Fun With Cedar Logs #1: A Rustic Impression of a Sitting Stool

Lovely wood. Did you make more than one?

-- We must guard our enthusiasm as we would our life - James Krenov

That’s a real beauty Mark, A great way to raise funds
I wish Red Cedar grew aound here.

-- -** You are never to old to set another goal or to dream a new dream ****************** Dick, & Barb Cain, Hibbing, MN. http://www.woodcarvingillustrated.com/gallery/member.php?uid=3627&protype=1

Mark, it’s LOVELY.
I just picked up some aromatic cedar – “just because”. It’s not thick enough to make a bench like this but…
... I’ll have to think about this—because I’d love to have a little stool such as the one that you made!!

(and congrats re: a successful VBS)

-- ~ Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)

Just one WayneC. I had hopes of doing more, maybe another day, if a customer wants one.

Dick: Western Red Cedar is considered a trash weed here in pasture country. People pay others to either spray it dead, or cut it down, trying to conserve the prairie grass. To ranchers, it takes up space that prairie grass could be growing. A prolific growing tree, Western Red Cedar is in great abundance around here, and not a desired wood by anyone…...other than a lonely furniture maker or two living around here.

Osage Orange is another wood that is in the same list as “nusiance trees” here. After spending two weeks working up rustic items with cedar logs, I have purposed to gather some of these two varieties of trees, and use them in my future work. At least their internal beauty can be used if their growing causes the ranchers problems.

thanks for the comments,
Mark

-- Mark DeCou - American Contemporary Craft Artisan - www.decoustudio.com

Thanks for the congrats Debbie. Now that VBS is over, it is back to work, and to some lawn mowing, it has really gotten out of hand!

can’t wait to see your interpretation of a stool.
Mark

-- Mark DeCou - American Contemporary Craft Artisan - www.decoustudio.com

I was visualizing a nice set of stools Mark. Perhaps another day as you say.

Hmmmm. You would not belive what I just paid for a 4”x4”x16” Osage Organge turning blank. I’m planning to turn it into a hand plane. You will have to stockpile some of those nusiances…

-- We must guard our enthusiasm as we would our life - James Krenov

WayneC: I’d be all excited about making more stools if I had some people paying for them. It was funny, the local area has seen a lot of my work, but no one suspected that I could do Rustic work also. I surprised them.

Osage Orange is a wood that is starting to be prized by folks in the woodart world, but that is about it. It was originally planted here as pasture borders, to keep cattle in their area. Before barbed wire was invented, and the steel fence post, it was used as an alternative to piled up rock as a pasture fence. If it is kept trimmed up every year, it makes a very good hedge of thorns that keeps animals where they belong. Once steel posts and barbed wire were brought it, and people learned how to pound them into the limestone bed rock, the use of Osage Orange was stopped, and it quickly became a nuisance. It grows like a weed, popping up fast and growing throny branches quickly, making it a chore to get in close and cut down. Since many animals love to eat the seeds (esp. whitetail deer), a large grapefruit sized green fruit, the seeds are spread easily across the prairie where they take root.

I have made some walking canes from Osage Orange, and it splinters out bad, and dulls tools fast. When turned, it will look like a bright neon green-yellow wood, but after some age, a wonderful dark amber color will develop. To speed up the darkening, you can set your finished project in direct sunlight, and turn it several times over a few days. Sunlight speeds up the changing of the colors to the dark amber.

-- Mark DeCou - American Contemporary Craft Artisan - www.decoustudio.com

Another great project and story, Mark. Thanks! Your work and the context around it is always impressive to see and to read. Thank you.

-- You can discover more about a person in an hour of play than in a year of conversation. (Plato)

Great stool Mark. I appreciate the story.

-- What happens in the workshop stays in the workshop. No wait that doesn't sound right. Karson Southern Delaware karson_morrison@bigfoot.com †

Nice benches Mark. Great for the western theme and a nice fund raiser. Do you have a ripping blade in the saw? I have a number of logs of Eastern Red Cedar that I’m thinking of opening up. The eastern is actually a juniper. Speaking of which are you sure that is western? The eastern are what is native to Kansas. http://www.gpnc.org/eastern.htm

I use my grandfathers brace and a couple of old adjustable brace bits to make my mortices for rustic furniture. It’s amazing how quickly they can take out material.

You should start stockpiling some of that Osage Mark…..and what did you pay Wayne?...Inquiring minds want to know.

-- Bob, Carver Massachusetts, Sawdust Maker http://www.capecodbaychallenge.org

Thanks Mot and Karson!

-- Mark DeCou - American Contemporary Craft Artisan - www.decoustudio.com

Bob: I’m not sure about the species now that you mention it. We call it Western Red, but we also call anything with a sticky surface Scotch Tape, and an adjustable wrench is a Cresent. So. I don’t know what I am using, since you bring it up. I don’t know if this is a native tree or not. I’ll have to do some more research.

