Post #251991 by Loki on Fri, Sep 1, 2006 4:10 PM

Been busy building a new bar and finishing some new masks. My father in law (Papa Bear) is visiting and has been helping us with the bar build. Stumpgrinder had knee surgery on monday so she got to be on the artistic side of this build out.

we wanted a clean design with a modern shape. The idea is to have the piece look like a nice piece of furniture and not a bar. It is on casters and will sit against a wall and has a tile top, almost like a butchers block. We also wanted a Maori theme to it. No disrespect to the Maori people intended with it being a bar. All the booze will be hidden in the inside and it will only be rolled out for bar use. I think we got close. Its all custom made from the design to the finishing touches.

The frame is made from 2x3's, and we used venered 1/2 plywood for the skin.

A Maori pakura pattern was drawn onto 1x3 pine boards by Stump Grinder and I carved the design into the wood. It was over 32 feet of custom carving. Very tedious but fullfilling. I actually carved it faster then Stump could draw it. I think she had the worse job. We were closed up for Hurricane Ernesto, so we had the time. She really started to get the hang of the pattern and i really got quick with the carving.

The artwork used were prints of Maori Chiefs we bought when we visited Rotorua, NZ. We wanted to use them in the house but just couldnt decide what to do with them. Then we got this idea. Stump Grinder cut the shapes and burned the edges to give it an aged look. They were glued on and then lightly stained the same Red Oak we used for the finish color. She applied the Poly with added stain to the prints and gave it a few heavy coats to seal them in well.

The bar in its new home with Slacks Ferrets Tiki's Playing Poker art. Thanks again Slacks, it looks so great on the wall.

The inside of the bar has a custome made lazy susan for all the syrups and smaller bottles to use the space more efficiently and we have plenty of storage space for glasses and bar accessories.

The photos dont really show the true color of anything. It looks so great in person.

Well thanks for looking and cheers.

More goodies coming in the next few days.