 1985 describes rattan as a "climbing palm with
numerous thorns or spines, hairs, and bristles scattered all over the plant.
Some rattans have leaves with extended whip-like structure, the cirrus, which is an extension of
the midrib.
Other rattans have the flagellum, which is also a whip-like, that arises from the axil of the leaf
sheath. The cirri and flagella enable the palm to climb adjacent trees for support."
Rattans grow throughout the country from Batanes to Tawi-Tawi islands. They usually grow
near sea level and medium elevations in the old and second growth forests but never in the open
fields.
Types of Rattan
Approximately ninety rattan species exist in the Philippines; about one third is endemic.
According to Merlyn Rivera in her "Philippine National Report on Bamboo and Rattan" paper,
the following are the types of rattan found in the country:

1. Ditaan (Daemonorops mollis)-

most widely distributed among Philippine rattan species
2. Tandulang parang (Calamus usitatis)
found in Batan Island, Babuyan Island, Zambales, Laguna, Quezon, Camarines Norte, and
Sorsogon
3. Palasan (C. merillii)
found in the mountain ranges of Sierra Madre, Cordillera, Kitanglad, Isarog, Halcon, and
Caraballo
4. Limuran (C. ornatus var. philippinensis)
mostly distributed in Luzon, particularly in the mountains of Laguna, Bicol, Quezon, Rizal,
Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, and Sorsogon

Processing of Rattan
R. Gnanaharan and A.P. Mosteiro (1997) write that rattan undergoes primary and secondary
processing after harvest for it to be used as craft material

Primary Processing
a.  Deglazing
This is the process of removing the inner epidermis of the leaf sheaths adhering to the stem and
the silicified epidermis. Deglazing should be done while the rattan is still green.
b. Fumigation
This is done to bring out the best of rattan's color and kill any larvae of borers present. The
rattan is smoked overnight for 24 hours or more until an even color is obtained. It is then dried
and sorted into different grades.
c. Bleaching
Rattan canes are bleached using sodium hypochlorite or bleaching powder. Hydrogen peroxide
is used for quality bleaching.
d. Oil-curing
Deglazed canes can be oil-cured to remove its waxy layer and gummy substances. Oil curing
results in the reduction of moisture content thus protecting the cane from sap stain and fungal
attack. An ivory color is also achieved when this process is done.
e. Drying
After deglazing and washing, the canes will have high moisture content. They have to be dried
immediately using a rattan pole drier to avoid attack by sap stain fungi. Following drying,
rattans are bundled and sent for further processing.
Secondary Processing
a. Steaming
Rattan poles should be steamed in a steam generator at 100°C for 20-30 minutes. The poles can
then be bent virtually to any curvature.
b. Bending
In commercial production of rattan furniture, bending is a routine operation. Moulding benches
with fixed moulds for various types of bends are used. The canes softened by steam or a blow
torch are put immediately into moulds, and left in this condition for about half to one day to
ensure the desired shape is permanently formed.
c. Splitting
Rattan used for weaving and binding is peeled by removing the outer hard skin. The core is
resplit into smaller sections. Splitting is done by hand or machine.

 d. Dyeing
Dyeing of cane splits are mostly by indigenous methods developed in different localities for
specialty products.
e. Sanding and Buffing
Sanding is done by passing the straight poles through a profile sanding machine. At least three
profile sanders are used (coarse, medium, and fine) so that the components can be finished in
one pass.
Molded and bent components are sanded on buffing machines using pneumatic cylinders and
brush heads.
NUTSHELL
• Rattan is a climbing palm with numerous thorns or spines, hairs, and bristles scattered all
over the plant.
• Ditaan, tandulang parang, palasan, and limuran are the different types of rattan.

L2 - PRODUCTION OF RATTAN CRAFT ARTICLES

Since rattan is growing throughout the country, how can it help improve the economy?
Rattan has proven to be one of the essential resources in terms of its contribution to the national
economy and ecological stability of the Philippines.
Parts of the rattan palm are used to make different product types.

