Need Tiki Room Fabrication Advice - Tiki Carving

S Swanky Tiki Socialite Hapa Haole Hideaway, Knoxville, TN Joined: Apr 03, 2002 Posts: 5398	S Swanky Posted posted on Wed, Mar 2, 2005 12:13 PM Though I am no expert, I have helped build Hale Tiki with Bamboo Ben and Crazy Al who are experts, swapped story about BKs building the Kon Tiki Paradise Room and made my little Hideaway. On 2005-03-02 11:52, vini-tiki-vechi wrote: I’m seeking some advice from TCers experienced or at least opinionated on home Tiki room fabrication. I have great plans but alas little experience… Specifically when attaching bamboo poles to the ceiling (to crate faux rafters) is it better (either aesthetically or just practical) to use half split poles or poles with just a small section removed to form a flat attachment surface? >> If you split bamboo in half, you basically get twice the bamboo for your money. It would also likely be easier to hang, but if the full round look is what you want, you can do it that way. That small caliber bamboo will hold up easily, but setting anything in the sheet rock will be tough. Use your best judgement. Hanging it with wires is easy and near invisible. One screw at your cross-overs ought to work to hold your bamboo, but it's all going to take your own ingenuity. That's part of the process. Each situation calls for a different tactic. Both. Glue it and staple it to help keep it flat on the surface and just up there. Can't answer. We just did it with a knife and then trimmed it to hide under the bamboo. Keep a fire extenguiser nearby at all times and don't run wires in that stuff unless they are disconnected at all times when you are not present. Use good sense. No more dangerous than curtains... <I intend to build a bar as well that will be largely covered in bamboo poles 1 to 1.5” in diameter. I thought I’d start by build a box/frame of plywood and then covering the exterior with poles. Again is it best to use half split poles or poles with just a small section removed to form a flat attachment surface?> Half. Check my bar thread for ideas. I made a frame of split bamboo and then used jute to tie the thatch to it. Just recall those Gilligan's Island episodes. You are already cutting it up... Do you plan to tear this down some time or what? You can sew velcro to the tapa and then hang it that way to the way. You'll be able to remove it later. That's what I did to hang the Samoan piece I have. But the baist stitch by hand was very painful to do. I used this site fpr instructions Just do it. As Bamboo Ben says: "It's tiki. It should not be perfect."

Though I am no expert, I have helped build Hale Tiki with Bamboo Ben and Crazy Al who are experts, swapped story about BKs building the Kon Tiki Paradise Room and made my little Hideaway.

On 2005-03-02 11:52, vini-tiki-vechi wrote:
I’m seeking some advice from TCers experienced or at least opinionated on home Tiki room fabrication. I have great plans but alas little experience…

Specifically when attaching bamboo poles to the ceiling (to crate faux rafters) is it better (either aesthetically or just practical) to use half split poles or poles with just a small section removed to form a flat attachment surface? >>

If you split bamboo in half, you basically get twice the bamboo for your money. It would also likely be easier to hang, but if the full round look is what you want, you can do it that way.

That small caliber bamboo will hold up easily, but setting anything in the sheet rock will be tough. Use your best judgement. Hanging it with wires is easy and near invisible. One screw at your cross-overs ought to work to hold your bamboo, but it's all going to take your own ingenuity. That's part of the process. Each situation calls for a different tactic.

Both. Glue it and staple it to help keep it flat on the surface and just up there.

Can't answer. We just did it with a knife and then trimmed it to hide under the bamboo.

Keep a fire extenguiser nearby at all times and don't run wires in that stuff unless they are disconnected at all times when you are not present. Use good sense. No more dangerous than curtains...

<I intend to build a bar as well that will be largely covered in bamboo poles 1 to 1.5” in diameter. I thought I’d start by build a box/frame of plywood and then covering the exterior with poles. Again is it best to use half split poles or poles with just a small section removed to form a flat attachment surface?>

Half.

Check my bar thread for ideas. I made a frame of split bamboo and then used jute to tie the thatch to it. Just recall those Gilligan's Island episodes.

You are already cutting it up... Do you plan to tear this down some time or what? You can sew velcro to the tapa and then hang it that way to the way. You'll be able to remove it later. That's what I did to hang the Samoan piece I have. But the baist stitch by hand was very painful to do. I used this site fpr instructions

Just do it. As Bamboo Ben says: "It's tiki. It should not be perfect."

Post #144206 by Swanky on Wed, Mar 2, 2005 12:13 PM