How to Cut Bamboo Blinds and Shades

Still in the kitchen.

You ever started a project--what you thought would be a simple project,

and one thing leads to another, as you discover kinks along the way?

Moving one thing means having to move other things,

painting one thing means having to paint other things?

This is what's happening in our beloved "heart of our home".

But, I am learning some things along the way.

Goody for you--I play nicely with others,

and I am going to share what I am learning with you!!

Today, I will share how, because I couldn't find the EXACT size of bamboo shade

needed for the window over the sink, I cut it to the size needed.

Neither Lowe's nor The Home Depot would help me.

They only cut the Levelor blinds, not "common" Ambria shades.

So, here we go.

How to Cut Bamboo Blinds and Shades

• Measure your window, and decide how much shade you'd like inside or outside your window.

I DID NOT want an inside mount, 

I wanted the shade to hang outside the edges of the window 2" on each side.

That meant a 42" shade.

• Go buy your a slightly larger shade than the width you need. Make sure the header frame mounting material is wood, or bamboo.

I got a 48" shade.

• You will need a fine tooth hacksaw, tape measure, masking tape, a marker, and a miter box (the box is not really necessary). You can also cut the shade with an electric chop saw if you have one, but most of us don't, or are scared of them, so a hand saw is what we use.

• Cut off the end of the plastic packaging slighly further than the width you need to cut. The wrapping will help hold the shade into a roll while you cut.

• Divide the total inches you need to saw off in half, this is how much you will saw off each end. Mark around the circumference of the blind.

So, to make a 42" shade:

48" minus 6" divided by 2 = 3" off each side!

There! Your homeschool math lesson for the day!

• Start sawing. It helps to have a professional work bench, like I do.

(See the aqua floral print in the picture below? 

I am in my professional shop pajamas uniform.)

•  Keep sawing.

• Saw some more.

• Keep going.

• Get a Bandaid. Owie.

• Almost through.

• Tamp the cut side on a flat surface, so the end will be flat/even on the other side when you cut through it.

• Flip the blind and repeat on the other side. 

The second time, I got smart (at least to my way of thinking) 

and tightly taped the blind with masking tape, inside the cutting line. 

This helped hold it firmly, while I hacked away at it. 

Do this for both ends from the start--and maybe no blister for you.

I took a picture for you of the blind I cut, 

side by side with a blind that was fresh from the package- factory cut.

Don't they look the same?

That's more better.

You can also cut the slatted (these are matchstick) bamboo blinds this way.

As of today, my boo-boo is healed, thanks for asking!

Proverbs 31:16-17

Leslie version:

She considers a blind and buys it;
         From her earnings she covers the window.
   She works out by sawing and gains strength

which makes her arms strong.