New woodworking hobby!

[Rocks]

I've always been interested in log furniture. Have a friend in town who makes some nice stuff. I finally bought the tools I need last fall, and finished my first project a month ago, it's a queen bed frame, it turned out pretty good I think, I learned lots doing it and the next few will get better and better. Been working on a few other things since, benches and end tables, I find it's a nice way to spend my free time - which I may have lots of this year the way the patch is going, LOL. Here's the bed framed I built, whattya think??

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y30/Rocks5E/Furniture/April42009023.jpg

[deanmc]

I like it. Looks really good.:wave:

[BobLoblaw]

Looks real good, Rocks!
Can't wait to see more of your work...
Later,
Steve

[shekaree]

Great work. Just curious, how much does it cost for the wood and tools?

[Duk Dog]

Wow. Nicely done.

[BBJTKLE&FISHINGADVENTURES]

That's awesome once you know how to do that you can do all sorts of things , well done , great work.

[Rackmastr]

Looks very nice man!!!

[TreeGuy]

Rocks, aren't lathes fun? What did you use for lumber? She's a beauty for sure. I think what I like best are the variety of points to attach the handcuffs to!:lol:

Tree

[ehntr]

I don't know if that aircraft cable would be so comfortable........end up with an X on my back for sure....:D

Lee Valley (http://www.leevalley.com/wood/page.aspx?c=2&p=42299&cat=1,180,42288,45539) Tenon cutters?

I like it...............nice job.

[TreeGuy]

I'm gonna guess lodgepole pine as the wood of choice.:evilgrin:

Tree

[Reeves1]

Looks good Rocks !

Hope you don't mind me posting a few pictures....?
Now you have that part figured out, maybe you'll want to start collecting "weird wood" to add another type of custom work to things like what you made ? Keep in mind logs peal nice in May !
I use these in my aviaries for roof support and breeding display for the birds.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v140/DerrickJB/burls08.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v140/DerrickJB/logdetailJuly08.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v140/DerrickJB/logJuly08.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v140/DerrickJB/log3.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v140/DerrickJB/log2-1.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v140/DerrickJB/log1.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v140/DerrickJB/log2.jpg

[209x50]

I started this a few years ago. Now I ussually build them for special gifts like my kids weddings. The one below is a queen I built for my daughter and right now I'm building one for the oldest boy and his Sept date.
Can you figure out the wood on this Tree?
http://www.theoutdoorquest.com/images/Mel's%20Bed.jpg

[northbuck]

I started this a few years ago. Now I ussually build them for special gifts like my kids weddings. The one below is a queen I built for my daughter and right now I'm building one for the oldest boy and his Sept date.
Can you figure out the wood on this Tree?
http://www.theoutdoorquest.com/images/Mel's%20Bed.jpg

I recognize that wood...see it all over when hunting. I'm not sure if we call it by the right name....but looks like diamond willow. I have actually peeled some of it to make furniture. My question is how do you clean out the "diamonds" and what do you use to sand down the main section.

[209x50]

You are right, sort of.:lol: There are 3 specie of willow in the bed, just about all willow "diamond" some just more than others. The posts and top rail on the headboard are birch and like Reeve I keep an eye open for stuff in the woods all the time.
I use a hook knife and detail sander on the diamonds. As tradesman I have shop full of tools and there are a multitude of sanders that I use for different stages/jobs on a bed like this but I can tell you to get that satin smooth finish takes well over 100 hours of sanding.
Here is a king I made. Size wise it is a serious piece of furniture and needs a big rooms!
http://www.theoutdoorquest.com/images/king-bed.jpg

[northbuck]

Cool stuff
I hadn't thought about birch...might try some. I have a bunch of willow and tamarack peeled and waiting to go. Two questions for you....
What do you use as a tenon maker?
Do you harvest your wood at a certain time of year to prevent checking?
And thanks for the info!

[Reeves1]

209x50
You have made some very nice heirloom pieces !

[209x50]

Cool stuff
I hadn't thought about birch...might try some. I have a bunch of willow and tamarack peeled and waiting to go. Two questions for you....
What do you use as a tenon maker?
Do you harvest your wood at a certain time of year to prevent checking?
And thanks for the info!

Ehntr has the link, Lee Valley Tenon cutters. For my process I can only cut wood in the spring, so I store it on drying racks in the shade, in the trees on my ranch. I still lose about half the wood for bed making but as Rocks said there are many other pieces of furniture that the wood can be used in.

