Welcome to the Tiki Central 2.0 Beta. Read the announcement
Tiki Central logo
Celebrating classic and modern Polynesian Pop

Tiki Central / Home Tiki Bars

My Tiki patio

Pages: 1 35 replies

B
Biotron2000 posted on 04/27/2015

I haven't posted in a very long time, but I've been around and lurking on and off since about 2002. I spent the last several years taking care of my wife full time, she had ALS (Lou Gehrig's Disease, or the Ice Bucket Challenge disease), but passed away last December. Things are slowly getting back to normal, I've returned to work (my old employer re-hired me!), and I decided to finally create the Tiki space of my dreams.

I had collected a few things here and there over the years, but the project really got a kick start after the ITMP on April 21. Tikis, lamps and more came home with me, and last Saturday I got to work. Here's what I have so far!


My first Mai Tai after a long day's work.

I'm thinking of calling it "Trader Pat's Tiki Lanai."

This Saturday a friend and I are going to Oceanic Arts...good thing my Magnum holds a lot of stuff! :)

What do you guys think; good start?

Thanks for looking,
Patrick McNeal


...when drums begin to pound, my head full - BIG sound!

[ Edited by: Biotron2000 2015-04-28 05:20 ]

JMT Image Missing: https://www.gravatar.com/avatar/9afdbe35f54ad3cc0dbe15a6af41c4b2?d=blank&s=192&fit=fill
JJ Mai Tai posted on 04/27/2015

Looks great, have fun at Oceanic Arts.

T Image Missing: https://www.gravatar.com/avatar/61f6b3dc5bd400435ea70c74bfe282d4?d=blank&s=192&fit=fill
TheBigT posted on 04/27/2015

Welcome back Pat. My condolences to you, you're a real hero for taking care of her. And hired back by your employer, wow, how awesome!

As for a start, yeah, it's a hell of a start. Looks great. I love the space. That Ku you have along the fence is awesome!!

B
Biotron2000 posted on 04/27/2015

Thanks! The Ku, believe it or not, is made from resin and was purchased at Target about 7-8 years ago as a gift from my aunt. It has held up well, and is probably my favorite Tiki.

AD Image Missing: https://www.gravatar.com/avatar/40e92bde6d3f3f75ce9668286df78fa7?d=blank&s=192&fit=fill
Aloha Daddy posted on 04/30/2015

Great start, I look forward to seeing how your lounge develops. What a great therapy to make the hours pass a little quicker and a little less lonely :). Aloha and keep us posted!

PP Image Missing: https://www.gravatar.com/avatar/49e4477557dcd90a7ba10392b76f0d24?d=blank&s=192&fit=fill
Pele Paul posted on 05/01/2015

wow! Love the mid-century modern patio you've got to work with! What year was your home built? is the architecture also mid century modern too? love to see more of the patio and your pad!!

B
Biotron2000 posted on 05/01/2015

Thanks so much! The house was built in '53 or '54. The original owner was a high school shop teacher who built the patio. The inside is a lot more modern, but the living room is done in a movie theme: posters, signs, Star Wars memorabilia (in fact, if you look closely at one of my pics, you can see the Millennium Falcon hanging in my living room!).

V Image Missing: https://www.gravatar.com/avatar/90af674b21d8778b0e093d58e340dd21?d=blank&s=192&fit=fill
VampiressRN posted on 05/01/2015

Bless you for dedicating your life to the care of your wife, you are certainly a hero in my book as I'm sure you were in her's. Hat's off to your employer for keeping the faith in you.

Your place looks great and you have a lot of room to keep collecting and building. I haven't had a chance to make it to the ITMP, but Iwatch all the videos and can certainly appreciate how it inspires you. Keep up the great work and post pictures for all of us gawkers.

