:: All prices listed are wholesale to shops :: Retail prices to individuals are twice those listed ::
While man may live without wanting to eat meat, he cannot live without bamboo.
Without meat, a man becomes thin; without bamboo, a man becomes trivial.
Chinese philosopher Su Shi, 11th century CE
Quoted on page 62 in Bamboo and Rattan: Traditional Uses and Beliefs by Jacqueline M. Piper
Singapore: Oxford University Press, 1992
Bamboo is a type of grass that is lightweight and naturally hollow. While almost all of our plugs are a tannish yellow color, bamboo can range from light yellow to light green, brown, almost black, striped, or spotted. The ends are slightly chamfered (beveled/cupped) to make for smooth insertion. The plugs come pre-oiled; keep them well oiled for smooth insertion. They should be washed periodically with a mild, non-chemical soap, or a small amount of tea tree oil may be used if something stronger is desired.
Only cylinder shapes are possible as the outside surface of bamboo is a smooth, naturally protective surface (called the cuticle, cortex, outer skin, or rind) that would be removed if bamboo is carved into flared saddle or ring shapes-the material located below this surface is much more porous and less dense, and thus not suited to be worn in contact with body piercings.
The ones featured on these scans that are solid on the front are cut on the node of the bamboo (also known as the diaphragm or membrane); they have a very mild one-flare shape, are hollow in the back, are hard to match in pairs, are often slightly rougher than the center of the rod of bamboo, and are thus rarely available in pairs. We pre-make them when possible, but they cannot normally be custom ordered. Also, the scans show several bamboo plugs placed inside one another for space contraints on the photo, and does not represent a type of bamboo earplug available (several have asked!).
We occasionally have some black bamboo available in limited sizes. This can range from dark chocolate brown to medium spotted brown. As the coloration is on the wearing surface only (the outside of the cane), only a small outline of this darker coloration will be visible when the cross-section is viewed. Please ask if you are looking for a specific size in black bamboo.
Specify diameter. We can work in gauges, inches, or millimeters. In between sizes are not a problem! NEW! While our usual minimum diameter is 4ga, we currently have bamboo down to 7ga, 6ga, and 5ga!
Our current maximum diameter is 2-9/16" (actually, please check with us as we may have larger pieces!).
Most bamboo is slightly cardiod in cross-section (heart shaped), with a rounded off divet out of one side. We do not use these pieces; we only make bamboo plugs that have cross-sections that are as round as possible. Though we have very tight tolerances, due to the slightly elliptical shape of bamboo, diameters may be approximate or averaged across a mildly oval piece, especially with plugs over 1". Very large pieces tend to be more oval. If you are specifically hoping for oval bamboo plugs, feel free to request it.
Specify length. A typical length is 1/2", though we can make them any size.
Some people prefer shorter lengths, around 7/16", or longer lengths to allow room for fatter lobes or o-rings, such as 9/16" or 5/8". There is a surcharge for bamboo 1" or over in length.
Specify with or without black o-rings (Buna-N nitrile), which we will provide if we have them on hand.
We do not normally include them; if you don't ask, we will assume that you do not want them.
We currently have an average of a two to three week wait for custom made bamboo.
We always have some pre-made plugs in stock, even some one side 'solid' bamboo, singles, and black bamboo. These cannot always be custom ordered as the materials themselves dictate what we can make. Please call us to ask about our current selection.
One side solid bamboo has a natural one-flare or tapered form, which takes up some length.
Also note that 'black' bamboo is on average a dark chocolate brown, but can vary widely and can also exhibit a spotted light or medium brown appearance. This coloration is natural and only appears on the outer surface, or rind, which is the wearing surface for bamboo plugs. Thus black bamboo plugs will still appear yellowish tan on the ends as shown, with a halo of dark coloration around the rim of the circle.
Finally, the image above shows a few pairs of the black bamboo that also happen to be one-side solid. Wow! It is quite rare to find the materials to make these, and also to have them match up in size, visual pattern, and hue into pairs - thus, they cannot normally be custom ordered. Ask us about what we might have in stock in all types of pre-made bamboo.
We have black bamboo in 1/2" or larger diameters only, and not in every size. This is mainly due to the fact that most black bamboo is cardiod-shaped or has large flat spots on it in smaller sizes.
We normally make one-side solid bamboo up to 1" only, as the pattern of the solid parts can vary widely, as well as level of flatness or convexness, and it is quite difficult to form matched pairs in large sizes.
Wall thicknesses and the corresponding hole sizes will vary. While most will look like the pair on the far left of the top image, larger diameter plugs (over 1-1/8" or so) can often have quite thick walls. In the case of timber bamboo, also utilized for scaffolding and construction, some walls make the cross-sections look almost completely solid. Thick-walled bamboo can be great for doing burnt patterns upon as well.
