Tin snips will work, but the thin acrylic is brittle so cracks a lot. Cracking is fine as the glued-on fabric will stabilize it. If it splits into multiple pieces... well, that's a problem.

That's a VERY nice way of saying "Making it up as I go along!" 😅

Thanks for the kind words!

Thank you, Patty!

Thank you!

Thank you!

Justin, I agree-- there has got to be a nautical salvage/antiques shop somewhere in the region. Likely more than one. I'm not sure how you'd go about finding one if they don't have a web presence. The Galveston place imports much of their stock from shipbreaking yards in Indonesia, India and Turkey so if you're feeling industrious you can start your own business to fill that niche!

I obtained the booth from a closed Fuddrucker's in Houston. When it showed up on Craig's List, I realized I could not buy even buy the lumber to build my own for the price of the finished booth. It had about 20 years worth of grease built up that I had to clean out. Yuck! I blogged about it here: jlbgibberish.blogspot.com/2018/10/tiki-build-along-pt-22.html

More on the booth refurbishment here: jlbgibberish.blogspot.com/2019/04/tiki-build-along-pt-24.html

And I built the table myself. I didn't document the process of the booth table build but the basic design is shared at this link: jlbgibberish.blogspot.com/2018/06/tiki-build-along-pt-21.html

@@LagoonofMystery Thank you so much for all of this info. I have been reading through your build blog and it is super interesting and informative. And the dive in movie thing looks so cool!

@@timflaherty2731 Thank you! Glad you like! 😁

Sure! There are many groups around putting out new stuff. Hi-Tide Recordings is a place to find some great sounds. The Tikiyaki Orchestra, Ixtahuele, Tiki Joe's Ocean, Kava Kon, Don Tiki and the Waitiki 7 are all modern groups that have devoted followings. They're not on major labels but places like Bandcamp have many of them.

Which is why I've been quite clear that there are many, many more options for "tiki music" than just putting Martin Denny's Greatest Hits on repeat. If the ambience isn't transportive then it's just another bar.

I realized that after the fact. Check out this follow up video for better views: kzbin.info/www/bejne/rmnFi2Sjrqafqassi=Z7hMUWgX5DEtH7GN

Many thanks! 😀

Thanks for the kind words! Tiki can be overwhelming when you first get into it, but it's like eating that proverbial elephant--take it one bite at a time and it becomes more manageable! 😉

My pleasure, Justin! I'm happy that you're finding them worthwhile!

@@LagoonofMystery I really liked what you did to the bottom of the lamp too! It looks great but seems difficult to cut the plexiglass out. Unfortunately I don’t have a dremmel. Would I have to put interfacing on the lense if I used the regular fabric from spoon flower?

@@justinmartin1493 If you're using plexiglass you can skip the interfacing and just sand the plexi. That will fog up the surface nicely. A random orbital sander makes quick work of it after just a few seconds but hand sanding works just fine although it may take a bit longer.

@@LagoonofMystery thank you! Do you have any other ideas for cutting it out if you don’t have a dremmel?

@@justinmartin1493 Most building supply stores sell plexiglass cutters. They're plastic handled hooked knives. They're best used for making straight cuts but if you go slow I suspect they could be used to cut curves. The trick with them is to resist the temptation to make a deep, heavy cut. Multiple light passes is the best approach. After the initial cut, there will be a groove to help keep the blade on track. Just repeat that around and around until you can pop the circle out. Poster frame plexi is so thin it shouldn't take that long.

My most common problem is that the micromotors seize up and stop the rotation. I think I could competently swap them out if I could find a source for compatible replacements...

We're looking forward to having you!

Elaborate lamps are nice, but there's something to be said for simple as well. 🙂

Thanks! Any slip-ups become "patina of age!"

Thank you, Adam! Sometimes something just catches your eye and you can visualize exactly how it's gonna turn out! I initially intended to just knock this lamp out in an afternoon or so and not film it, but in hindsight I'm glad I did--folks seem taken with the simplicity.

Thanks! Although that's setting the bar pretty low! 😂

You're welcome, Rusty!

Muchas gracias, Giles!

Thanks for the kind words, Glenn! You're making me blush!

I'm glad you're enjoying them! Tiki seems to be the nexus where lots of subcultures--Rockabilly being an obvious one--come to overlap!

Ha ha! Thank you for the kind words! I like to make the mistakes so you don't have to! 😉

Glad you approve!

I'd never forget Yma, but with limited time some worthy additions get left out! 😉

Sax solos are right out!

Thank you!