-- Mark DeCou - American Contemporary Craft Artisan - www.decoustudio.com

That’s the tree farmer in me. They are often confused in conversation but the trees are very different. If it is considered a weed around you then it has to be the eastern. It’s surprising how many really nice woods can be found locally. You’re lucky to have that Osage. It’s going for big $’s.

-- Bob, Carver Massachusetts, Sawdust Maker http://www.capecodbaychallenge.org

Very Nice Mark! That rustic stuff blows me away not to mention that wood!! If i don’t have straight or at least consistant lines well I would probably be lost!

-- http://rjoneswoodworks.com/

Beautiful wood Mark, great stools, I made a stool out of catalpa back in 72 and shellaced it, just out of a log cut about 4 ft around. Still have it. Maybe I’ll post. You out to load uo a Semi with Osage and bring it east and sell it to a Sawyer, bet you’d clean up. mike

-- Mike. mwurm13@yahoo.com

we planted an Osage last year—on purpose :)
I’m trying to train it to grow upwards so we don’t get too mad at it.

I saw some Osage wood at a woodshow this year and said, “WOW.. that’s what I’m growing??? I can’t wait to cut it down” hahahaha

-- ~ Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)

Around here many years ago the Indians use Osage limbs to make hunting bows because of its strength and flexibility. It’s hard to find around here also. Another very nice project Mark!

-- " All Things At First Appear Difficult"

I paid $15 for the turning block. As Frank would say, it spoke to me…..

-- We must guard our enthusiasm as we would our life - James Krenov

I use this Milwaukee 1/2” drill. I love it. Plenty of power and torque. It’s definately a two-hander with an auger bit.

Hey Markrules: I looked at that Drill in the lumberyard the other day. I can’t afford it right now. Glad to have your recommendation on it. Imagine drilling 1-1/4” holes with a cordless? I had to grind down the threads on the point of the bit, and resharpen it to a more low angle cutting line. It worked, but I hate to put my Makita through that again, I need it too much everyday.

Roger: making an osage bow is on my “want-to” list for someday.

-- Mark DeCou - American Contemporary Craft Artisan - www.decoustudio.com

Great wood, great talent and shazam!...a beautiful stool. It brings me sorrow to know that such great looking wood is poisoned as a weed, instead of havested and used. I guess we all are guilty of some sort of wasteful behavior? I enjoy the color and smell of cedar, but too much time with it will give me a headache.

-- Jesus is Lord!

Hey Mark:
the odor does get really strong in the shop, especially since I haven’t swept, or cleaned up the shop since I started with the cedar. I think it also gives me a headache. At times I couldn’t tell what the headache was from, but it probably was the strong smell of the cedar oil. I left the windows and door open for ventilation.

When I use cedar (whatever species it is), I try to leave some areas unfinished so that it will continue to be aromatic, a lesson I learned in Freshman woodworking in High School. A stool like this with some unfinished areas under the seat, sitting in a house gives the room a nice cedar smell, not overpowering. If it is completely sealed up with finish though, the aromatic nature of the wood is pretty well stopped.

-- Mark DeCou - American Contemporary Craft Artisan - www.decoustudio.com

Mark, You might want to try a simple paddle bit for those types of holes… requires much less torque and doesn’t hurt you or the drill much if it binds…

Nice wood, nice color, nice design, great comments. Now all I need is some o that wood….

-- Ron, Twain Harte, Ca. Portable on site Sawmill Service http://westcoastlands.net/Sawmill.html http://westcoastlands.net/SawBucks2/phpBB3

re: Osage
someone needs to start letting the ranchers know that there is an income sitting on their land—- grow it/ cut it/ sell it…
killing the trees is like burning money

-- ~ Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)

ya…it makes me want to rent a u-haul and drive there from CALI with a saw…and then charge them for “clearing the land”...beautiful wood…

-- Matt, Napa, CA...fun is beautiful...just trying to have some fun...

now that’s a great idea Matt—double income!! Brilliant

-- ~ Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)

That wood looks so nice that I might have to put some cedar projects on my list. My list is always growing. I don’t think I’ll ever get to the end of it. With my first child on the way, my ‘just for fun’ list is going to be put on hold for quite some time I imagine.

-- Joshua, Olathe, Kansas

Joshua: Since you have a new child on the way, it might be that you are newly married.

I haven’t given any marriage advice for awhile in lumberjocks (you’ll see why after you read this), so I will break the silence and provide some insight that might help you.

I’ve been married 15 years, and had a number of years in Sales, so I might be able to help you on several fronts with the following advice:

First off, you have to change the way you think, and speak to your wife. Attitude is everything. You can’t “sell it” if you don’t “believe it.”

You are NOT having “fun” when building things in the shop.

You are building projects that “have” to be built.

