Table I made for my wife from a log

[LD1]

nice.

I too am curious how you mounted it.

And also wonder if it was green or dry and did you seal it with anything? In a year or two what is going to keep the bark on?

 

[mark02tj]

As always - Super Cool, Eddie!!

I may have to do something similar with some of the ash logs I have laying in the yard. We have a log home so it would look pretty cool.

Like the others have asked, how did you mount it?

 

[EddieWalker]

I've been working on clearing my fence line and some of the oaks that have come out are good firewood. I don't need any more firewood, so I have a stack of oak trees that will eventually get cut up into firewood. While looking over the trees, I saw that where they forked, one branch would go off at an angle and get smaller quickly. I used that part for the bottom of the table and the thicker portion of the fork for the top. I just laid a framing square on top of the log to get it lined up, drew the lines on the long and then cut it with my chainsaw.

Once we decided how high up she wanted it next to the bed, I measured down from the top an inch and a half to where the first bracket was. The stud was off to the side a couple inches from center. I screwed in two #8 sheetmetal screws into the stud 12 inches below each other. I used a forstner bit to drill out the shelf so the screw head would fit behind the piece of metal I used for a hook. That's held in place with two 1 1/2 inch screws.

Karen was very surprised because I didn't tell her I was going to do this. I just told her I was going to make her a shelf along the side of the bed since it was too small of a place for a table. When I showed it to her, she said she thought I was cutting firewood. Once in place, she was very excited.

It was her idea to leave the bark on. I figure it will come off fairly soon and I don't know of how to keep it on. The log has been in the pile about 3 months at most. I didn't do anything to seal it or finish it off other then sanding it smooth on the top. My thinking is to wait and see how the bark does, then sand, stain and seal the whole thing a year from now when the bark falls off.

The top is about 10 inches wide and 15 inches deep. It's round, so that's just the widest points. It's big enough for her Ipad, and a glass of water.

 

[EddieWalker]

Nice indeed. And if you get tired of it, chuck in the wood stove !

Here's a "one log" table I made out of one ash log (with a few pieces of walnut as highlights) as a house warming gift for a buddy of mine.

Beautiful table and very nice craftsmanship. Have you posted any pics of your woodshop and what you use to build stuff like this? One of my long term goals is to be able to do stuff like this!!!!

 

[Gem99ultra]

Now, there's a fine example of craftsmanship! I love those walnut bow-tie 'dowels' on top. They are a very nice accent to a beautiful strong table. Did you make those free-hand, or did you need some sort of tool for those?

I too, am interested in what sort of equipment one would need to complete a project like yours. I do have a few pieces of power equipment such as a jointer, table saw, miter saw, etc. I would assume that one would need a planer, large clamping setup, etc., and a LOT of patience and skill. Heavy on the skill...

What a beautiful table, and a life-time gift for a friend. Lots of work, sweat and tears, no doubt. But he will appreciate it for life.

We novice woodworkers are interested to learn more about this and other projects that you've accomplished. Thanks for sharing.

 

[TnAndy]

Now, there's a fine example of craftsmanship! I love those walnut bow-tie 'dowels' on top. They are a very nice accent to a beautiful strong table. Did you make those free-hand, or did you need some sort of tool for those?

Used a simple jig set I bought at some woodworking supply, and a hand router with guide bushing screwed in the base. The jig is made to let you cut the 'female' part in the table, then also the 'male' part out of whatever wood you're using as an accent (walnut in this case)....you just glue it in, and sand flush with the surrounding wood....not the least bit complicated once you see the jig. And it add such a touch of class, huh ?

I saw the table in someone's house about 30 years ago, it was made at a local furniture company now long out of business, and I always wanted to try to copy it.

Also made two benches for the side out of the same ash log (16" diameter log x 10' long....I sawed it on my bandmill about two years ahead of time and let it air dry, then put it in my kiln to run it down to 6%). Square mortised the legs into the seats, then put a walnut wedge in them to tighten into the holes.

Detail on the table cross bar....mortised hole in the leg, then mortised hole in the cross bar with a shoulder tenon on the back side...drive a walnut peg in the cross bar end to tighten it to the table legs.

I too, am interested in what sort of equipment one would need to complete a project like yours. I do have a few pieces of power equipment such as a jointer, table saw, miter saw, etc. I would assume that one would need a planer, large clamping setup, etc., and a LOT of patience and skill. Heavy on the skill...

What a beautiful table, and a life-time gift for a friend. Lots of work, sweat and tears, no doubt. But he will appreciate it for life.

We novice woodworkers are interested to learn more about this and other projects that you've accomplished. Thanks for sharing.

Got a pretty decent shop 35x75 in size, (it's also my farm mechanic shop, welding shop, and anything else I need to do shop....ahahahaaaa)

Heart of any wood shop....table saw. Model 66 Powermatic with sliding side table in my case.

Other equipment is a 8x72 jointer, 18" planer, radial arm saw, miter saw, mortiser, bandsaw, etc. In one corner, I built a small dry kiln that uses an old window AC as the drier.