Concrete tiki statues are more durable than wood and can be made at home.
Tiki parties hit their heyday during the 1950s and 1960s in the United States, building on a growing fascination with Polynesia and its culture. The popular Oscar-winning movie "South Pacific," released in 1958, only fueled the popularity of tiki-culture. "Tiki" refers to the carved wooden statues traditionally made in Polynesia. Tiki parties are characterized by tropical decor and fruit-flavored umbrella drinks. You can bring this tropical flavor to your backyard by making a concrete tiki statue. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
1. Purchase a plastic tiki mold. You can find these molds at a variety of online stores or from a local party-supply store. Look for one that is durable (made of thick plastic or rubber) and not too delicate.
2. Mix the concrete in a bucket. You should use quick-set concrete, which dries in 10 to 30 minutes, instead of regular concrete, which usually takes 24 hours to dry. Refer to the instructions on the bag for your specific brand, but as a general rule, you mix one part water with five parts concrete. You can add more or less water to get to a thick but pourable consistency. Use the trowel to stir the mixture.
3. Pour the concrete into the mold. Use the trowel to smooth the surface and pack the concrete in so that it fills all of the areas of the mold.
4. Place the tiki where it can rest undisturbed. The tiki statue will need to set until the concrete is hard. This will vary depending on the type of concrete and its consistency. Check the statue after approximately 20 minutes. Once the statue is hard, remove it from the mold by turning it over and allowing the concrete tiki to gently fall out. You may need to carefully pry the side of the mold away from the concrete tiki to loosen it. Wait several hours before painting (if you choose to do so).
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