Post #594814 by AlohaStation on Fri, Jun 24, 2011 6:59 AM

Most people on this forum are self-taught and with that, styles and techniques vary. Time is irrelevant unless you have the end goal of selling it - its mostly about the reward of having a nice Tiki. Power tools are faster and chisels give character. I like to use both and depending on what I'm doing the tools often dictate the rate of progress. The type of wood also is a huge variable. Its difficult for me to estimate the amount of time I put into a piece, because I work on them when I can, for however long I can. Often its only a few minutes at a time. It usually takes me a few months for something big - but only a few hours for the small stuff. I also put a lot of time into finishing - sometimes as much time as it took to carve. Carving does get faster the more you do it - your cuts will become deeper and more direct.

If you're interested in learning more - look for local wood carving clubs/shows/classes. All the same principals apply to carving tikis as carving eagles, bears... its how you use the knowledge that will define your style.