Post #725615 by pjc5150 on Mon, Aug 18, 2014 8:47 AM

well, there's really no sense trying to use a sealer on it immediately if it's full of water... as all you're doing is sealing water IN... and remember, the root structure is still functioning and wicking water to the tree, which facilitates accelerated rotting in some pieces.

and good luck keeping an in-ground palm tiki looking good "for many years to come"... chances are it'll look like hell inside of 5 years. remember, palm is not a hardwood, it's a grass... and although I have done some in-grounders successfully and they still look good, I think I was just lucky. some in-grounders fall apart in very short order...

if you want a tiki that will "look good for years to come", go to the sawmill, tell 'em what you're doin', ask them to recommend a species that will hold up outside, buy your logs & get 'em home, and commission a carver. I personally like dip the part I'm burying in tar to seal it a little. if it's worth doin', it's worth doin' right. :wink:

as far as "what the carvers are telling you"... lol... there are dozens of jack-leg idiots out there who have carved like, 4 or 5 tikis and are now "self proclaimed experts"... I personally have carved about 4 or 5 hundred tikis, and I am still learning. find someone reputable who can show you A LOT of photos of their work.

best of luck. :)