L Image Missing: https://tikicentral.com/resize.php/uploads/73101/62329bcc37684.jpg?sharp=10&fit=crop&w=96&h=96&s=0acfd349fcac6c0a9da1659a967d744c
LoriLovesTiki posted on 05/01/2015

I love your tiki patio! I know how the tiki bug grabs you. :) You're so lucky to be able to go to both the ITMP and Oceanic Arts!!!! I'm on the other side of the US.

Please accept my condolences on the loss of your wife. ALS is a horrible disease and being her caregiver is such a demanding thing, you deserve a tiki space to have fun with. My mom suffered from the disease for 5 years and my dad was her caregiver. It's been just a little over a year since she passed. So I kind of know how difficult it was for you and for her as well. It makes me smile to think that your good deeds have been karmic-ly rewarded with your former employer rehiring you!

Keep posting pictures as you add things!

B
Biotron2000 posted on 05/01/2015

On 2015-05-01 16:28, LoriLovesTiki wrote:
I love your tiki patio! I know how the tiki bug grabs you. :) You're so lucky to be able to go to both the ITMP and Oceanic Arts!!!! I'm on the other side of the US.

Please accept my condolences on the loss of your wife. ALS is a horrible disease and being her caregiver is such a demanding thing, you deserve a tiki space to have fun with. My mom suffered from the disease for 5 years and my dad was her caregiver. It's been just a little over a year since she passed. So I kind of know how difficult it was for you and for her as well. It makes me smile to think that your good deeds have been karmic-ly rewarded with your former employer rehiring you!

Keep posting pictures as you add things!

Thank you for your kind words.
I'm sorry for your loss as well, Lori. ALS IS a horrible disease and I'm sorry it touched your family, too.
As far as the patio goes, tomorrow is the big day for my Oceanic Arts trip; I can't wait! I will definitely post more pictures of my finds.

B
Biotron2000 posted on 05/04/2015

I added a couple of things from my Oceanic Arts trip.

This mask:
Image Missing: https://tikicentral.com/resize.php/uploads/138/5545a5d0.jpg?w=1280&h=1280&fit=max&sharp=5&s=5e98e8c25f1dc1e7d71aca5b8e18a95b

And a palapa cover for my umbrella:
Image Missing: https://tikicentral.com/resize.php/uploads/138/5545a5a0.jpg?w=1280&h=1280&fit=max&sharp=5&s=fc35146aa4b3ee5c71ddb2155d7d9f01

Still looking for more!

H Image Missing: https://tikicentral.com/resize.php/uploads/21154/649119ceb7046.jpg?sharp=10&fit=crop&w=96&h=96&s=200302534909fce323ced4bdc72e29c6
hang10tiki posted on 05/05/2015

Pat- as already said: You Are A True Hero
Have fun with the ever growing Tiki space
Cheers bruddah

Jon

B
Biotron2000 posted on 05/09/2015

Just found this big guy:

Image Missing: https://tikicentral.com/resize.php/uploads/138/554e52fb.jpg?w=1280&h=1280&fit=max&sharp=5&s=208c3c7a0aae10beaf9e17bcbdb0dfc5

He's being delivered Monday. The seller was here in Bakersfield,
and he said the guy who carved him is from Anaheim. I'm guessing
he's on TC. Any idea who the carver is?

B
Biotron2000 posted on 05/12/2015

So this happened today...
Image Missing: https://tikicentral.com/resize.php/uploads/138/55516306.jpg?w=1280&h=1280&fit=max&sharp=5&s=30171411f962a2ab767694a672caa8b7

Of course, the dogs had to christen him just as I'm taking pictures...
Image Missing: https://tikicentral.com/resize.php/uploads/138/555162f2.jpg?w=1280&h=1280&fit=max&sharp=5&s=71cbc944af95d337eb68cba4a1915854

Sorry for the plaid shirt; work clothes. Gotta pay for this stuff somehow!
Although, you could consider it a Scottish Aloha shirt :wink:

H Image Missing: https://www.gravatar.com/avatar/fd5eae298d1131eb2381bc5c69f202ec?d=blank&s=192&fit=fill
hiltiki posted on 05/12/2015

Your place is looking good and the new tall tiki looks comfortable in there.

