Post #133491 by SCTikiShack on Fri, Dec 31, 2004 8:39 AM

Tiki Man,
Thank you, I wish that I could draw too. Around ten years ago I picked up a chainsaw one day and discovered that I actually have some artistic talent. Chanisaws used to scare the #@%* out of me. Now it is the grinder that I fear.

AA,
You and Benzart seem to always be one of the first ones on it. I think you guys are Tiki Central Addicts, we may have to make an intervention. Yesterday morning, my real estate friend offered me five redwood trees worth of logs (nice guy huh). Some of these have you name on it. It would be great decorating Trader Joes stores with Chikitiki. Could you imagine picking up the whole chain, that would keep us busy for several years. However, they like to use local artists to keep the stores from looking the same.

Benzart,

Thank you for all the plugs. I didn't want to be considered a chainsaw hack. Therefore, at SCTikis we go through several processes to offer a finely refined product.
Actually, after reading your topic on the tikis you carved for the Tropicana I was inspired to try some different sealing methods. The large Maori Tiki you carved was beautifuland highly polished.
Currently, I give customers their choice. They can get their tiki sealed with Thompson's or Ultra Deck for free. A little extra will give them a coat of marine varnish followed by three of polyeurathane.

As for the sanding, The tiki is smoothed out with a chainsaw as much as possible. Then an angle grinder is used to get the easy access stuff. Instead of using sandpaper, I will then use a sanding disk to get all the hard to reach places. Around a year ago I discovered that disks work much better than paper due to their stiffness. Finally, I use a medium grit sanding sponge to complete the project.

SCTikis