How much weight?

[Whompus Cat]

Just called my buddy who I'm going to sink christmas trees with and asked if he knew where to get some bamboo. Come to find out he just moved to a new house with a backyard full of it! So I'm going to get some concrete and 5-gallon buckets. If I were to stuff a bunch of bamboo in the bucket and fill it up with concrete is it going to be heavy enough to sink the bamboo? Any tips or suggestions would be greatly appreciated. He says that some of the bamboo is in upwards of 30' and some smaller stuff. I figured I could cut it into sections if needed. We will probably be placing them in about 30-35' of water. I figured it would take a lot of weight to sink bamboo since it has pockets of air in it.

[NIMROD]

Depends on diameter of cane and number in each bucket. Best way is to carry extra weights in case they float. I add rocks before the wet cement to save cement. I won't use canes over 1 1/2 '' in diameter at the butt.

[CrappieTexan]

I use boo which is 15 ft tall...... fill a 5 gal bucket 1/2 full of concrete insert boo....
No problem sinking.... I usually put a 1 gal plastic bucket tied in the top of the condo and still sinks just fine.......the bucket keep it upright at all times....
My 2 cents.........

[AgriHawg]

I've cut my 'boo in the 12-15' range. I generally put about 12-20 stalks per bucket with about 2/3 a #80 bag of Qwickcrete. They sink just fine. I haven't had any problems with them not standing up, even on some pretty good slopes.

[Whompus Cat]

thanks for the quick input as I'll have just a few hours to do all this tomorrow. Should we let the bamboo dry before we drop them or does it matter?

over

[AgriHawg]

You can use the bamboo as soon as you cut it.

[Hoover]

I mix the crete. put the boo in, let it harden an sink. Never had a prob w/a five gallon bucket full. Never tied anything to it and it sinks upright due to bouyancey (how do u spel bouyancey) haaaaaa....anyway it sinks just fine.

[slabbandit]

AgriHawg described the way that I build the tall bamboo buckets exactly. Put the cane in soon after you cut it while it's still green. Spread them well and allow the concrete to set-up and dry a couple of days. Getting them to the lake is not to easy but they sink like a parachute and stand up well. I've never had one wash off.
You definately need to read Jerry Blake's posts on constructing Bamboo Condos at the beginning of the Crappie Structure Forum.
Let us know how it goes.

[Whompus Cat]

cool, thanks again guys. We sunk a few christmas trees today and it took a lot of weight. We should start making the boo buckets this week. I'll post pictures throughout the experience and you guys can critique our work.