Santa Cruz Tiki Shack

Will uses various types of wood for his carvings, however most of the logs are salvaged local redwood from Santa Cruz County. Redwood makes for vibrant colors and is more durable than softer woods, such as the often used palm, which decays quickly over time. It is important to note that Santa Cruz Tikis are carved from recycled logs whenever possible. With proper care, the beauty of your Santa Cruz Tiki will last a lifetime.

One of the biggest differences between Santa Cruz Tikis and any others you will find is the depth of the carving and the uniqueness of the designs. Many tikis are cut over the top few layers of wood only, while Santa Cruz Tikis feature cuts that extend more than half way into the log. This allows the natural beauty of the wood's grain to become visible and gives the resulting statue a ferocious and protective demeanor.

Depending on the size of the log and detail of the carving, our tikis can take anywhere from 10 to 45 days to complete. Santa Cruz Tikis are generally finished with either a wood sealant or marine varnish to protect the rich colors from fading, although some may prefer an unfinished, more rustic look, and this style can be accommodated as well.

During the Winter months, huge logs wash up on the beach in the vicinity of Will's home, and he and a few lucky friends load them into a pickup, usually one at a time. Once in the shop, Will strips off the layers of bark, then stands the log on end to ascertain the shape and flow of the wood grain in preparation for carving. Will then decides on the best area of the log to begin the design - and out comes the chainsaw.

The designs are created freehand, never from a preconceived drawing and never traced. As the cuts become deeper and deeper, features such as eyes, mouth, headpiece and torso begin to emerge from the wood. Once the carving is completed to Will's satisfaction, he begins shaping and rounding the surfaces with a hand grinding tool.

After smoothing the surfaces, the tiki is ready for the most time consuming phase of the process, which is sanding. At this point, covered from head to toe with fine wood flake, Will is usually grinning because the tiki is almost finished. Once the tiki is sanded smooth, it is once again stood on end and then studied from a distance.

Satisfied with the final statue, the last phase involves coating the Tiki with a protective varnish, which brings out the unique grain of the wood and allows it to shine in the sun, under which the tiki is left to dry.

Santa Cruz Tikis are generally classified as small, medium and large. Will has carved tikis as small as 18 inches (such as his first carving, which still resides in his garden) and as large as 9 feet tall. Most of the carvings fall into the medium range - from 4 to 6 feet tall and about a foot in diameter.

Will also carves Tiki Masks (see bottom image) - where the diameter of the log is cut in half, leaving a flat backside - perfect for mounting on a wall or post.

Each Santa Cruz Tiki is a uniquely beautiful piece of artwork that makes an excellent and interesting addition to any home, garden or place of business. Although Will is saddened to part with any of the fierce statues, the demand for them continues to grow, and he always tries to ensure that they go to good homes. So take a look around the site and please feel free to contact us with your comments or questions.

Thank you for visiting The Santa Cruz Tiki Shack!

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