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I recently purchased a 14" Grizzly bandsaw, and was considering sawing some bamboo strips.  I have read Bob Maulucci's articles from Power Fibers and am aware of the Heritage Jig from James Dempsey.  I am interested in tips (e.g., jigs, techniques) from builders that saw strips with a bandsaw.   (Ron Delesky)

If anyone that is coming to SRG has one of these fixtures, could you please bring it?  I've read the articles and saw the pictures, but would really like to see one up close and personal. (Rick Kruger)

Morgen Lovstad had a dandy one at SRG last year. He's coming this year. I'm sure he would walk you thru making a copy. I have some pics of his I'll bring in case he doesn't bring his. See u in a couple of weeks. (David Atchison)

I just got back from the Catskill Rod Gathering where Dempsey demonstrated his most recent fixture for sawing bamboo on a bandsaw.  While sawing bamboo is not new, I think Jed’s fixture is revolutionary.  If you saw it in action it’s hard to think ever again about other ways to handle a culm of bamboo.  You’ll net an additional simple fixture for a table saw to get an initial straight edge to start with. (Al Baldauski)

Not to take anything away from Mr Dempsey, but it was my impression from his own description that he was 'just' reviving the method that Uslan used. Hence the "heritage" reference in the jig name. If not, or just if different, I would like to hear what is the difference. (Chris Moore)

Chris, I've seen, courtesy of Jed, the uslan machine and Jeds version of it.  Yes, Jed's method and machine are a revival of sorts, but it's kind of like comparing driving a Model T Ford and a Ferrari... Jeds machine is MUCH better! (Bob Nunley)

I’m not aware of the Uslan method nor did I know Jed’s fixture might be a revival.  I missed the full talk and demo but saw a later abbreviated demo that was so impressive I had to comment.  So “revolutionary” might not be the right term.  (Al Baldauski)

Harry Boyd showed me his method of hand splitting that beats anything I ever did with a saw. Try his method, you can split those babies down to 1/4 inch without too much trouble. (Mark Dyba)

My first impression was similar to yours - I can SPLIT faster than that - but later a nearby standee (a guy with a LOT of splitting experience) pointed out "No more tricky node straightening". THAT got my attention! Is that a good or a bad thing? I don't know yet. But I CAN say I haven't been as impressed by a "novel" technique since Jorge Carcao presented the "soaking" method for straightening at a CRG a few years back. People scoffed at that idea yet an awful lot of us (me included) are now using that very method to assist in the task.
 
I'm not at all sure that I'll be switching to the sawing method, but I think I'm going to give it as serious a try as I did the soaking! (Art Port)

I may be, as AA Milne said of Pooh, a "bear of little brain", but it seems to me that people get far too worried about nodes. There are those who just saw them straight, some who split and just plane them nearly straight, some who press, some who don't bother but just plane the nodal ridges and dams, some who cut the things out altogether and glue up the remainder.

I have tried a few of the methods, and have settled on a procedure that suits me; and I would bet good money that you could not pick up one of my rods, cast it, and tell me what method I use - except that I do not build nodeless, which would be obvious. I once owned a modern nodeless rod and it came to bits on a medium sized fish. The less dependence on glue the better, I reckon!

I have hand split cane for a couple of hundred rods or more, and find it a manageable approach - in fact, it is not only possible but easy to split, with perfect control, much narrower strips than I would ever want to.  I waste almost no cane, except where there are pre-existing splits in all the wrong places.

I also find it very convenient (“handy", in fact) to have my splitting tools permanently attached to the ends of my arms.  (Peter McKean)

Amen, Brother Peter!  I've tried about every method, and I can split a culm and straighten nodes in a heartbeat.  The method we both use, the one that Harry teaches, is the nuts!  If Harry didn't have those girly hands, he could do it as well as we do! LOL

Sorry, Harry... I just had to take a shot! :) (Bob Nunley)