BPB Image Missing: https://www.gravatar.com/avatar/85f835c4a041ade725da8309a9c4be36?d=blank&s=192&fit=fill
Bay Park Buzzy posted on 05/12/2015

I think that tiki might be by Big Ed = Tiki Broker. He vends at ITMP too. If you turn around from the spot where you bought those Smokin Tikis, Bug Ed would have been behind you to the right a couple steps, in his regular spot on the end. He usually has the concrete tikis at Marketplace instead of the biggies like that.

Buzzy Out!

B
Biotron2000 posted on 05/12/2015

I remember that booth at the ITMP; I'll have to stop and show him pictures at the next one. Thanks!

T Image Missing: https://www.gravatar.com/avatar/18b1ae19e89b2eb0060c30f5490e87b9?d=blank&s=192&fit=fill
TikiVato posted on 05/13/2015

As always, Buzzy is spot on. Ed worked in Anaheim and lives in a neighboring city. I bought mine a few years back at Tiki Oasis and remember that he also had the other for sale as well.
Image Missing: https://tikicentral.com/resize.php/uploads/10331/555296e2.jpg?w=1280&h=1280&fit=max&sharp=5&s=16df55caba10386516fe563b7c6aee3a

B
Biotron2000 posted on 05/13/2015

Separated at birth!

E Image Missing: https://www.gravatar.com/avatar/c29c190efcf395f7f517ffc1a3ae1d0c?d=blank&s=192&fit=fill
ErichTroudt posted on 05/13/2015

Biotron2000, your tiki was carved by Bruce yoakam from B-One tiki in riverside. No questions, no doubts.

B
Biotron2000 posted on 05/13/2015

Thank you!

B
Biotron2000 posted on 05/13/2015

I have a friend taking a stained glass class, and for practice, I asked her if she would take a commission.
She agreed, and I gave her a picture I found online for reference. Here's what she has come up with so far:
Image Missing: https://tikicentral.com/resize.php/uploads/138/555340da.jpg?w=1280&h=1280&fit=max&sharp=5&s=bd83cc10e54a6e35ed4a09a98cd3c5d4

I can't wait 'til it's done!

T Image Missing: https://www.gravatar.com/avatar/18b1ae19e89b2eb0060c30f5490e87b9?d=blank&s=192&fit=fill
TikiVato posted on 05/13/2015

On 2015-05-12 21:34, ErichTroudt wrote:
Biotron2000, your tiki was carved by Bruce yoakam from B-One tiki in riverside. No questions, no doubts.

Yes, Bruce carved Biotron2000 and my Tiki and Big Ed sold them at Tiki Oasis a few years back. Ed has several carvers that do carvings for him. I forgot who Ed said the carver was until ErichTroudt posted the name. Thanks Erich.


Mahalo,

TikiVato

[ Edited by: TikiVato 2015-05-13 15:06 ]

B
Biotron2000 posted on 05/14/2015

A few new shots.

Image Missing: https://tikicentral.com/resize.php/uploads/138/5554192e.jpg?w=1280&h=1280&fit=max&sharp=5&s=225050d3d8545c4e1c0446a95df937fd

Image Missing: https://tikicentral.com/resize.php/uploads/138/555418bb.jpg?w=1280&h=1280&fit=max&sharp=5&s=fca50637dfbd32868f662b1bcf49ca68

Image Missing: https://tikicentral.com/resize.php/uploads/138/5554189b.jpg?w=1280&h=1280&fit=max&sharp=5&s=bcf2c600bb13e86ddb639f87c927055b

Image Missing: https://tikicentral.com/resize.php/uploads/138/5554185e.jpg?w=1280&h=1280&fit=max&sharp=5&s=adead4db13bcc344403975448b84d2c6

Image Missing: https://tikicentral.com/resize.php/uploads/138/55541a28.jpg?w=1280&h=1280&fit=max&sharp=5&s=4ef6a7ec1137fb273fdede094ab62de6

Mahalo for looking!

