Preparing Bamboo Branches for Making Rural Brooms

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Bamboo Branch Collection

- Select appropriate bamboos.
It's best to choose those that are in good growth condition and have slender and lush branches. Commonly used varieties like Phyllostachys glauca and Phyllostachys sulphurea are usually preferred.

- Use sharp tools, such as a chopping knife, to cut the bamboo branches from the main trunk of the bamboo. When cutting, try to get as close as possible to the joint between the branch and the trunk, so that the cut branches retain a certain length for convenient subsequent processing and utilization. Generally, it is more appropriate to keep them about 30 - 50 centimeters long.

Sorting and Screening

- Place the cut bamboo branches together in an open and flat area, and remove the dead leaves, broken branches, overly thin or short ones, and those with obvious damage among them. Ensure that the remaining branches are of good quality, relatively uniform in thickness, and approximately the same in length, so that the brooms made later will be more regular and easy to use.

Bundling Preparation

- Gather the sorted bamboo branches together according to a certain quantity. For example, each bundle can contain about 20 - 30 branches. The specific number depends on the size and thickness of the broom you want to make.

- Use relatively sturdy ropes such as hemp ropes or nylon ropes for tying. First, align one end of the bamboo branches, then wind the rope around this end for several circles, and then tie it tightly with a firm knot to prevent the branches from scattering. In this way, the bundling is completed and they can be used for making brooms.

During the whole process, pay attention to operational safety and avoid being hurt by the tools. Try to carry out these operations when the weather is nice to prevent the cut branches from being affected by moisture and other factors that may influence their quality.

The following are the methods and techniques for making large brooms with thin bamboo, which are commonly seen in rural areas :

Material Preparation

- Bamboo : Select thin bamboos that are evenly thick, have long and straight sections, and are preferably about 1 - 2 centimeters in diameter. Make sure there are no wormholes or fractures.

- Rope : Prepare enough tough ropes, such as nylon ropes or hemp threads, for binding the bamboos.

- Others : Get tools like machetes, saws, and hammers ready.

Production Steps

1. Bamboo Processing : Use a machete to cut the bamboos into appropriate lengths, usually 1 - 1.5 meters. Then use a saw to make one end of the bamboo flat to serve as the broom handle, and keep the natural bamboo joints at the other end.

2. Bamboo Grouping : Classify the processed bamboos according to their thickness and length. Use 20 - 30 bamboos for each broom and divide them into 3 - 5 groups, with approximately the same number of bamboos in each group.

3. Binding and Fixing : Align the bottoms of the grouped bamboos, and tightly wrap and bind them with ropes about 10 - 15 centimeters away from the bottom. Wind the ropes for several circles and then tie a knot to fix them. After that, gently tap the knot with a hammer to make it tighter.

4. Broom Trimming : Check the ends of the bamboos and use a machete to cut off the sharp parts to prevent scratches during use. Finally, cut off the excess rope at the binding place.

Follow-up Maintenance

- Soak the new broom in clean water for a few hours before use to make the bamboos tougher.

- Hang the broom in a dry and ventilated place after use to avoid mildew and breakage of the bamboos caused by long-term moisture.

- If you find that the rope is loose, rebind it in time.