Post #228438 by Polynesiac on Mon, Apr 24, 2006 6:23 PM

Okay, my fellow carving peeps I have a favor to ask of you. I was called to do a commission of a "hot rod tiki" for one of my palm suppliers a while back. Seeing as how I offered to do it gratis, I pushed it to the back burner a long time ago. Well, I need to finish this guy up (supplier stopped calling me about palm wood) and I've run into an unexpected road block. He wanted the tiki to have a cigar in his mouth. I actually forgot about the cigar until after I carved him (and remembered while I was staining him), but my idea of what the cigar would look like in my mind is much different than how it actually came out.

Here's the tiki (keep in mind he's not finished):

This is a style I'm very unfamiliar with, so I studied the "hot rod tiki" thread for inspiration. Man, you guys are good that carve these things. Originally I was going to add flames n' shit, but I figured a little go-tee was enough (he's going to be holding some wrenches too 'cause this guy is a real car nut).

The cigar came out looking...well...like a painted piece of bamboo (or a brown steel pipe, as the wife put it). I don't smoke cigars, so I don't have any examples to look at around the house and images from the internet are helpful, but don't let you feel the texture. So, heres my question for 'yall. Is there a material I can use that resembles what a cigar is wrapped in, but is durable enough to survive outside? I'm thinking I'll just wrap the bamboo and repaint it.

Here's a closeup of the bamboo cigar:

Thanks in advance!