Lagoon of Mystery - Home Tiki Bars

PP Prikli Pear Tiki Socialite New Braunfels, Texas Joined: Jan 04, 2017 Posts: 981	PP Prikli Pear Posted posted on Wed, May 30, 2018 9:36 PM It was time to install a sink in the Lagoon of Mystery to make it a wet bar. But it had to be tiki, and to me that meant a shell sink. Unfortunately, actual giant clam shells have been banned from import to the U.S. since the 1980s because of over-fishing. Those already in the U.S. can cost thousands. There are decorator sinks in the shape of clam shells, but these are more abstract and the fake marble looks like something out of a 1990s restaurant bathroom. They're expensive as well. So I looked around for fake shells. I found some that looked good, but they were mostly plaster that wouldn't hold up to water. Resin types looked great and were more durable, but always seemed to be out of stock or out of production. Eventually, I settled on a concrete shell purchased online on Amazon for about $50. I bought it last year, expecting to get the sink installed right away. Instead, it sat gathering dust. Now, these same shells are available via Home Depot. Cutting through concrete isn't the easiest thing to do. I bought a 1.5" holesaw for the job, and drilled and drilled and drilled. The addition of water kept the dust and friction heat down. I managed to drill the drain hole without destroying the shell, a minor miracle. But I hadn't taken into account the contour of the underside of the shell. The brass drain insert would not fit securely. That meant I had to grind it flat. I bought a concrete grinding wheel for the task. After my experience with the moldy sawdust from the deck rebuild, I made sure to wear a dust mask and safety goggles. Silicosis is no laughing matter, and grinding away that much concrete made for a lot of dust. After a good bit of grinding, I got the drain insert fitting more or less flush on the bottom side. The basin was a different story. It looked smooth enough, but the gradual undulations of the shell held the drain up too far, allowing water to pool under it. I used a Dremel and various grinding bits to carve out a recess for the drain insert to sit.

It was time to install a sink in the Lagoon of Mystery to make it a wet bar. But it had to be tiki, and to me that meant a shell sink. Unfortunately, actual giant clam shells have been banned from import to the U.S. since the 1980s because of over-fishing. Those already in the U.S. can cost thousands. There are decorator sinks in the shape of clam shells, but these are more abstract and the fake marble looks like something out of a 1990s restaurant bathroom. They're expensive as well. So I looked around for fake shells. I found some that looked good, but they were mostly plaster that wouldn't hold up to water. Resin types looked great and were more durable, but always seemed to be out of stock or out of production. Eventually, I settled on a concrete shell purchased online on Amazon for about $50. I bought it last year, expecting to get the sink installed right away. Instead, it sat gathering dust. Now, these same shells are available via Home Depot.

Cutting through concrete isn't the easiest thing to do. I bought a 1.5" holesaw for the job, and drilled and drilled and drilled. The addition of water kept the dust and friction heat down.

I managed to drill the drain hole without destroying the shell, a minor miracle.

But I hadn't taken into account the contour of the underside of the shell. The brass drain insert would not fit securely.

That meant I had to grind it flat. I bought a concrete grinding wheel for the task. After my experience with the moldy sawdust from the deck rebuild, I made sure to wear a dust mask and safety goggles. Silicosis is no laughing matter, and grinding away that much concrete made for a lot of dust.

After a good bit of grinding, I got the drain insert fitting more or less flush on the bottom side.

The basin was a different story. It looked smooth enough, but the gradual undulations of the shell held the drain up too far, allowing water to pool under it. I used a Dremel and various grinding bits to carve out a recess for the drain insert to sit.

Post #787305 by Prikli Pear on Wed, May 30, 2018 9:36 PM