[saltwater cowboy]

Beautiful woodworking guys. I too make a little log and willow furniture with the tools from Lee Valley. So far just chairs, benches, small tables, coat racks, arbours etc.
Used only lodgeploe pine so far but love the Diamond willow.
Gonna have to try a bed some day.
Anybody have a bandsaw mill for cutting thick slabs for tables and benches? You could become a very good friend of us log furniture guys,:D
Salty

[Castincowboy]

Good work guys!

I've done this for about 12 years now. Check out my site www.logicalcreations.ca

A word of warning! It's addictive! I could stop doing this even if I tried. I've made pieces for mayors, hotels, etc. and you never stop thinking about what you could have done better the next time. It can become expensive; but, oh well...

Keep it up and let me know if I can help ya. (almost as fun to talk about as fishin' and huntin'...)

[honda450]

Very nice work everyone. :wave:

[getasheep]

Gorgeous work everyone. This is certainly a hobby I hope to get into in the future!

[Rocks]

Great work. Just curious, how much does it cost for the wood and tools?
I probably spent about 800 bucks mostly on tenon cutters and drill bits and a couple sanders. Of course I already had drills, chainsaws, drawknifes, etc.

Rocks, aren't lathes fun? What did you use for lumber? She's a beauty for sure. I think what I like best are the variety of points to attach the handcuffs to!I'm gonna guess lodgepole pine as the wood of choice.
Tree - no lathe - like Ehntr said, tenon cutters, from Lee Valley, and yes, so far I've been using all dead standing lodgepole. The bed was a gift for a friend, I did not supply handcuffs with it :D I will be gathering a bunch of willow when the sap starts to run this spring, like someone said it's easy to peel then.

Nice pieces Reeves, I have a small collection of weird wood, that I don't know what I'm going to do with yet.

Nice beds 209, I like those!

Castincowboy - nice stuff, I looked at your site when I was gathering pics for ideas on furniture.

[Rust]

Very Nice work guys! Lots of work though hey. I got a queen sized one that my Dad and I built several yrs ago. But don't think I have any pic's of it.

[Rocks]

209 - you're right about the sanding - I probably spent a full week on that bed just sanding... I like the smooth finish though, I put three coats of finish on as well with a light sanding in between the coats...

Here's the bed again with the bed in it:
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y30/Rocks5E/Furniture/ksbed2.jpg

I've done a few small things just to get a feel for working with the logs, made a few of these half log benches:
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y30/Rocks5E/Furniture/April42009061.jpg

Anybody have a bandsaw mill for cutting thick slabs for tables and benches? You could become a very good friend of us log furniture guys
I would love a bandsaw mill! Might pick up an Alaskan sawmill I heard Lee Valley has an inexpensive one...

[Big Bull]

Nice work boys! I built mine about 15 years ago out of lodgepole pine that was blown down in a huge blizzard. I have a friend that builds log homes, and he let me use his "spindlizer" to make the tenons. The spindlizer is a chainsaw blade and chain mounted on a metal frame and hooked up to an electric motor, with an adjustable metal rod suspended above the tip of the blade. You bore a hole in the centre of your log, then slide the log towards the chain, riding on the steel rod, making a plunge cut, and you keep rotating the log until the cuts have been made all the way around. This tool was not the safest woodworking tool that I have ever used. My entire cost was about $20 for lag bolts and linseed oil. I have looked at the Lee Valley tenon cutters and am considering buying some. Rocks, Rich, did they work well?
http://i119.photobucket.com/albums/o145/BigBullAdventures/IMG_0275.jpg

[Rocks]

Nice bed Big Bull. The LV tenon cutters have worked good so far, although I have had the blade adjustment screw fall out of both the 2" and 1 1/2" cutters, so I'm going to loctite them in, otherwise they've been fine.

[209x50]

Beautiful stuff guys, I love turning out finished furniture from the peeled logs it seems so contrary!
Bib Bull, the tenon cutters have worked very well for me and sharpening is a breeze. That spindlizer... I think I lost a finger just reading how you used it! LOL!

[el sparko]

wow!!!!

[timba]

Very nice I tried making a coffee table a few years ago when I was in GC but with out the right tools its alot of work.

timba

[rhuntley12]

Some nice stuff there. I've always wanted to build something like that, just haven't done it or had the right tools.

[ovis40]

Nice work Rocks. Great hobby to have. Here is a look at picnic table #6. I've been making them for a few years now.

[Rocks]

That's a great picnic table Ovis! I like that... how'd you cut the slabs for the top? I'm picking up an Alaskan sawmill this week, to see how it works.

[tikka boom]

sweet stuff