When Mother Nature Brings Down Your Tree ~ Make a Bench!

My husband, Randy made this bench out of our huge, old Mulberry tree that was brought down during a storm. Randy collects antique tools so he decided to use ONLY those & NO power tools to make it. He used an axe & wedge to split the log & then removed the bark with a draw knife. A hatchet was used to rough shape the top. The top was then smoothed by using wood planes & the draw knife. Then Lots & Lots of hand sanding!
We loved this old tree & miss seeing its silhouette on the skyline at night! The Mulberry tree was a favorite of the birds because it was always loaded with berries. It's the reason my kids, growing up always had purple stained feet in the Summer. :-) Having a piece of it, crafted by my husband, in my home is very special to me ~
Randy enjoyed the challenge & satisfaction of making it with tools that craftsmen of the past would've used.
The color & beauty of the grain needed no stain ~ only a couple of coats of poly to protect it.
Chisels were used to inset the legs
Interesting looking knobby leg!
Three of the tools used sitting on top of an old carpenter box.
This old wood plane is a beautiful work of art in itself ~ love the horn shaped knob!
Draw Knife ~ these were a very useful & versatile tool used by early craftsmen.
Miller Falls ( wood plane that was used to smooth the top.
A carpenter himself, Randy had to buy the box when he read the name plate ~ W.H.Weiss ~ maybe a long lost relative? :-)
Love the decorative brass handle & copper name plate on the old carpenters box!
Damaged tree that was used to make the bench
Judy Walters Weiss
Want more details about this and other DIY projects? Check out my blog post!
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  • Susan Bechamp Susan Bechamp on May 12, 2015
    This is the kind of family heirloom I would treasure and pass down to the next generation and beyond. Do you photos of the tree still standing? If so seal them in acid free envelope and secure to the bottom of the bench with a letter describing the memories this bench represents. Include as much detail as you can. Future generations of your family will value every bit of information.
  • Tell Tell on Jan 14, 2016
    Stunning.
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