Saw Trestle / Bench From Ash Log

[Doris]

Hi everyone,

I've been a member on here for some time and haven't posted up a project before so I thought I would bite the bullet and finally post one up I have just finished.

I was given 2 ash logs from my local woodland by the Essex Wildlife Trust about a year ago and finally got around to making this last week. I know others have built them out of lengths of sawn timber but this one I built will be sat outside my shed at the allotment and so thought I would make the seat/top thicker than normal. As with most allotment finds, this project cost me absolutely nothing to build accept my time.

I did take a lot of pictures on my phone but some of these have been lost, which I can't explain, so sorry for the pictures being a bit inconsistent.

After the logs were split I then began work on shaving the top piece to remove the bark with a draw knife and then smoothed it down with a Number 5.

I then took the other half of the log and ripped this down in two and then squared it off roughly before mounting it in my lathe and turning it to a rough cylinder. It made sense to get them all round before determining an overall size.

The legs were then put into the lathe again and reduced more to the same diameter. Here's a picture of the seat top and legs after I had finished reducing the legs to the same diameter.

I then began work on mounting the legs to the seat top. For this I used a hand brace and once determined the angle of the first hole used an old redundant clamp screw to help me mirror the other legs.

I then turned a tenon on the end of each leg now I had the width and depth of the holes I had just bored into the top. Unfortunately I lost of the pictures of this process. These were then fitted into place.

The feet were then squared up so they would sit squarely on the floor and then decorated with so pyrography. Bees are my makers mark. I was going to carve the bees in but had other projects that needed my attention.

This was then oiled.

Thanks for looking.

 

[Phil Pascoe]

I hope you used a preservative - ash rots while you look at it.

 

[Sheffield Tony]

I rather like the idea. Although accurately drilling the holes for the legs at the correct angle needs some care, it could be easier than the angles involved in making a saw horse from sawn timber.

The other potential problem, that I have with my shave horse, is the legs going wobbly in dry weather due to seasonal movement. People more experienced than me sometimes anticipate that and use tapered holes !

 

[No skills]

Looks good, like the pyro bees.

I'm sure Phil was trying to say that too :wink:

 

[blackrodd]

Nicely done Doris, I like country type gardening, everything is nice and functional as this seat is.
Just nice to sit in the sun, sometimes.
Regards Rodders

 

[AndyT]

I like the look of that. Very restful!

As for ash and rot, I see no problem as I assume you would be putting it back into a locked shed each time, not leaving it out - I think it would be too irresistible and would soon walk off if not kept safe.