Thanks for sharing this, Mean Old Lady! I'd say there's significant overlap with tiki and fish keeping. I had Figure-8 Puffers for years and they're such a fun, intelligent fish. In the 60s and 70s when the tropical fish craze was at its height, the salt water of marine aquariums quickly corroded the metal aquarium frames then common. So the Philippines started producing elaborate rattan tanks, as rattan wouldn't rust. These rattan aquariums are now coveted elements for many home (and commercial) tiki spaces, whether they have live fish in them or not.

I love the Frankl-style rattan furniture! The thing I'd do if I were you is determine if it has an existing coat of varnish--is there a protective film on the surface that may or may not be failing? This process would absolutely work for your set but if it already has an old finish that would need to be sanded away first otherwise these oils can't penetrate and do their job. If the set is staying outside, DO NOT use polyurethane as a topcoat--UV exposure will destroy it and it will start peeling within a year. Even Helmsman's spar urethane, which is ostensibly made for outdoor use, will fail after a couple of years. The boiled linseed oil and shellac will offer good incidental water protection and you can reapply every few years when you notice the rattan starting to look dull and weathered. If you really want to add a spar topcoat, go with Epifanes or a heavy-duty marine spar varnish. Those cost $$ but will stand up to the sun's UV better than anything you can get at the big box stores. If there's no film finish, another, easier option would be to rub the rattan finish down with Howard's Feed n Wax, like I've used on Witco pieces in other videos. The Howard's will penetrate and alleviate the dryness and also make the rattan look great. The downside is that it offers little additional protection so would need to be reapplied regularly.

@@LagoonofMystery you’re the man! I appreciate it and will let you know how it comes out!

I know, right? It's a lot of fun!

The size of your escape doesn't matter, but rather the volume of escapism contained within! And I have to commend you on the wet bar aspect. Having started an indoor tiki space that has a dry bar, I am constantly reminded how much difference running water makes!

Every year we've gone it's been notably larger than the previous year. I like supporting the vendors--they have nifty elements that can enhance any tiki space.

I tend to agree. Yes, tiki is "made up fantasy" but it borrows wholesale from existing cultures. The folks I spoke with said they thought it was pretty cool I had a home tiki bar and appreciated my coming out to support them. If I'm going to use Polynesian elements in my build, I think it only reasonable that I learn as much about these diverse cultures as I am able. Seriously, that's not a high bar.

I've reached out to Holy Diver several times to do an episode with them, but have gotten no response. 😕

Hopefully they respond to your request. Holy Diver definitely has the Tiki bar idea down by way of MCM, Kitsch with a little Punk ethos. The vibe is great, just need to have separate entrance.

@@elric8885 Yes, entry through the downstairs is killing them!

It is not pressure treated. Those are western red cedar deck planks. It is a popular choice for decking as it resists rot and water (it still needs to be cared for, however). There are a number of African tropical woods that are popular decking choices as well.

Broadly speaking, yes. Burning is mostly for aesthetics, but also increases water resistance if you spread out the resins (any bamboo exposed to the elements will weather fairly quickly but torched bamboo protected inside will survived indefinitely). Torching is not a dependable method of ridding bamboo of insects. Using borax is absolutely for infestation protection but also contributes to longevity as it increases bamboo's resistance to mold and fungus.

Thank you kindly, sir! I am quite pleased with it, if I do say so myself!

Thank you!

Forever Bamboo (although they seem to be out at the moment, they currently do have Bac Bac matting). For woven bamboo panels I'd suggest Bamboo Creasian.

You are most welcome, Kim!

I have to agree with that. I understand the tiki purists are being protective of the genre--nobody wants the bastardization of the 70s and 80s to repeat--but they forget the original Don's and Vic's embraced the "Beachcomber aesthetic." Tiki didn't become *tiki* until Stephen Crane made carved figures the focus of decor in his Luau restaurant in Beverly Hills in 1953. Before then, tikis made only an occasional appearance as decor. Some of these same folks argue PNG can't be used in tiki because that's not Polynesian (even though every Trader Vic's uses a LOT of PNG in decor) and reject Caribbean for the same reason (to which I say, fine, give me all of your non-Polynesian rums!). Most of us agree that broad standards are useful but an obsession with purity sucks the fun out of something that inherently meant to be fun. 🙂

@@LagoonofMystery I like the sound of a "Beachcomber" themed home bar. Haha. I don't want to fight with the Tiki gatekeepers. (I say that jokingly of course.)

@@perceivedvelocity9914 Me, too. I ascribe to the beachcomber aesthetic. I like traditional tiki with bamboo and lauhala, but add nautical elements whenever I can. I've yet to have anyone accuse me of having a fake tiki bar (although, given the interwebz, it's only a matter of time). 😅

Thank you! Tiki music should be intentional and escapist. Martin Denny certainly fits the bill, but there are so many other genres and subgenres out there that work as well! 😁

My pleasure! And I agree 100%!