Wood Telephone Pole Tiki's?

Okay, so I had this dream last night that I was carving tiki's out of old telephone poles... ya I know.. but I have a hard time finding good thick logs over here..
If you have used a pole, let's see it here...
I'm thinking of going on a midnight chainsaw run...:wink:

BB

beachbumz.com

[ Edited by: beachbumz 2010-02-02 00:58 ]

You might want to read this:
http://www.tikicentral.com/viewtopic.php?topic=5131&forum=1

Creosote and arsenic?

Thanks Hakalugi for that info, I tried searching for that but nothing came up..that's something I didn't think of.. I think I'll put that dream to rest..:wink:

Aloha
BB

Is this your first try a caving? If so you may want to stick with a soft wood like basswood. Telephone poles are just not worth the massive effort. Plus if you have a dog and they grab and chew on the chips you will not have a dog anymore. You can get wood on ebay that not very expensive. Try this guy: http://stores.ebay.com/Davids-Hobby-Lumber or http://stores.ebay.com/NCWood. I don't have any affiliation with either seller. I have purchased from each and they are good sellers. If you do purchase wood then make sire you add it to the price of the carve if you sell it. Good luck and happy hunting for those free tiki logs.

Howzit TikiLizard... Thanks for the links but shipping over here to maui would kill me, I don't have a problem finding smaller wood but getting nice thick logs are harder to come by. I'm buying a gas chainsaw to here soon so I can go cut all those downed trees I've seen around lately..:wink: Just need to find the time ..
Anyways check out my carving thread..http://www.tikicentral.com/viewtopic.php?topic=32522&forum=7&hilite=beachbumz

Aloha

beachbumz.com

[ Edited by: Beachbumz 2010-02-01 14:53 ]

You just need to make friends with the tree trimmers. Bring them a 12-pack and see what happens. :wink:

If your up for a real challenge, then go to town on a telephone pole or rail tie.

Bitch to carve, but if you do get something you like it should last good long time because it has already been treated. And the treatment does go all the way to the core so don't think it gets better by going just a bit deeper.

If you do carve treated wood, wear gloves and a mask when working with anything more aggressive than a mallet and chisel. It aint' gonna kill you or anything, but the stuff is toxic with heavy enough or long enough exposure.

Here was a telphone pole tiki I made...like everyone says ...it's rough on chisels especially if the pole has nails or staples you don't see, and the wood splinters, and during sanding you'll need a respirator...but I liked carving on it and I would do it again.

it's true they are treated all the way through.

What Chip and Andy said.
Plus you can bury the bottom foot or so and they won't rot for a million years. I've done a few of them. They look antiquated right away. Tucking them back inside the jungle foliage gives them a sense of mystery.