How best to flatten a stump?

[Lu-Max]

I have a stump outside of my shop that used to be a big pine tree. It died about 2 years ago and had to be cut down. It measures about 30" across and the tree cutters cut it at a pretty good angle. I would like to cut it flat across so that I can use it as an outside table, maybe even make a metal top for it.

I don't own a chainsaw, and even if I rented one most likely wouldn't be very skilled with it.

What do you think would be the best (easiest?) method to flatten out the top so it is parallel with the ground? The flatter the better.

Thanks.

 

[Badattitude]

Belt sander?

 

[toplessHO]

first of all run a string around it so you can get an idea on where to cut so that its flat and square,mark it when you get it squared up,run a skill saw all the way around it
making sure the blade is level(square with the cut). If you have a sawzall you can get some pretty long wood blades for it but if its truely 30 inches in diameter you wont find a blade big enough. You can finish off the last 6 inches or so with a carpenters hand saw.How patient you are relates to how level the cut will be.
If you have help you can substitute the sawzall with a 2 man bow saw. I would sand it smooth and seal it with some poly marine varnish. I ll be it would look really cool.

 

[wyo george]

I'd use a water level to mark level marks all around the outside of the stump then use them as guides for cutting level.

 

[bczygan]

3 ways to do this.

1. Chainsaw

2. Build up the low side with wood fastened to give a level surface for a top.

3. Put a table over top the stump, that has it's own legs.

 

[timewarp]

Without knowing what tools you have it's hard to know what would work best for you, you could make a router sled if you have a router or you could make the same style of sled and use a circular saw. The easiest way to get it close would be to find someone that has a chainsaw and have them cut it closer to flat for you. I googled router sled and came up with these links that explain it pretty well.

http://www.thewoodwhisperer.com/videos/flattening-workbenches-and-wide-boards-with-a-router/


http://www.finewoodworking.com/work...-turns-stumps-into-beautiful-side-tables.aspx

 

[PugetDude]

Trade the beer in your avatar to someone who owns a chainsaw and knows how to use it. 20-minute job.

 

[sixty4]

I would hire a person with a stump grinder, not to remove it but they can set a height and work it side to side to get it pretty close.

 

[altersaddle]

You can get a wood cutter wheel that goes in a angle grinder that would carve out a stump.

They are also used for carving chair bottoms. I have seen two kinds, one is a disc with a round chainsaw blade (http://katools.com/carving-tools/lancelot-and-squire-cutters/) and the other is flat metal with a few teeth (http://www.leevalley.com/en/wood/page.aspx?p=33255&cat=1,130,43409,43424 or http://www.leevalley.com/en/wood/page.aspx?p=44838&cat=1,130,43409,43424,44838)

 

[xxaler]

You can get a wood cutter wheel that goes in a angle grinder that would carve out a stump.

They are also used for carving chair bottoms. I have seen two kinds, one is a disc with a round chainsaw blade (http://katools.com/carving-tools/lancelot-and-squire-cutters/) and the other is flat metal with a few teeth (http://www.leevalley.com/en/wood/page.aspx?p=33255&cat=1,130,43409,43424 or http://www.leevalley.com/en/wood/page.aspx?p=44838&cat=1,130,43409,43424,44838)

All three of those grinder attachments look horrifyingly dangerous to someone who doesn't work with a chainsaw or other wood shaping tools on a regular basis.

Best bet, get someone that knows what they're doing with a chainsaw. Case of beer and it's done.

 

[ez-duzit]

Stump grinder.

 

[volleyball]

Call Darth Vader. One swipe and it has a smooth cut.
If it is 30" across, the average guy just won't measure up. What the average? 18- 20"? Most guys will say their chain is bigger but making two passes probably just isn't the same. And not every guy can precisely handle something big enough to please you.
Most likely the skilled guy can get close with his normal size and then you need to polish it smooth.

 

[Zeke]

You could do this with a hand saw. A pretty big one. Mark the perimeter with the water level or similar. Cut vertically down to the line in a criss cross pattern. Saw out the squares and detail as needed.

 

[JonBoehman]

I agree with using a router sled as mentioned above. You tube some videos they are very easy to do. That is assuming you have access to a router.

 

[Lu-Max]

Lots of ideas, thanks guys. I have a smallish router, but this might give me an excuse to get a larger one. What type of bit would you use for this process?
Thanks again.

 

[bczygan]

Lots of ideas, thanks guys. I have a smallish router, but this might give me an excuse to get a larger one. What type of bit would you use for this process?
Thanks again.

If power tools of adequate size scare you, then slow and un-powered is the way to go.

The idea with a saw, but one with teeth designed for trees, is a good one.

If you have a hatchet, or can borrow one, you could rough it into shape and then lag screw 2 wood cleats into the rough surface, with shims as needed to get them level. Then just bolt the top to the cleats.

A small electric or gas chain saw can also work. Just take it in small chunks.

I once asked a woodworker how he removed the mass of wood needed to do a graceful table leg with a claw and ball foot.

He said, "I hog it out any way I can".

So start with roughing it out, and then finish it with some finesse, or build the low spots back up to get a level platform.

One other option.

If you get it down below the level needed, and it is rough and uneven, you can just screw 4 long and widely spaced lag bolts in until their tops are level, and use these to set a top on. Then take 4 more lag bolts and put them through the top and screw into the stump, to hold the top down. It's like leveling bolts for a steel column.

Bill

 

[Lu-Max]

No I'm not afraid of big power tools.
I don't own a chain saw because I have not had a need for one.
I work mainly with metal so my wood specific tooling is limited.
I think I can easily rig up a level metal platform similar to the wooden one in the video above and use a router with the proper bit to grind it flat. Still not certain what the name of that type of bit is though.

