woodworking

How to Build a Tree Bench

Posted on April 26, 2020 by Garden

There comes a time in life when everyone needs a tree bench, preferably one with a great view or in a place where you can sit and watch the world go by or supervise the kids from a distance! Luckily, a tree bench is pretty to build, and you don’t need to be a furniture making genius to make one. How to build a tree bench is pretty easy as long as you have the tools and the tree to build around.

Building a Tree Bench in Steps

First up, you need some good quality lumber. Your planks should be straight with no visible flaws such as cracks or decay. Cedar is a good choice, because it is very hardy but any other weather resistant wood will be fine and will save you time on maintenance in the future.

How to build a tree bench will depend upon the size of the tree of course and the sort of plan you are following, but in general it is much easier to build a hexagonal shaped tree bench rather than circular. This is because you can build a hexagonal bench in sections with leg supports spaced out to avoid any tree roots and simply assemble it when it is in place.

First, plan the hexagonal tree bench so that it fits around the tree without impeding any future growth. The six sides of the hexagon mean you have six sections, so first cut the six inner boards. You need to set your miter saw for a 30 degree angle.

Lay two planks parallel to the inner seat board and using the same 30 degree angle, cut these so that these middle and outer seat boards are straight and at the same angle. Because this is a hexagon seat, you need to repeat the process for the six sets.

Join two seat sections together by adding the wooden supports. The supports are made up of two legs each, sandwiched at the top by a cross brace and you need six of these. You fix the seat board section to the supports with bolts.

Once you have fitted two sections together, you can put it against the tree. Fix the other two sets together and also fit them against the tree. Because at this point, the bench is in sections you can make any changes if necessary, such as leveling the ground or moving the sections around so that the leg supports are not over tree roots.

Once the bench is in the correct position, you can screw it together. It is important to leave about a quarter of an inch at least between sections to allow for wood expansion. Finally, treat the wood with a protective sealer so that it will stay looking good all year long.

This is the only way to build a tree bench. We have seen many different ideas and plans, so it is certainly worth looking through plans and ideas so that you can find the best design for you.

Things You’ll Learn in a Woodworking Magazine for Beginners

Posted on December 19, 2019 by Home

When you start a new hobby, it is important to set off on the right foot. There is a lot to learn about woodworking, so it is important not to be deterred by too much information and over ambitious projects. If you want to become a woodworker, a woodworking magazine for beginners is the best place to start.

Lessons for Beginners

The first thing to be aware of is safety. Woodworking tools are sharp, so it is easy to cut yourself, splinters of wood can get into the eye, power tools can be dangerous in many ways.

When you are embarking on DIY wood projects, always ensure you have your safety glasses on and always adopt safe working habits.

The woodworking workshop is not the place to be careless. Don’t decide to do some woodworking after drinking alcohol or using any type of drug that can impair your judgement.

Why Read Woodworking Magazine for Beginners

A woodworking magazine for beginners will tell you the best type of tools to use. If you are a complete newbie, this may be an investment, but it is worth buying good quality tools that are easy to use, rather than cheap ineffective ones that will make it difficult.

According to most advice you should invest in a jigsaw, miter saw, table saw, hammer, mallet, power drill, and screw gun. If by contrast you want to take up hand carving, a good quality set of chisels will probably be enough to get you started.

A great thing about a woodworking magazine for beginners is that it will suggest simple projects that are suitable for your skill level. Typical beginner projects may include simple household items such as a rustic candle holder, a pallet shelf (or other great pallet furniture ideas), a wall planter, a ledge, or a lettered sign. It is important to start off with projects that you can complete quite easily, rather than taking on something that you just can’t handle.

The important thing to remember about woodworking is that it is not actually that difficult. Although it can be intimidating at first with all those new skills to learn, millions of people do it and you can do it too. 

Sadly, we can all become easily discouraged and lacking in confidence when it comes to practical skills. Many women take up woodworking and find it is much easier than they ever imagined. Likewise, some men who have believed that these practical skills are easy may find it not suited for them.A woodworking magazine which is aimed at beginners will help you see that anything is possible with the right attitude, a desire to learn, and practice.

Woodworking Letters: How to Carve Words into Wood

Posted on December 10, 2019 by Home

If you love DIY wood projects, you’re in the right place! Wood carving is one of those great hobbies that is not only enjoyable; it creates extremely satisfying great results. If you are thinking of getting started on wood carving and are considering which type of project to embark on, you may hit upon the idea of making a sign for your house or your shed. Woodworking letters into a sign seems like a worthy ambition but how do you ensure that your efforts pay off with great results? Keep reading to find out!

Getting Started with Woodworking Letters

First, you need some good quality woodworking tools. To create woodworking letters by hand, you need a good quality chisel and a dummy (a mallet specially designed for carving letters). Alternatively, you can use knives or gouges or whatever you feel comfortable with.

The second thing you need of course is your wood for the sign. However, if you are new to carving woodworking letters, you should not even touch this yet. Instead, practice your carving skills on scrap pieces of wood so that you get an understanding of how deep you need to carve, the angle, and how to create the best possible effect from the wood. You can pick up free wood scraps at a local hardware store.

Which Type of Wood Should I Use?

The type of wood you use will large depend upon how you want it to look. However, some woods are far easier to work with than others.

Basswood is a great wood for beginners. It is inexpensive and easy to use and because it has very little grain and is soft, is a good one to start with.

Butternut and Aspen are also similarly priced and are easy to carve. Although these woods are all technically hardwoods, they are on the softer end of the scale.

Oak is a beautiful wood, but it is fairly hard and may be difficult for the novice hand carver. Oak works fantastically well with power tools but unless you are already experienced with power tools and creating woodworking letters it is not the best choice to start with. 

Black Walnut is beautiful. It is also expensive and not that easy to work with.

Designing the Sign

Once you feel confident with your carving skills, you need to design your sign. You can do this via your computer’s Word program. Find the font that you want with the correct line spacing and print out the word in the correct size. If your printer cannot provide this for you, a trip to your local printing or copying store will provide what you need.

Using some spray glue, stick the lettering to your piece of wood so that you can follow the pattern with your chisel. Once you have outlined the design, you can remove the paper from the wood and go it alone.

Using a Router Instead

If you don’t want to carve by hand, why not use a wood router? There are numerous router attachments specifically designed for creating woodworking letters. You can use a router freehand or use a simple plan and results can be equally impressive. 

Is it is good as hand carved sign? Yes! Is it as fun to create? This comes down to personal preference but for our money, you can’t beat hand carving for satisfaction and enjoyment.