Post #414478 by mieko on Mon, Oct 20, 2008 3:29 PM

Welcome Dr.Goat! Neat name and neat book!

I like to remove most of the stringy stuff and get to the more solid core - the outside stuff will stain and take finish differently, and also be more stringy. It's not necessary, but I like cleaner, smoother tikis, so I remove it.

For finish, you can use anything in the hardware store that they use on wood. I like the marine spar varnish for anything that goes outside, and I've also used shellac for a piece that I kept indoors.

You'll probably be surprised by the logs and the dryness - once you carve a few inches in, it might still be wet in the middle. Not a problem though, just keep carving! I've had mold problems that are pretty easy to fix, and cracking problems that are things that you learn to live with.

Can't wait to see your carvings!