Post #345756 by Trader Tark on Sat, Nov 24, 2007 5:39 PM

Hello there TC. I've been looking at the forums now for a few months. an found them a great place for inspiration. I mainly look at the carving section as this is what i have become most interested in over the past summer.

If I can briefly introduce my self here, i hope you wont mind. Tark is an a nick name that derives from my full name Tarquin. I live on the south coast of England in a City called Brighton. Its a nice seaside town.

I guess my interest in Tiki lead from my intrest in Custom and hotrods of the '50s and '60. And a general fondness of vintage design and style. I've owned a '68 Plymouth fury for about 11 years now. lowered and customised in my interpretation of a '60s custom.

Any way.. Tikis ! I dont remember why i decided to have ago at my first one. It was about 3 years ago. I remember it being alot harder that i imagined. armed only with some flat chisels it never really came out the way i hoped. It still sits in the garden and has aged quite well. develped a huge crack with in a year though.

About 3 years passed before i did the next one ( this summer) This time i used a nice piece of Beech . Still just chisels , but this wood was so much better to work with. i was a bit happier with this as i felt i was getting better definition and depth. I remembr it was a lovely sunny day and i enjoyed chipping away all afternoon. I was a bit happier with this one.

All this time i had been thinking and drawing Tikis. Alot of good inspiration came from the excellent work i have seen by eveyone on this site. I develped a strange habit of drawing experimental tikis on cardboard tubes ( Yes toilet rolls.. lol) So 6 weeks ago i bought my first electric chainsaw. having never used one before i went right ahead and started cutting into one of the logs i have been collecting. Ok no planning or drawing , and really just to see what a chainsaw could do i came up with this one...

He's quite crude. but at last deep cuts and definition are quick to achieve. It was also great fun. He's sitting on my bar which i've been building and adding to over the years... ( but thats another story)

Ok, i hope you dont mind. But the one i'm most proud of is the 4th one i've done and at 7foot by far the biggest. I made friends with the owner of a local Saw mill and managed to buy some Douglas Fir . I had no idea how it would turn out. i had somthing in mind and i did draw/plan it on the log so as to not go compleatly wonky.But more or less learnt how to do it as it went along. I roled the old Plymouth out of the garage and this became my wood work shop for the weekend.


Scorched with blow torch.

Finally i rubbed in a dark wax i had left over form fitting my pine doors. Making the colour deep and bringing the big grain out.... ( Yeah thats mee there..lol)


There he is now in the bar ....

I am pleased with the result. Most of all it was great fun.... And owe many of you great thanks, for looking at all your works in progress has taught me alot.
Any coments , suggetions and critisisms are most welcome. I'm looking forward to do the next one. Unfortunatly the UK weather is not so inspireing at the moment... Yes cold and damp... But i'll move the car back out side soon and the chips will fly. (and the saw dust will get up my nose)

Thanks for reading..

Tark

[ Edited by: Trader Tark 2008-01-17 03:19 ]

[ Edited by: Trader Tark 2008-09-17 14:39 ]