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Log bed Sakura (cherry)

7K views 26 replies 9 participants last post by  Junji 
#1 ·
Hanami season, peeling

In this time of the year, everybody goes to "Hanami" (meaning watching flower), but it usually has to be cherry blossom, not other flower in Japan. Actually it's very nice season for a picnic or outside party after the long winter.

Here is some image of Hamami.



The best time to see the flower itself ends only for a week the longest, and it just started in Kobe now.

But for me, I am not seeing flowers, but the skin of the cherry tree this year… I just started a new project, "log bed for my daughter".

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I just got these logs from a friend of mine, she said it cut down about 6 month ago.
So it's not dry yet at all. Actually it's really green. I know I should wait until they get dried, but…

I need to make this bed by her birthday, and it's next month. Well, I decided to start it anyway, and I will see what happens after it's done. I hope the slit cut I made would help a bit.

This is my first project using logs, so I am not sure how this goes, but I already enjoying it only for peeling off the skin!
 
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#6 ·
きれい~~~!でも今年は早いですね。

I wish I was there. I've got to fly back to Europe for undergoing some minor surgery and I'm going to miss it completely this year. Just an hour ago my wife sent me a night picture of the sakura over the canal from his cellphone. She went to see the 都をどり in Pontocho.

I'm homesick now.

じゅんじ~さん build this bed and not only show it to us but keep us up to date about how it evolves once done, onegaishimasu. I think that given the high humidity in Kansai all year long you'll be fine.
 
#7 ·
Chris,
Yes, but my daughter is the one who is looking forward to the fnished bed the most, she keeps asking me everyday.

Jojo,
Oh you missed it, too bad. But actually it will be 満開, full this weekend, I think.

OK, about the up dates after it's done. Yes, the high humidity will dry the log little by little, and I also want to see how it goes if I use green logs.
So when are you coming back???
 
#9 ·
3fingerpat,
Hey you are here! I am so glad you came here for a good season, and not the N. Korea missile didn't hit us!!!
Hope you enjoy the stay, east good food, drink nice Sake. And if you ever come to Kobe, please let me know.
 
#11 ·
Head board half way around.

This is my first rustic project, and now I know a little bit of log wood difficulty.
It took so long to peel the skin, and after that, I wondered how to make the tenon out of these irregular shape logs. So looked around the internet and found there are products call log tenon cutter, or log tenon jig, but not so easy to get these in Japan, and if I order it by internet from US, it will take a long time and extra money for shipping.
I looked some video of log tenon jig using router, I thought I can build some jig myself… Mmm i don't know if you call this thing jig, but it worked just OK. It's just a piece of wood with a hole which is only a bit bigger then the tenon size you want to make.

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I only make maybe about 8-10 tenon for this bed, and this is just fine with me.

And this is what I could do by today.

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I need to do some steps to the main 2 logs before I really put them together, so this is only temporary image of head board for now. But it looks great! Just like living in a cabin in Rocky mountain!
 
#15 ·
head board and foot board, start cracking

Now the head board and foot borad are done.


There are some of "I should have…!", but it's just OK for this is my first log project. Yes, I am learning!

And as I wrote here in the first blog of this session, the logs are really green, and now it started cracking.


as long as the log doesn't split into 2 parts, I guess it can be used. The point is, how long it keeps cracking or drying. Well, I will see it.

By the way, did you know when you cut green cherry lumber, you smell really sweet smell?
That is really different from what I have smelt before with other kind of wood.
 
#18 ·
Almost there

The bed is now so close to be done.
I thought I might be able to finish it today, but these thoughts always can't come true…


OK, now I have to make the fence, so my daughter wouldn't fall off while she is sleeping, and some finish.
 
#20 ·
It was the day.

So it was the 3rd birthday of my daughter today, actually it past a few minutes now…

The bed was done a while ago, and she has been sleeping there, but I just thought it would be a good idea to take some shots on her birthday sleeping there.


There has been no problem with the bed, and the cracking just stopped after I put this bed in the bedroom.

There is nothing special about this photo, but for me, this is one of the biggest reason to be here in the world.
 
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