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Queen Palm |
Sunset Mike
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Jul 08, 2009
Posts: 208
From: Sunset Beach, California
|  Posted: 2010-10-10 8:48 pm Permalink
Just for input on the ever abundant queen palm.
any input is welcome!
Sunset Mike
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Jazzy Josh
Tiki Centralite
Joined: Feb 15, 2009
Posts: 31
From: Orlando Fl.
| Posted: 2010-10-22 11:32 pm Permalink
Looks sweet.
Did that wood carve pretty good? I always thought queens werent carvable for some reason.
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Sunset Mike
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Jul 08, 2009
Posts: 208
From: Sunset Beach, California
| Posted: 2010-11-26 11:00 pm Permalink
Here's another.
He's coated with epoxy resin. A note to those using it for the first time. DO NOT APPLY IN WET WEATHER AND MAKE SURE THE CARVING IS DRY!
I just went through having to strip of some on another sculpture. The resin didn't take and was slow to solidify and turned the sculpture an ugly brown. Fortunately, I was able to save it. The resin does not like moisture and in any case needs to be applied sparingly. When used correctly it looks great and offers a lifetime of protection against the elements.
[ This Message was edited by: Sunset Mike 2010-11-26 23:00 ]
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Haole Jim
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Jul 17, 2009
Posts: 395
From: central coast metro Chicago
| Posted: 2010-11-26 11:01 pm Permalink
Looking fine. Good on you.
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Sunset Mike
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Jul 08, 2009
Posts: 208
From: Sunset Beach, California
| Posted: 2010-11-26 11:17 pm Permalink
Thanks Hoale Jim!
Check out my website if you like,
http://sunsettikiworks.com/
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Sunset Mike
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Jul 08, 2009
Posts: 208
From: Sunset Beach, California
| Posted: 2010-11-26 11:19 pm Permalink
Queen palm is carvable, but difficult and requires care.
IT does not react well to machinery as it is composed of fibers bound by a in cellulose sort of mass and gets torn up very easily. It is also not very solid in places and breaks, cracks or splits easily and is often soft and spongy. It isn't really wood as much as it is something closer to bamboo on the evolutionary scale.
I am working strictly with hand tools, chisels, rasps, saws and sandpaper. With these you do more Cutting and less tearing and though very time consuming it can make queen palm look, well, fit for a queen!
Once the wood is dried it takes on a ruddy, fibery multi -hued appearance and turns varying shades of Orange brown and is actually very attractive when smoothed out and varnished. Varnish also helps in solidifying the softer portions making them easier to work with. It can be carved with machinery, but has to be sufficiently dry, and solid, such as the lower trunk portion of the tree. A lot of carvers I have met aren't fond of it and prefer Sabal ( Mexican fan palm)at least here in California where Coconut Palm is not available.
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Sunset Mike
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Jul 08, 2009
Posts: 208
From: Sunset Beach, California
| Posted: 2011-01-02 4:37 pm Permalink
This guy is also queen Palm. Wet, not yet ready, but very workable Queen Palm. The cracks began showing up but actually added to the character of the piece. The recipient, (a full blood Apache) loves the work!
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