Where is the bamboo from?
Bamboo is grown all over the world. Our bamboo comes from the mountains of southern China, in Fujian and Zhejiang provinces. Superior bamboo is found here because of the higher altitude and colder winters. Cold weather helps toughen the fibers, resulting in a harder pole.
How is packed and shipped?
Bamboo is packed in cartons with 2 to 15 poles per carton, depending on diameter. All orders are shipped via UPS ground or local trucking for large quantities.
Bamboo diameter sizes listed are approximate as bamboo naturally tapers as it grows, with some tapering more than others. Poles are eyeballed and categorically placed in boxes closest to their sizes. General tolerance is about +/- 0.25"
When does my order ship?
Typically all orders are processed within 1-2 business days after the order has been received. All orders are shipped UPS ground and can take upto 5 business days for delivery in the continental United States. Since we're located in CA, orders within CA have transit times of 1-2 days, 5 days for orders to the East Coast, these are approximate delivery times in addition to processing days. So please allow 7-10 days for delivery after you place your order.
We recommend you place your orders at least 2-3 weeks prior to your event requirements.
We also recommend you check the package for any kind of damages and missing parts in the event the package is received damaged, and inform us at the earliest convenience. Please try to save the packaging (it helps file any claim with insurance).
Where is your warehouse located?
Coastline Logistics
19700 Van Ness Ave.
Torrance, CA. 90501
Warehouse pick-ups can be arranged next day; please send us an email to arrange. Warehouse is open from 8.30 AM to 4.30 PM, Monday to Friday.
We do ask you place your orders through the website and checkout, prior to arrival at our warehouse.
Shipping Costs
Shipping costs are calculated and displayed at checkout before you enter your payment information.
How can I clean my bamboo?
First, clean bamboo with a mild detergent then coat it with a 50/50 combination of linseed oil and paint thinner.
Can I paint it?
Yes, but you should clean it with paint thinner first. This removes the oils. Please see our painting poles section for more details.
Is bamboo resistant to moisture?
Yes, it is, but for extra protection coat the bamboo with clear PU (polyurethane) coating. Clean it first (see above) to remove the oils from the skin before coating. If you are putting the bamboo in the ground or the environment is particularly wet, use two coats.
Does bamboo split?
Poles 2” or less rarely split, while larger poles can split if the humidity changes are significant.
What’s bamboo good for?
Normally our poles are used for decoration, gardening and construction. However, people have found more uses for bamboo than Forrest Gump has found for shrimp. At the risk of sounding Gumpesque, here’s a small list of items made from bamboo: bamboo blinds, bamboo flutes, bamboo fishing rods, bamboo shoots, bamboo floor, bamboo chopsticks, bamboo toothpicks, bamboo…. Bamboo is also a delicious food. Just ask any panda bear.
Speaking of the mighty panda, aren’t you stealing its food?
Our bamboo is harvested nowhere near the habitat of the Panda bear (the panda bear lives in Sichuan province. ) Additionally, we do not sell the type of bamboo the panda eats. Bamboo Expressions supports panda preservation efforts.
Okay, but, what’s up with ‘Panda Express’ restaurants? They don’t serve panda meat, they don’t serve anything a panda can eat, and while cute, the panda is not exactly a fast, express-type animal.
Good question. We have no idea. But they seem to be doing quite well.
Is bamboo environmentally friendly?
Bamboo is extremely environmentally friendly. Bamboo is a grass, not a wood, so it is a very renewable resource. Poles take 1 year to grow to full size, and 4 years to achieve maturity. As any one who has planted bamboo in their garden has discovered, often the problem with bamboo is not making it grow: it’s making it stop growing (if you are thinking of planting bamboo in your garden and you do not want it colonize your whole yard, put metal sheeting 3 feet down in the dirt to keep the root structure from spreading). Furthermore, Bamboo Expressions bamboo is not ‘clear cut’, only mature poles are harvested.
What about your labor standards?
Safety and fair labor are of the utmost importance at Bamboo Expressions. To ensure this, we have invested in our primary processing facility to give us control that all our workers are paid above the natural average, and that safety / environmental standards are equal to first-world standards. We use regular internal audits, close cooperation with local labor bureaus and an open door policy to allow our facilities to be inspected at any time. Furthermore, we monitor any sub-contractors and suppliers further down in our supply chain to ensure that they are do not engage in unsafe practices, underpaid workers and / or child labor.
Is it true that Captain Kirk used bamboo?
Yes, it is. While seeking strange worlds and exploring new civilizations, Kirk was forced to battle the lizard-like Gorn—a battle ultimately decided by Kirk’s utilization of bamboo. More information can be obtained by viewing the episode ‘Arena’. (While Bamboo Expressions does not condone the practice of making bazookas from bamboo, we understand that there are certain times in intergalactic exploration that warrant an exception.)
