Practice Makes Progress (Have A Great Day) Laz - Tiki Carving

A AlohaStation Tiki Socialite So FL Joined: Sep 27, 2004 Posts: 2434	A AlohaStation Posted posted on Fri, Dec 5, 2014 6:01 AM Washingtonia are also know as Mexican Fan Palm (California cousin). In my experience it is the best palm to carve - very thin bark and solid most of the way through. Sabals have a thicker bark, but are good carving too. Florida palms carry a lot of water in their trunks, they start out heavy and dry to a fraction of their original weight. Not sure if you are in a position to wait for carvings to dry - I usually carve several in a row allowing each one to dry as I carve the others, then finish (paint, poly...) them all at the same time. Carving wet palm is nice - I often compare it to carving an apple. Drier palm tends to get stringy and brittle. Cyprus also likes being cut when wet and dries very hard. I'm sure Will is gonna give you advice whether you want or not! [ Edited by: AlohaStation 2014-12-05 06:02 ]

Washingtonia are also know as Mexican Fan Palm (California cousin). In my experience it is the best palm to carve - very thin bark and solid most of the way through. Sabals have a thicker bark, but are good carving too. Florida palms carry a lot of water in their trunks, they start out heavy and dry to a fraction of their original weight. Not sure if you are in a position to wait for carvings to dry - I usually carve several in a row allowing each one to dry as I carve the others, then finish (paint, poly...) them all at the same time. Carving wet palm is nice - I often compare it to carving an apple. Drier palm tends to get stringy and brittle. Cyprus also likes being cut when wet and dries very hard.

I'm sure Will is gonna give you advice whether you want or not!

[ Edited by: AlohaStation 2014-12-05 06:02 ]

Post #732637 by AlohaStation on Fri, Dec 5, 2014 6:01 AM