See? This raises the priority quite a bit, and requires that you need shop space and tools to do it, and the time in the shop.

So, here’s a scenario:
You are with your wife, holding hands (important), looking at the “Big Box Store” at some crappy little Cribs.

You find some for about $110+tax, made in Indonesia. You look at them awhile, shake your head awhile. Then, show her the cheapness of the Cribs, the shoddy workmanship, the cheap material, the cheap hardware, and the splotchy finish.

You then indicate that you are worried that your new child may get hurt by sleeping in such a cheap Crib by saying something like, “What happens if it collapses?”

Let that one sit awhile. When Child Safety is in question, the world stops.

Once you have paused for a dramatic effect….

You say, “honey, I could build one for that amount of money in materials…”

She says, “Really? Can you have it done by the time the baby is born?”

You say something like, “Of course (show confidence here). However, I will need a few tools, and need the time to get on the project…”

Then, you add this deal closer:

“I really want my first child to sleep in a Crib I built with my own two hands (hold your hands out to her and both of you look at them). (Dramatic Pause) Then my grandkids, and great-grand kids can also use it, and it will become a family heirloom. Even your sister could use it for her kids…...”

You look at her with confidence, and continue:
“Honey, you realize that if we buy this cheap “Big Box Store” Crib, it may not last until the next time we need to use it?” (extra advice: don’t use that last one, unless you know she wants more kids, it could also keep you out of some other activities that you enjoy).

Then, you just hold her hand, and let her think.

Don’t blow it by speaking for awhile.

She may need a few days to think about it also. Just give her the space.

After that, you will have her approval, with an open checkbook to spend whatever you need on tools and materials, and the prioritization of time you need to work on it, which is the most important thing anyway.

You won’t be stuck stenciling little pink angels and flowers around the ceiling anymore, because you ”have” to get the Crib finished.

This concept gets you out of a lot of projects you didn’t want to do anyway. It gets you out into the shop, where you want to be. And, you’ll have the new tools you have for the project! She will even gladly park her car outside the garage so that you can keep your shop set up while you are working on the crib.

Works like a charm. However, it is up to you, whether it ever works again!

Of course, there are other things you will have to do, but the “priority” is the crib.

Then you have a twin bed, the diaper station, the shelving for stuffed animals, etc.

Before you know it, you will have all the tools you need, and a portfolio of things to show off to your family and friends.

Nine months won’t be enough time, so get started now!

Now, here is the bad part:
If you don’t actually do anything with the tools, you might have only one more opportunity to make this concept work, before skeptism surfaces each time you suggest, “I could build that,” and the checkbook is taken away.

I know this from experience.

My only recourse then, was to quit my job, and now I “have” to be out in the shop every day, and most evenings, and every weekend, and all holidays….....

Then, you can call it “fun”.

Remember, “if they can’t call you handsome, at least they can call you Handy.” (Paraphrased from the Red & Green Show-PBS)

We’re all pulling for you, have fun, I gotta get back to work,
Mark

-- Mark DeCou - American Contemporary Craft Artisan - www.decoustudio.com

Mark forgot to mention:
NEVER NEVER NEVER let your special lady visit LumberJocks.com and read the man-to-man advice given here!!!!
You’d be building yourself a doghouse for sure and your computer would be out in the trash
(especially if there is hormonal disruption at the time!!!)

oh.. and it’s not “my grandchildren” but OUR grandchildren.. and then throw in something like “just imagine standing over our crib and watching our son or daughter’s own baby laying in their sleeping peacefully”.

It’s a good thing you have women in this shop…. to give the true perspective!!

-- ~ Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)

You’re right Debbie:
My own advice given here, doesn’t work at my house anymore.

There were several phases of decline.

I used to say, “I could build that!”

• Phase 1: Shelli would say, “You can? I had no idea that you could build that.”
• Phase 2: Shelli would say, “you could, but would you?”
• Phase 3: Shelli would say, “you don’t have time.”
• Phase 4: Shelli would say, “yea right.”
• Phase 5: I learned to not even say it any more, it had no effect.
• Phase 6: I don’t even shop with her anymore, cause she will look at something she knows I could build, and all it does it cause memories to surface of all of my past broken promises. Sometimes she comes home from town mad at me, and I don’t even know why.

So, you can see why I have slacked back on the marriage advice.

Just having fun you all.
I even called Shelli out to the computer to read my advice I was giving. She said, “I hope he doesn’t try it.”

gotta get to work,
Mark

-- Mark DeCou - American Contemporary Craft Artisan - www.decoustudio.com

lol
oh it’s good advice for the first try….. follow through is the key!

It’s just like my parenting advice: say what you mean, mean what you say, and do what you said you will do”

second advice: make it sincere—by believing it yourself :D

-- ~ Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)

I picked up A piece of 8/4 red cedar about 6ft long. at a garage sale for 5 dollars. I was thinking of making a seat like yours.