Log Seats

[Jmellc]

We just had a huge oak cut down as it was dying. Got lots of firewood from it and saved a few large chunks to make stools around a firepit later on. I'm thinking of coating them with some kind of tree sealant on the bottom and clear coating on top. Have any of you done this? What worked well for you?

 

[mike93lx]

Red oak, white oak, or some other variety? They weather very differently

Setting it up to shed water will be a huge help.

 

[isb cornbinder]

We just had a huge oak cut down as it was dying. Got lots of firewood from it and saved a few large chunks to make stools around a firepit later on. I'm thinking of coating them with some kind of tree sealant on the bottom and clear coating on top. Have any of you done this? What worked well for you?

80+ year old tractor seat and still standing.

 

[Jmellc]

80+ year old tractor seat and still standing.

Looks great but I don't have any tractor seats handy.

 

[isb cornbinder]

Looks great but I don't have any tractor seats handy.

I have not looked today, but I would not be surprised if there were a few on Craigslist.

vancouver, BC for sale "tractor seats" - craigslist

vancouver, BC for sale "tractor seats" - craigslist

vancouver.craigslist.org

 

[mike93lx]

I'm lost. What do tractor seats have to do with using logs as stools?

 

[isb cornbinder]

I'm lost. What do tractor seats have to do with using logs as stools?

Options.

 

[mike93lx]

Options.

Still confused, but maybe it's just me

 

[WildBill]

I'm lost. What do tractor seats have to do with using logs as stools?

Its a GJ thing. Ignore what the OP asks and throw in some random info/item/opinion. Preferably more expensive and/or completely unsuitable/unrelated to what OP wants.

 

[Jmellc]

Red oak, white oak, or some other variety? They weather very differently

Setting it up to shed water will be a huge help.

Willow oak. Yes, I'm thinking of putting paver stones under them to help keep from standing in water. But still need to coat it with something.

 

[mike93lx]

Willow oak. Yes, I'm thinking of putting paver stones under them to help keep from standing in water. But still need to coat it with something.

I meant the seat. Make sure water can roll off. But keeping it off the soil will help too

A spar urethane would hold up OK outdoors, but if that log wasn't stabding dead for years, it's going to be wet and might shed a coating as it dries

 

[Jmellc]

I have not looked today, but I would not be surprised if there were a few on Craigslist.

vancouver, BC for sale "tractor seats" - craigslist

vancouver, BC for sale "tractor seats" - craigslist

vancouver.craigslist.org

Thanks but since I already have the logs, I'd rather use them than pay 20-30 each for tractor seats. If I run across any at yard sales, etc. maybe I will buy them. But then again, I don't have welding equipment to weld them together. Much easier to use my logs than buy tractor seats and buy welding equipment.

 

[mike93lx]

Willow oak is in the red family, which doesn't have the rot resistance of white oak.

Make sure to strip the bark

 

[Zewnten]

My parents had benches made from halved logs. Need to shape the seat to shed water but it’ll probably start splitting anyways from absorbing the humidity alone. Varnishes and lacquers don’t seem to do much in the long run.

 

[gahrajmahal]

If you have termites they will get up into your logs. I have some that I’ve used as chopping blocks, after about 10 years or so with no care they are ready to be chopped up themselves.

You might try making some cross style legs out of pressure treated lumber if you want them to last and be less tippable.

 

[southalabama]

I built some out of cypress. Didn’t last long.

 

[Copymutt]

Not so humid here, but intense sun death. My default is boiled Lynn seed oil. I have a lot of faith in it compared to other products. On the high end I treat cabin wood & timbers with One Time Wood.

 

[LOW1]

Lots of moisture in NC. Unless it’s white oak you may well spend a lot of time working on something that might last only two or three years.

Best finish would be paint. Second might be multiple layers of marine varnish from a marine supply company, not the box store stuff.

Sand it smooth first.

 

[bdbecker]

What about a penetrating oil? Easy enough to re-coat when needed, won't chip or flake like varnish does. I've had good luck with Penofin Red on my deck. I'm sure there is something in their lineup that would work for this project.

Marine Oil

Marine Oil Finish | Penofin

www.penofin.com

Hardwood Formula

Hardwood Formula Wood Stain | Penofin

www.penofin.com

Log and Timber

Log and Timber Wood Stain Finish | Penofin

www.penofin.com