How to Make a Tiki Garden Statue

Tiki style garden statues are cast in concrete.

A tiki statue is a popular garden or restaurant decoration in the shape of a human or a human head. The word "tiki" most likely originated from the language of the Maori, the native Polynesian people of New Zealand, where it means a large wooden carving in rough human shape. In the U.S., the tiki is used as a Hawaiian-themed ornament that will add atmosphere to your pig roast, authenticity to your luau party or a tropical look to your garden. Using sand and cement, a replica of a tiki statue can be built with a little creativity and some skill.

Things You'll Need

• 8 x 2 wood boards
• 1/2 inch plywood sheet
• Wood adhesive
• Hammer
• 3-inch nails
• Metal angle braces
• Wood screws
• Wet sand
• Tamping tool
• Mortar trowel
• Small garden shovel
• Water
• Spray bottle
• Teaspoon
• Wire mesh
• Mesh cutters
• Casting cement
• Wheelbarrow

Instructions

1. Create a wood box a little wider than and deep enough for your tiki statue face to use as a molding box. For example, if you want to build a statue that is 2 feet tall, 1 foot wide and 1/2 foot thick, cut two 8 x 2 boards that are 3 feet long and two that are 2 feet long. Also, cut one sheet of 1/2-inch plywood that is 2 x 3 feet.

2. Apply a bead of wood adhesive to the edge of each of the 8-by-2 boards, and then place them on the edges of the plywood sheet to form your box. Nail the ends of the boards together with 3-inch nails and attach a metal angle brace to each corner. Finally seal the inside edge of the seam between the plywood sheet and the boards.

3. Fill the the box with wet sand and pack it down very tightly using a tamping tool or flat blade shovel. The sand must be fairly hard and all air pockets removed.

4. Draw an outline of your tiki face into the sand using a mortar trowel, incorporating just the basic shape of the tiki face. Create a large rectangle for the face, but make a slightly curved head and a triangular chin.

5. Remove sand inside of the tiki face using a metal spoon or small garden shovel, essentially carving out the space that will eventually form your tiki face. Dig straight down along the top and sides with the garden shovel to form the top of the head and sides of the face and then carve out the center of the face. Continually wet the sand if it begins to dry by spraying it with water from a spray bottle.

6. Carve oval eye shapes into the sand in the middle of the face with a small teaspoon. Above them, carefully carve out a square shape for the forehead with the side of a garden shovel. Carve out a square shape for the cheek bones right below each eye with the trowel. Between them carve an inverted triangle nose with the edge of the trowel. Use a trowel to leave an elevated ridge of sand for the mouth.

7. Cut a 2 x 1 foot section of wire mesh with a pair of wire mesh cutters, and place it in the center of your carved-out tiki face so the ends are just sticking into the sides of the sand. The mesh is used to hold the statue together properly as it dries and will end up inside the statue, so it won't be seen.

8. Mix a batch of casting cement (available at a hardware store or hobby store) in a large wheelbarrow to a thick but soupy consistency. Pour the cement carefully into the mold. Allow the casting to dry for 24 hours and then remove the cast statue by pulling it free of the mold.

Tips & Warnings

• Be careful when pouring the cement into the sand mold and experiment with its consistency. If it is too wet, it will destroy the mold. If the cement is too thick, it will not fill in all the details carved in the sand.

References

• DIY Stuff: Concrete Cast Tiki Statue
• Molds Central: Concrete Mold Casting
• Harmonious Palette: Earth Molded Concrete Sculpture

Resources

• Art Concrete: How To Cast Concrete