Bench from a fallen tree

CWTurner

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In one of the winter windstorms I lost a hemlock, probably 60 years old. So I decided to make some use of the trunks. First project was a bench out of a log that I sliced lengthwise.

The reason I decided to do this was that the log had a natural pair of legs from a couple branches on the tree.Only 3 legs.jpg
Only 3 legs.jpg
So I had that one pair of legs, but only one on the near end. I needed to add a 4th leg.
So I bored a hole at a similar angle to the "3rd leg":
Hole bored.jpg
Then I used a limb from the tree and marked the depth of the hole onto the limb:
Leg marked.jpg
Then I cut around the limb at the mark, to a depth of about 3/8". Then I stood the limb on end and used the bit that I bored the hole with, to mark a circle on the end grain of the limb:
Circle on leg.jpg
I chiseled around the mark:
Start chiseling.jpg
Until I got it mostly round:chiseling round.jpg
Then I whittled the end of the limb nice and round, champhering the end for east insertion so it looked like this:
Ready to assemble.jpg
I tapped the new leg into place. Not much nebari at the joint though :) And if I had any pride, I would have fit the bark better so that you couldn't see that gap, but hey, it's outdoor work:New leg.jpg
Fit.jpg
So here's how it looks upright. I'll have to put some sort of finish on it to prevent rot.
Done.jpg
I had to fiddle with the legs to get them settled, and I didn't take my time when I chain-sawed the log down the middle, so it wasn't flat and I had to spend an hour with an electric hand plane.

But its the only one on my block!
CW
 

sorce

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Excellent!

Sorce
 

Wilson

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Beauty! Plus hemlock is naturally resistant to rot, I have old hemlock boards 150+ years old. I believe @GrimLore has some nice hemlock planks too!
 

Stickroot

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In one of the winter windstorms I lost a hemlock, probably 60 years old. So I decided to make some use of the trunks. First project was a bench out of a log that I sliced lengthwise.

The reason I decided to do this was that the log had a natural pair of legs from a couple branches on the tree.View attachment 143345
View attachment 143345
So I had that one pair of legs, but only one on the near end. I needed to add a 4th leg.
So I bored a hole at a similar angle to the "3rd leg":
View attachment 143342
Then I used a limb from the tree and marked the depth of the hole onto the limb:
View attachment 143343
Then I cut around the limb at the mark, to a depth of about 3/8". Then I stood the limb on end and used the bit that I bored the hole with, to mark a circle on the end grain of the limb:
View attachment 143339
I chiseled around the mark:
View attachment 143347
Until I got it mostly round:View attachment 143338
Then I whittled the end of the limb nice and round, champhering the end for east insertion so it looked like this:
View attachment 143346
I tapped the new leg into place. Not much nebari at the joint though :) And if I had any pride, I would have fit the bark better so that you couldn't see that gap, but hey, it's outdoor work:View attachment 143344
View attachment 143341
So here's how it looks upright. I'll have to put some sort of finish on it to prevent rot.
View attachment 143340
I had to fiddle with the legs to get them settled, and I didn't take my time when I chain-sawed the log down the middle, so it wasn't flat and I had to spend an hour with an electric hand plane.

But its the only one on my block!
CW
Did you cut the log free hand or use a chainsaw mill?
 

sorce

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Now if only a tree will fall in the form of a fence!:confused::eek:

I came to look at it again cuz it's so dope!

Sorce
 

CWTurner

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Thank you everyone for the likes.
Did you cut the log free hand or use a chainsaw mill?
Free hand with a 16" chain saw.

Now if only a tree will fall in the form of a fence!:confused::eek:
@sorce, is that a crack about my cheap plastic fence? It keeps my dogs out of the bonsai patch.

CW
 

CWTurner

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Since this tree blew down in December, I've been secretly hoping that it would throw sprouts from the old trunk, shown below:
Old trunk.jpg
Nothing yet, and I'm not holding my breath, but a part of the tree has been standing up against another and today I noticed pollen buds on it:
Buds.jpg
Amazing!
CW
 

Tieball

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Cool...sort of like giant grafting...with no hope of growth. Nice bench...Mighty Fine!
 
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