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by
Paul Lewis
photos: Roger Yip
illustration: Len Churchill |
TREE BENCH (part 3) |
Hold the compass with the pencil tip resting on the board and
the point of the compass touching the tree. Trace the contour
of the tree with the point while holding the pencil against
the board. This is scribing—there’s nothing to it.
Once the board has been scribed,
use a jigsaw to cut out the shape. Test-fit the board, then
attach it to the joists with screws, leaving a 1/2" gap
between the lumber and tree trunk. As you do this, leave the
scribed boards longer than necessary—you’ll trim
them all to length after installation. Continue scribing and
fitting the boards until you’ve circled the whole trunk.
You should also understand that someday you might have to reposition
the tree boards as the trunk grows. Complete construction by
attaching the remaining full boards to complete the surface.
Finishing
the Bench
 |
| CLICK
ABOVE TO ENLARGE ILLUSTRATION |
|
Before applying
the final finish, add hardwood pegs to lock the tenons into
the leg mortises. Even though you glued them earlier, the mechanical
connection is a good idea. Drill 1/4"-dia. holes through
the face of the legs into the tenons, then drive 1/4" x
1/4" x 3" square hardwood pegs into the holes. Sharpen
the pegs in a pencil sharpener and add some glue before driving
them home. Once the glue has cured, cut the pegs off flush.
Round the outside edges of the
platform using a 1/2"-dia. roundover bit in a handheld
router, then smooth the whole bench using a random-orbit sander
spinning 50- to 80-grit paper. I applied three coats of Sikkens
Cetol 1 to protect the bench from the elements. |
| YOU
WILL NEED |
| PART |
MATERIAL |
SIZE
(T x W x L*) |
QTY. |
| Platform
slats |
cedar |
1"
x 5 1/2" x 86" |
15 |
| Legs |
cedar |
3
1/2" x 3 1/2" x 17" |
4 |
| Rails |
cedar |
1
1/2" x 5 1/2" x 80 1/2" |
4 |
| Long
joists |
pressure-treated |
1
1/2" x 5 1/2" x 80 1/2" |
4 |
| Medium
joists |
pressure-treated |
1
1/2" x 5 1/2" x 40 1/2" |
2 |
| Short
joists |
pressure-treated |
1
1/2" x 5 1/2" x 18 1/2" |
4 |
| Joist
braces |
pressure-treated |
1
1/2" x 5 1/2" x 16" |
4 |
| Pegs |
hardwood |
1/4"
x 1/4" x 3" |
16 |
| Round
concrete pavers |
8"-dia. |
4 |
| Cedar
mulch |
16
cu. ft. |
| Dimensions
are all actual sizes. Legs cut from 4x4s; rails and joists
from 2x6s; platform boards are 5/4 decking material. *Length
indicates grain direction |
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PART 1 | PART 2 | PART
3 |
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