::Wholesale Prices for Bamboo Jewelry::
Retail prices are double.
Black bamboo is occasionally available (1/2" or larger only) for $1 extra/piece ($2 extra/pair).
Add half the price for one side 'solid' bamboo (1" and under only), burnt ends, or for lengths 1" or over.
Smaller than 1/2" =$3/each ($6/pair)
1/2" to under 1" =$4/each ($8/pair)
1" to under 1-1/2" =$5/each ($10/pair)
1-1/2" to under 2" =$6/each ($12/pair)
2" to under 2-1/2" =$7/each ($14/pair)
2-9/16" and up = Please call!
We have some little numbers we've been doing for a few years now,
but haven't really made a public announcement about nor posted online.
Without further ado: officially introducing...
BAMBOO PLUGS WITH BURNT DESIGNS ON THE ENDS!
If you want to refer to the below designs when we are discussing custom work,
please call them, in order: #A, #B, #C, #D, #E, #F, #G, #H, #I, and #J.
This first batch of images are all posted at life size.
#A (top) and #B (bottom)
#C (top) and #D (bottom: note that these are all small sizes)
#E (mostly small sizes)
#F: Note that these plugs have burnt designs AND are one side solid! Shazaam!
#G and #H
#I and #J
This next batch of images are all posted as smaller thumbnails.
Please click on these smaller images below to view versions at full size.
If you want to refer to these designs when we are discussing custom work,
please call them, in order: #K/#L, #M/#N, #0/#P, #Q/#R, #S/#T, #U/#V/#W, and #X#Y#Z.
#K and #L (note that both of these show very large thick-walled plugs only)
#M (large plugs only) and #N
#O and #P
#Q and #R
#S and #T
#U (repeated designs) and #V (large plugs only) and #W
As seen on the left-hand image, we can indeed do 'runs' of various sizes in one design.
#X and #Y and #Z
This is one of Markus's designs. He really likes this pair.
Please let us know if you want us to design something unique for you!
We do not necessarily want to repeat the same designs over and over, so this will hopefully serve to give you a good idea about what is possible in what size. Obviously, most of these are huge, and complicated patterns can only go on big plugs with thick walls, so small plugs will have to be simple and minimal, like the first image (#A). If there is a certain unique design that you are hoping for, please let us know and we can burn it for you. It must be composed of lines and/or dots, and can be on any size of bamboo plug.
All of these particular plugs have already been sold; others can be custom ordered!
In most cases, add half the pair prices for burnt designs on the ends of bamboo plugs.
For example, if the pair price for plain bamboo would normally be $12/pair,
a pair with burnt designs on one end of each piece in the same size would add $6/pair to total $18/pair.
Though most designs will follow the above rule, we reserve the right to charge an increased fee for complicated, intricate, or large burnt designs. The maximum fee would be equal to the same amount as the pair's base price. In the case of the above example, the maximum fee for adding a burnt design would be $12/pair, making the total cost of the pair $24 total.
Bamboo with Burnt Designs on the Ends AND Wearing Surfaces
Burnt bamboo plugs showing patterns on the longer wearing surfaces as well!!!
As you can see in these examples, we've matched up the wearing surface designs to be extensions of those on the faces. These could be two unrelated patterns instead if you'd prefer it that way.
The fee for burning bamboo is per surface, so the front faces of a pair would count as one, the front parts of the wearing surfaces would count as two, the back parts of the wearing surfaces would count as three, and if the back faces were burnt as well, those would be the fourth surfaces.
We also do burnt designs on the wearing surface of bamboo septum plugs, as shown above.
Naturally, we can do longer septum plugs and rods in bamboo without burnt designs as well.
Please also note that there is a surcharge for lengths that are 1" or longer.
Bamboo with STAMPED Burnt Designs on the Wearing Surfaces
Switching gears, here is something we have in limited amounts only:
Premade tiny bamboo, most with stamped burnt designs on the wearing surfaces. $6/pair.
Patterns and lengths will vary a bit as shown, and will not be identical from piece to piece or within a pair.
These cuties are available smaller than our usual minimum diameters! These sizes only:
>7ga singles, 6ga plain singles-all different lengths, <6ga burnt single, ±5ga pairs, and a >4ga single.
We only have what are already made of these little ones - they cannot be custom ordered.
The ones featured on these scans that are solid on the front are cut on the node of the bamboo (also known as the diaphragm or membrane); they have a very mild one-flare shape, are hollow in the back, are hard to match in pairs, are often slightly rougher than the center of the rod of bamboo, and are thus rarely available in pairs. We pre-make them when possible, but they cannot normally be custom ordered. Also, the scans show several bamboo plugs placed inside one another for space contraints on the photo, and does not represent a type of bamboo earplug available (several have asked!).
We currently have an average of a two to three week wait for custom made bamboo.