B Image Missing: https://www.gravatar.com/avatar/7d20dd2dd47abb0323a636bcab30c4e8?d=blank&s=192&fit=fill
bitterfishies posted on 05/14/2015

Looks awesome. I love all your lighting

B
Biotron2000 posted on 05/14/2015

Thank you! I really wanted the lighting to set a mood. The white string lights are brighter
than I expected; I'm thinking about replacing them with amber bulbs, but it's a string of 100
and will take me a little while. :wink:

B
Biotron2000 posted on 06/01/2015

I bought a bar! Needs some work, but not a bad starting point for $50.
It was a stereo cabinet at one time, and still has the holes for the speakers.
The frame is solid.
Image Missing: https://tikicentral.com/resize.php/uploads/138/556cbd4b.jpg?w=1280&h=1280&fit=max&sharp=5&s=0a84cfcc92240c6dabdafbd6a1b36157
Image Missing: https://tikicentral.com/resize.php/uploads/138/556cbd3c.jpg?w=1280&h=1280&fit=max&sharp=5&s=4357e35cd9122945a76296a8a6c956f6

Looking forward to getting started on it!

B
Biotron2000 posted on 06/02/2015

All right! I have some matting, bamboo and trim on order, and a Bosko mask for the front of the bar. Hopefully it will be here by the weekend and I can get started. I'll post progress pics along the way. :)

Quick question: If I want to print out pictures of vintage postcards, etc., and affix them to the bar top, will coating the top with urethane cause the ink to run?
My plan is to remove the peeling veneer and sand/stain the top, then coat it with urethane (or something...any recommendations?).

J Image Missing: https://www.gravatar.com/avatar/a532044ca18c6c251a76eebef18a0937?d=blank&s=192&fit=fill
jimsflies posted on 06/03/2015

Image Missing: https://tikicentral.com/resize.php/uploads/138/55516306.jpg?w=1280&h=1280&fit=max&sharp=5&s=30171411f962a2ab767694a672caa8b7

Looks like the dog initiated the tiki in this photo? That has to be bad luck somewhere...

Thank you! I really wanted the lighting to set a mood. The white string lights are brighter
than I expected; I'm thinking about replacing them with amber bulbs, but it's a string of 100
and will take me a little while.

Have you looked into a lamp cord with a built-in dimmer and you can dim those white lights and they should work fine. I would buy another string before replacing 100 of them...cheaper and easier.

Image Missing: https://tikicentral.com/resize.php/uploads/138/5554192e.jpg?w=1280&h=1280&fit=max&sharp=5&s=225050d3d8545c4e1c0446a95df937fd

I wished I could find some of those concrete moai statues locally for my yard. Shipping a block of concrete adds a lot to the cost.

Your project is looking great!

[ Edited by: jimsflies 2015-06-03 08:31 ]

B
Biotron2000 posted on 06/03/2015

Actually, the Moai are resin, from Home Depot. http://www.homedepot.com/p/Emsco-Easter-Island-Granite-Resin-Head-Statue-2309/202365988
I found a dimmer cord rated for 500 watts on Amazon and it worked like a charm! And yes, the dogs "initiated" poor Fred. Hopefully the bad luck will be theirs, LOL. :wink:

J Image Missing: https://www.gravatar.com/avatar/a532044ca18c6c251a76eebef18a0937?d=blank&s=192&fit=fill
jimsflies posted on 06/03/2015

Oh yeah, I remember seeing those on the HD site. I got a few of the other resin tikis for my area last fall. Your's look to be a couple different sizes, but maybe its the perspective of the photo?

