I've been reading the discussions regarding lathe, cutting it from plywood or ripping it from boards.

I don't have the patience for such things, which is why I invented the bjurt (bjurt.com). I replace the continuous curved wall with eight square walls, with only one scissors per wall. Because I have fewer boards/poles, I can afford the cost and weight to use 3/4" EMT conduit.

But I still wonder if what I've learned inventing the bjurt can help conventional yurt builders as well.

What about using a combination of wooden slats and EMT or PVC pipe? Perhaps one in three or one in six slats replaced with 1/2" EMT.

Would that fortify the structure to the point that you could use knotty wood?

Thoughts?

Thanks,
-bender