Parts of the rattan palm and the different product types made from them
 
1. thick stems
timber, furniture racks, handles, carpet beaters, fighting sticks, walking sticks
2. thinner stems
baskets, mats, fish traps, tires, bird cages, coarser wickerwork
3. bark of the rattan palm
finer wickerwork (wicker rattan), casings, cords

Designing of Rattan Craft Articles

Designers and furniture makes use rattan extensively. They create and offer numerous rattan
designs, weaving structures, veneers, and colors.
The use of rattan in furniture making creates a comfortable, cheerful, and natural atmosphere.
One designer who uses rattan in his designs is the multi-awarded Filipino furniture designer
Kenneth Cobonpue.
In 2011, Cobonpue used rattan, bamboo, steel, and carbon fiber in creating the Phoenix, the
world's first biodegradable car.
Ito Kish is another notably famous interior design consultant and furniture designer who uses
rattan and other local materials.
Moreover, Kinks & Curls by Accessoria, Inc. won Best Product Design for Housewares at the
Manila Fame 2012 Katha Awards for its ingenious use of natural rattan splits.

NUTSHELL
• Rattan has proven to be one of the vital resources in terms of its contribution to the
national economy and ecological stability of the Philippines.
• The use of rattan in furniture making creates a comfortable, cheerful, and natural
atmosphere.
• Multi-awarded furniture designers like Kenneth Cobonpue and Ito Kish use rattan in their
equally famous creations.

L3 - PROJECT PLANNING: RATTAN CRAFT ARTICLES

How can rattan be made into something useful?
Mary White writes that rattan comes to us split into round or flat strips of various sizes, which
are numbered by the manufacturer from 00 to about 15, number 00 being the finest as well as
the most costly.
Numbers 2, 3, and 4 are the best sizes for small baskets, and 3, 5, and 6 for scrap baskets.
Rattan can be weaved to produce different craft articles like furniture and home accessories.
Two basic terms used in rattan weaving are weavers and spokes.
Weavers are the basket strands that weave through the spokes. They are lighter, thinner, and
more flexible than the spokes to enable them to be woven in and out.
Spokes are the strands that stand upright and form the side supports of the basket. They are
much stiffer than the weavers and are strong.

Different Styles of Weaving

Under-and-over weaving
Under-and-over weaving is the simplest form of all and the one most used.
Double weaving
Double weaving is done in the same way, except that two weavers are used at once.
Triple twist
Triple twist is done using three weavers that are placed behind three consecutive spokes and
brought in succession, starting with the back one, over two and under one spoke, each on its
way to the back of the third spoke being laid over the other two weavers.

NUTSHELL
• Rattan can be weaved to produce different craft materials.
• The different styles of weaving are under-and-over weaving, double weaving, and triple
twist.

Fiber Crafts
L1 - PROCESSING OF FIBER
Fiber is the starting point of the textile chain. First of all, fiber is obtained from the source,
which is then spun into yarn. Yarn is then woven or knitted into fabric.
Fiber is divided into two categories: natural and synthetic.
 • Natural fiber is taken from plants and animals. Examples of this type of fiber include
cotton, linen, silk, and wool.
• Synthetic fiber comes from manufacturing and processing technologies. Nylon,
polyester, spandex, and acrylic are common synthetic fibers.

ABACA
Abaca or Musa textilis is from the banana family, Musaceae. It is similar to the banana in
appearance except that the leaves are upright pointed, narrower. and more tapering.
Abaca is native to the Philippines because the warm, wet climate and volcanic soils are suited to
its cultivation.
It is of great economic importance, being harvested for its fiber, once generally called Manila
hemp, extracted from the trunk or pseudostem. On average, the plant grows about 4 meters tall.

Many has claimed that abaca fiber is the premier rope fiber of the world. The abaca fiber
industry continues to generate jobs and earn dollar remittances for the country.

PROCESSING OF ABACA FIBER

Abaca fiber is one of the top ten agricultural export commodities of the Philippines. Abaca
undergoes processing before the fiber is packed for export.

The following are the steps in extracting abaca fiber.

1. Cutting the stalk of the abaca plant
2. Placing stalk, which is cut into quarters, under a large knife then pulling the stalk through
it scraping off the none filamented materials.
3. Hanging the fiber for it to dry
4. Inspecting and classifying the fiber into different grades

Classification and grade of abaca fiber.

Excellent (AD, EF, 52 and 53)

Good (I, G, H)
Fair (JK, MI)
Coarse (L)
Residual (Y1, Y2, O, T, WS)
 5. Packing the fiber before export

NUTSHELL
• Fiber is divided into two categories: natural and synthetic.
• Abaca or Musa textilis is from the banana family, Musaceae.
• The abaca fiber industry continues to generate jobs and earn dollar remittances for the
country.
• Abaca undergoes processing before the fiber is packed for export.