Stump to table

[mdog892001]

Just had this tree cut down today and thought this section would make a nice table. I just need to know how. Any ideas?




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[southalabama]

Good luck. All the ones I tried to build dried out and cracked.

 

[The Cobbler]

yeah, need to get it dry without splitting before you attempt a table
I've had reasonable luck with sealing the grain (not the bark edge ) with many coats of oil base urethane and let sit for months

 

[James-W]

I have never tried to make a table from a stump. I have a good friend who did try and I helped him with some of it, but in the end it was a disaster.

 

[Bretny]

It will crack with out fail. You can try to seal it or use a thicker piece but will still crack.

 

[yeldogt]

Even with experience -- picking slab correctly w/ proper drying techniques -- they almost always crack.

Have to slow the drying

 

[wiguy17]

Some interesting info on cutting and drying stumps.

Matt seemed to have good luck with one of the products that he used in the video.

He who dies with the most tools wins.

 

[TractorJeff]

Cross bolts to minimize cracking. Counterbore the holes to put plugs in to hide the washer/nut.
Will still crack but may reduce size of crack.
Thicker won't help as you are taking the inherent strength away.
Another thought is if you are low enough to the ground, you may luck out as the density and structure is different closer to the root system.

 

[66Caprice]

Let it crack. It adds character to the table. Also after it cracks a lot of people use those hard wood bow ties and countersink them in to stop the crack from getting wider.
It's on the innnerrnet so it must be true right!!!!

 

[RivennHewn]

Good luck. All the ones I tried to build dried out and cracked.

Cracks are part of the rustic look.

They make plastic for people that need it to look perfect.

 

[mdog892001]

I don’t care if it cracks that’s part of the fun it will likely never see the inside of a house anyway just a garage piece. The “cookie” came from the stump about 1-2” off the ground


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[Angelfire]

Let it crack....if you're looking for a smooth top, fill the cracks with epoxy. But do let it season a while before doing that. Can use clear or a colored epoxy if you wanted something a bit unusual.

 

[EOC_Jason]

You probably want to scrape off all the loose bark, then set it on blocks and let it dry for several months. Yes, it will probably crack. But you can use that really thick epoxy to coat the top & fill in the crack with when you finish it...

 

[RivennHewn]

Let it crack....if you're looking for a smooth top, fill the cracks with epoxy. But do let it season a while before doing that. Can use clear or a colored epoxy if you wanted something a bit unusual.

Everybody and their brother is doing the colored epoxy thing, and they all feel the need to post a video of it on Instagram.

Trendy fad that will end up being the mullet of woodworking.
(I actually stole that line from someone’s Instagram post)

 

[Pathfinders]

^^^^^ Nice, mind if I steal that line?

 

[VC-Racing]

It needs to be about 10 " thick 1st. The cover it with linseed oil and wrap in burlap. Add linseed oil weekly and rewrap until it quits taking it. After about a year , you can cut it to size and finish.

 

[dfiler2]

Go to http://forestryforum.com/board/index.php#c2 and ask your question in the General Woodworking forum. There is a guy there who builds some really nice tables and I know burlap and linseed oil are not involved. I'm not saying that's a bad method, just that I've never heard of it.

 

[isb cornbinder]

My wife wanted a large wood working surface in her semi-commercial kitchen. She wanted something that was not likely to crack. I bought a second hand 565 pound hard rock maple chopping block, It was made in Canada and the cost was about $1000. Even though the more than 100 pieces are all dovetailed together, we have to use an expensive food safe wood conditioner once a month or more..
Have a look on Craigslist and a local restaurant supply for a deal.

 

[Angelfire]

Everybody and their brother is doing the colored epoxy thing, and they all feel the need to post a video of it on Instagram.

Trendy fad that will end up being the mullet of woodworking.
(I actually stole that line from someone’s Instagram post)

Yeah, I’m more into keeping things as close to natural as I can (absolutely refuse to use poly as an example) but I do know a lot of folks like the epoxy twist being added to pieces. It’ll be around a while for sure. I have visions of the purists in the 15th century predicting inlay was just a passing fad too...haha