 

[southalabama]

Around here things rot and pines continue to seep sap.

I'd get it gone.

Then put a table there if you want one.

 

[Homerr]

Stump grinder.

This, have someone come do it.

 

[rabies]

chainsaw..cut top 4" off. hog out inside. put top back on with hinges..... hidden pirate chest

 

[kbs2244]

I like the idea of just shimming up the low side under the top.

 

[Kaizen]

The replies above for a router are the correct way to make a perfectly flat table top. you would use a flat bottomed cutter like a dado bit. the thing is it will take you days. And pine never stops seeping. nice idea but pass on it or just make it level enough to screw a slab to it. looks like rough rocks to have chairs on and right near the building.
if you are stuck on it whoever above said put wood in a square around it is right on. use like 2x6 so you can level the top of the box and screw the home.

anyone interested in the router sled idea here is a demo http://www.thewoodwhisperer.com/videos/flattening-workbenches-and-wide-boards-with-a-router/

 

[PugetDude]

The ability of the GJ Community to turn an incredibly simple task into a multi-page "project" discussion never ceases to amaze me.

It's a stump. Thanks for posting the picture.
There are tools specifically made to cut it or remove it.
Use them.....

...Or, you could erect a tripod and suspend a pendulum router above it to carve it into a perfectly dished birdbath.

...Or, you could get an chain-saw attachment for your angle grinder and carve it into a tractor seat, removing two of your own fingers in the process...

...Or, you could try to cover it with a piece of lawn furniture.. yeah, that would look good

...Or, you could carve your family crest into it with a Dremel Tool.

...Or, you could drill it, poison it, burn it, chop it into bits, and bury it...

 

[bczygan]

I don't have any further advice.

You could say I'm STUMPED!

 

[PugetDude]

I don't have any further advice.

You could say I'm STUMPED!

I SAW what you did there...but you're BARKING up the wrong TREE.

 

[bczygan]

I SAW what you did there...but you're BARKING up the wrong TREE.

I was going to suggest he DIG it up,
but realized that wouldn't CUT it.

I would just PLANT a table over it and LEAF the stump to rot out.

This thread is GROWING too long.

We started with a simple problem and it BRANCHED out into multiple solutions.

I think we got to the HEART of it though, and ROOTED out some good solutions, even though there were some PITHY comments.

But what do I know, I'm just some SAP with nothing better to do, then to post on the internet...

 

[PugetDude]

I was going to suggest he DIG it up,
but realized that wouldn't CUT it.

I would just PLANT a table over it and LEAF the stump to rot out.

This thread is GROWING too long.

We started with a simple problem and it BRANCHED out into multiple solutions.

I think we got to the HEART of it though, and ROOTED out some good solutions, even though there were some PITHY comments.

Your response runs RINGS around mine.

 

[bczygan]

Your response runs RINGS around mine.

When I SAW you had POSTed another word I hadn't though of, I almost FELL over.

And I had to LOG another response.

Hope you're not getting BOARD with all this...

 

[ez-duzit]

Unsubscribed.

 

[PugetDude]

Hope you're not getting BOARD with all this...

KNOT at all....

 

[schmelpboy]

I bet for a carton of smokes and a bag of cheeseburgers you could hire Honey Boo-Boo's unemployed mom to sit on it for awhile...

 

[PugetDude]

I bet for a carton of smokes and a bag of cheeseburgers you could hire Honey Boo-Boo's unemployed mom to sit on it for awhile...

I heard she was STUMPING for her own reality show on The Discovery Channel.

 

[Sal Bandini]

Router sled gets my vote as well. You can get it perfectly flat. It will just take a while.

 

[schmelpboy]

I heard she was STUMPING for her own reality show on The Discovery Channel.

That show will get the AX.

 

[theoldwizard1]

I googled router sled and came up with these links that explain it pretty well.

http://www.finewoodworking.com/work...-turns-stumps-into-beautiful-side-tables.aspx

By far the best solution !

 

[ozyborn]

Chainsaw, rent the ******. Talk with your friends that use them more than you do. rent one and let them play.

 

[Zeke]

No I'm not afraid of big power tools.
I don't own a chain saw because I have not had a need for one.
I work mainly with metal so my wood specific tooling is limited.
I think I can easily rig up a level metal platform similar to the wooden one in the video above and use a router with the proper bit to grind it flat. Still not certain what the name of that type of bit is though.

[/IMG]

The bit for that is called a straight bit. You could use an end mill. If you do buy a new router, make sure you can use a 1/2" collet. Then buy the biggest diameter bit you can get because if you do this with a 1/2" straight bit you better bring your lunch. If you can hook up a variable rev switch you could use a reasonable sized fly cutter. But they are NOT designed to go 10,000 RPM so be careful.

One more idea is to use that fly cutter carving tool that goes in an angle grinder. If you can make that router sled, you could make a simple guide bar to run the grinder back and forth. Now you'll be makin' chips and be done in no time.

Hang on!

 

[ford33]

The current issue of "Woodsmith" magazine Vol 37, Number 219, page 9 has a very simple plan to make a "Router Leveling Jig". They demonstrate the use of the jig on a large tree trunk. However, the tree is already cut and placed on a wood bench.

You could easily adapt the jig for use on-site at the tree. Just build the simple jig. Then, at the tree site, place and level the jig with a couple saw horses, shims and a level. You don't need a big router. Just need patience and strong arms and shoulders to keep the router moving back and forth a hundred or so times. The article recommends using a bowl and tray bit in the router.

 

[Lu-Max]

Thanks ford33, super helpful.

 

[Moss]

I think it's cool you want to turn the stump into a table. Just find a chainsaw and even a novice can get it pretty level. Use some basic hand tools to make it a little nice if required. A chainsaw is pretty good at this kind of work. I mean really it is.