B Image Missing: https://www.gravatar.com/avatar/3535c98c2764039294d9de6478abbf28?d=blank&s=192&fit=fill
Biotron2000 posted on 06/03/2015

Just the perspective. They are identical. They are very lightweight, too, but there is a hole in the bottom (with a plug) so you can fill them with sand or rocks for more stability.

B Image Missing: https://www.gravatar.com/avatar/3535c98c2764039294d9de6478abbf28?d=blank&s=192&fit=fill
Biotron2000 posted on 06/06/2015

Got started on my bar!

The veneer was peeling, so I pulled it off (in one piece! Yay!) and sanded it down...
Image Missing: https://tikicentral.com/resize.php/uploads/138/5572dfa6.jpg?w=1280&h=1280&fit=max&sharp=5&s=300d4149ead57a28d12bb468e79500ba

I started applying stain (Kona Brown, from Lowes):
Image Missing: https://tikicentral.com/resize.php/uploads/138/5572df41.jpg?w=1280&h=1280&fit=max&sharp=5&s=3fb57690ddf31adc0131fba2a0d4199a

...and was amazed by the woodgrain pattern...
Image Missing: https://tikicentral.com/resize.php/uploads/138/5572deeb.jpg?w=1280&h=1280&fit=max&sharp=5&s=1caa2eff401841200232d2f9c4ba5426

I'm going to apply prints of vintage Hawaii postcards to the top and seal it with urethane. I'm happy with the results so far!

B Image Missing: https://www.gravatar.com/avatar/3535c98c2764039294d9de6478abbf28?d=blank&s=192&fit=fill
Biotron2000 posted on 06/08/2015

Well, I knocked out the panels that once held the missing speakers. My mini PA speakers fit perfectly inside (I'm a karaoke nut as well as a Tiki nut, LOL):
Image Missing: https://tikicentral.com/resize.php/uploads/138/5575cf33.jpg?w=1280&h=1280&fit=max&sharp=5&s=b761dd95273e7af9978e9d66b09a79dc

Wrapped the front and sides with tatama matting:
Image Missing: https://tikicentral.com/resize.php/uploads/138/5575cf2a.jpg?w=1280&h=1280&fit=max&sharp=5&s=d3226d1080b0b536ec0d467646ffd816

And applied printouts of vintage postcards to the top:
Image Missing: https://tikicentral.com/resize.php/uploads/138/5575cf21.jpg?w=1280&h=1280&fit=max&sharp=5&s=4842e44ed595e6c10ff527e3260aa894

More later when I get more time to work on it. I think I should change the title of my thread since my Tiki space is expanding to the inside of the house as well as the outside, but I don't know how.

Mahalo for looking!

K Image Missing: https://www.gravatar.com/avatar/ad366aff0c466eb16443ad9b43ea0a29?d=blank&s=192&fit=fill
KonaKaiBaby posted on 06/08/2015

Wonderful! I love the relaxing vibe of your tiki patio. Wish we could do a patio, but as we're in Vermont, we wouldn't really get to use it very much! So we're going for the indoor lounge aesthetic.

That stereo cabinet looks like a real find. What great re-purposing.

Thanks so much for posting!
Tara

Image Missing: https://tikicentral.com/proxy-image.php?user_id=79964&url=http%3A%2F%2Fi284.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fll8%2Ftct1971%2Fluau%2520arrow%2520smaller_zpsntk0h5m8.jpg&w=1280&h=1280&fit=max&sharp=5&s=62b4fae2071df2af97f326a25327abc6

[ Edited by: KonaKaiBaby 2015-06-08 13:21 ]

MR Image Missing: https://www.gravatar.com/avatar/5c9fbb6144642fc0d3f468726050fd4c?d=blank&s=192&fit=fill
Matt Reese posted on 06/16/2015

Love the warm and inviting feel your place gives off. Keep at it!! The progress is great.

Pages: 1 35 replies