can't decide whether to paint or not - Tiki Carving

GK Grand Kahu Grand Member (2 years) Dallas, TX Joined: Jul 31, 2006 Posts: 189	GK Grand Kahu Posted posted on Tue, Feb 19, 2013 8:43 PM It depends upon whether or not you intend it to be displayed outside. If so, you will want a marine finish (literally a boat finish) for waterproofing if you want to preserve the wood as much as possible. For interior display, Danish oil, shellac, and even wax is fine (though wax on a rough finish will need to be brushed in with a liberal quantity of the stuff), but whatever you do, stay away from polyurethane. It's the fix-all finish that is a pain to refresh (as one really must strip the old off first compared to the other finishes mentioned) when it gets dinged and it's really unnecessary unless you plan on using the tiki as a drink stand and need waterproofing ala a tabletop. Keep in mind straight polyurethane is lousy as an exterior finish and you will end up with a peeling mess in no time at all. Good luck! GK

It depends upon whether or not you intend it to be displayed outside. If so, you will want a marine finish (literally a boat finish) for waterproofing if you want to preserve the wood as much as possible. For interior display, Danish oil, shellac, and even wax is fine (though wax on a rough finish will need to be brushed in with a liberal quantity of the stuff), but whatever you do, stay away from polyurethane. It's the fix-all finish that is a pain to refresh (as one really must strip the old off first compared to the other finishes mentioned) when it gets dinged and it's really unnecessary unless you plan on using the tiki as a drink stand and need waterproofing ala a tabletop. Keep in mind straight polyurethane is lousy as an exterior finish and you will end up with a peeling mess in no time at all.

Good luck!

Post #668044 by Grand Kahu on Tue, Feb 19, 2013 8:43 PM