Post #530663 by TikiMeplus3 on Mon, May 17, 2010 8:03 AM

Well ok not really BUT I had a request to post pictures of my final project pictures of the palm tree I made from scratch. The trunk is a old utility pole sunk 4 feet in the ground and it had somewhat of a natural bow to it and then I welded the fronds into the shape I desired ( time consuming and my back paid for it ) and then drilled holes in the trunk and placed each one as shown. The rest was adding some lights, raffia ( think thats what they call it ) and then I had a vacation in florida with my family so we sent home some coconuts, which I drilled thru and ran a wire thru them and hooked them around the base of the fronds. RECENTLY a great member here "wplugger" ( thanks again Will ) hooked me up with a few more coconuts and some other goodies from the tree he removed the coconuts from so I placed what I had on the tree for effect. I constructed the palm fronds in hopes that they would last without removing and I think they will do just that, basically made of "pencil" 1/8 rod which is a small re-rod and welded to a heavier "backbone" 3/8 of pencil rod and it lasted the winter here just awesome. Im sure I will remove some of the nautral material for the winter BUT the tree has been up for a year and a half and all looks good. The raffia last well the coconuts went in the barn for the winter and I did put a splash of paint on the darker ones for this season, they were sun blaeched and needed some color the green ones are the newer addition. Hope ya like it and a heres a few shots of the bar for this season, its like an old car, its never done but hell of a lot of fun to keep adding to. Mahalo