Log Table & Chairs

i really love this set, it wil last for many years to come, and the drawing on the table is really good, love the donkey, this is a really good pine set and will give them a good work out each night before dinner…lol…thanks for posting it..grizz

-- GRIZZMAN ...[''''']

You left the natural shape of the wood so masterfully—can I ask how on earth you go about matching up mortises to the natural tenons? Nothing’s square! What do you use?

From an artistic standpoint, how do you know how much of the live edge to remove? Do you just get rid of the bark and call it a day?

What about sanding? Is it all by hand?

-- Adam, Rochester NY

Thanks Grizzman!

Adam, thank you too, for your kind words. If I don’t answer all your questions well enough here please message me & I can go into further detail.

The only way I can say it is… God & the beetles shape the wood masterfully. I just put it together.

When I go out and gather this wood I look for standing dead trees. The longer they’ve been dead the better. A lot of times the bark will be loose or missing in spots (They’re not hard to find in this area… half the forest is dead). You don’t want decay of course;)

You really don’t need a lot of tools either. I use a drawknife, a scraper or putty knife, a drill, some forstner bits, a angle grinder with a tigerdisk, and a chainsaw. A shaving horse or metal vise helps too. And here’s the key… I usually only use one eye at a time. Ha ha. (Side note:There are tenon cutters out there. I have one, but use it rarely. They turn out looking too machined for my taste).

It is all done by hand & eye the way I do it- the more you do it the better you get. Just takes some practice, like anything else.

It can be frustrating & fun at the same time. But, I can tell you…some times it can make me a little crazy, I gotta work with something square & flat after a big log job… I like to mix dimensional lumber with the log work to break it up a little. Which doesn’t make a lot of sense because I use a lot barn wood (not square or flat) never mind… I’m getting off track.

Cut your log to length with the chainsaw (or you can use a sliding miter too). Clampdown your workpiece score the endgrain with your forstner bit. Now you can whittle down your log with your drawknife, to the size of your mortise. Cut your mortise with the same sized bit. I use a self-feeder for this (lots easier). Finetune with the grinder… and you’re on your way! Clean up the rest of the log with your drawknife, scraper, or putty knife being real careful not to erase the work of the beetles.

Remember, this is a piece of furniture, so I always work over all the pieces with a random orbital and hand sanding still remembering to leave the work of the beetles visible. You can peg your joints with dowel. Stuff that’s going to live outside I usually throw some screws thru the joints for good measure (hiding the screws of course).

Now stand back with one eye closed… you’ve either got some nice furniture or firewood. I’ve made plenty of both.

Hope this helps.

-- Craig Bullard http://www.facebook.com/Outlawfurniture

Wow, absolutely amazing. Love the long ears and bluegrass! Great job buddy

-- The Old Rednek Workshop https://www.facebook.com/theoldrednekworkshoptn

Fantastic looking set. Especially in a log home.
Thanks for sharing.
I hope you get better soon.
Plowing rocks. :-D

-- What are those few hours of mine compared to those decades Mother Nature has put in it!

Awesome set. Get better soon.

-- Nature created it, I just assemble it.

Thanks Monte. I’m trying.

Hoss… thought that might be right up your alley. Thanks!

Thank you Johnny. Funny thing is that’s my house, my buddy Bob lives in a barn. A really nice barn, but still a barn. The table & chairs look right at home there as well.

A little different kind of plowing Less dust…

-- Craig Bullard http://www.facebook.com/Outlawfurniture

:-D
Nice home of yours then. :-)

-- What are those few hours of mine compared to those decades Mother Nature has put in it!

I like it, especially the chicken wire touch.

-- Doug

You did an incredible job on this! The wood looks great.

-- "someone has to be wounded for others to be saved, someone has to sacrifice for others to feel happiness, someone has to die so others could live"

That is a wonderful set for a log cabin. It really looks great.

helluvawreck aka Charles
http://woodworkingexpo.wordpress.com

-- helluvawreck aka Charles, http://woodworkingexpo.wordpress.com