Two woods, a maple bowl, and a Brazilian cherry sample, were hand whittled into a pipe with a rabbet joint that snuggly fits together. A natural twine cord was added to seal the connection. The tricky part of this project was boring a 3/16″ hole. The finished length is approximately 9″ (22cm) and the pipe is presented in a natural cedar dovetailed box lined with cedar sprigs. A natural oil is used on the surface to prevent splits and a beeswax finish give the pipe a pleasing luster.
We received a section of maple log saved from a break in a windstorm at a local park. This is an old tree with some branches close to three feet (90cm) thick. The log was milled into slabs. One section has already become a maple writing desk. This piece called for a more primitive, simple bench design. The ends of the slab were cut and angled for the legs. It’s very heavy and solid. A check/split was filled with gold glue to add a shiny feature rather than hide the mark. The finish is a poly/thinner mix to give a soft, smooth, touchable surface. 100% polyurethane was used on the top for a high gloss finish.
Approx. size: 48″ long, 18″ wide, 18″ tall, 100 lbs. #10-17-18
Golden glue was added to give the appearance of a gold vein in the wood…
No nails or screws were used. The legs have a slight V-channel where the leg sinks into a chiseled recess in the base. Glue fills the void and the legs were then pressed in…
A local tree harvester saved a nice round of Norwegian maple from the chipper and we had it slabbed for a future table and bench. The wain with the bark was wide enough to sand out and turn into an interesting table.
There were some band saw marks that needed to be ground and the piece included metal that someone hammered in long ago.
Next the sand with the grain to highlight the wavy quilting. The result is a surface with subtle ripples and quite smooth. We didn’t want this piece perfectly flat , only that it caught all the available light.
The legs are hazelnut, two with the bark polished to a natural bronze and one that had lost it’s bark but had an ideal curve. They’re inset and doweled, then glued into a tripod design that’s quite stable. The surface finished in poly so it’s durable and sits just shy of 28 inches (71 cm) which makes it a decent desk height.
The result is a space to compose or read–on a surface made by someone wonderful, nature. The maple grain is truly inspiring and the live edge creates a new environment anywhere you sit.
Approximately 28″ tall, 42″ long and 20″ at its widest.#137-BL-06-13
A client saw our first birch and maple bench and asked for two in a set. Each uses a free fallen salvaged birch, which was milled into planks. Both are 17.5″ inches tall, slightly less than normal seat height. They are very sturdy with solid maple legs pruned last year from a tree that’s actively producing. They were aged outside and off the ground to give them a weathered patina. The entire surface is covered in butcher block oil, one of the nicest for indoor use that takes very little maintenance. We couldn’t bring ourselves to finish these in varnish, and shellac would have affected some natural tones.
All the surfaces are very smooth and touchable, and comfortable enough for two people to share seat. We think a matching bistro table might be coming soon.
Approximately 36″x14″x17.5″tall. Birch and maple, finished in butcher block oil. Pictured: 87-BL-05-12; 88-BL-05-12
This is a long hall bench (40″ by 15″ wide and 19″ tall) finished in contact safe oils. No stain, nails or screws were used. Every component is pressure fit and glued. The legs and frame support are constructed from a single, aged, maple branch grown onsite. The birch top is from a log salvaged in the Fraser River by a local tug operator.
The grain in this birch specimen is unique with chocolate and caramel colors swirling on a backdrop of creme and ash tones. The rough cut plank still has the sanded and preserved texture of the mill saw on the underside. One edge still has a unique burl notch making it one of a kind. The top and sides are glassy smooth and oiled to a natural polish with some good depth and quilting (the natural shimmer). The maple legs are lightly sanded and left with their natural twists and turns. Everyone who’s seen the bench immediately reaches out and touches the surfaces. It feels solid and comfortable with the unique blend of these two complementary hardwoods. This bench is definitely one of our faves.
81-BL-04-12 Birch and maple, finished in FDA approved cutting board oil. Click the thumb nails to see the unique characteristics of this wood.
