Cross section cake platter / Tree Pedestal Cake stand (for wedding)

You didn’t say where you are located, but there may be a saw mill within driving distance. They will have a pile of “waste” you could probably pick through for free. Some of may have been lying around for a long time and has dried out.

As far as critters/mold are concerned, look for the obvious signs and pick clear pieces with tight bark. A good coat of flat clear spray on poly should seat the wood and make it save to use.

Congrats on the wedding and I really like the bottle stoppers.

-- Lew- Time traveler. Purveyor of the world's finest custom rolling pins!

i’m in northern virginia. I did visit a local lumber company that could only get me green wood slices, which unfortunately i can’t use. Anyone know anything about basswood? That’s the wood Michael’s sells in slices.

Thanks on the well wishes :)

-- Please visit my Etsy site, http://www.etsy.com/shop/cgurnham or http://www.christinagurnham.com You can also follow me on my artfire blog: http://www.artfire.com/users/cgurnham/blog

Basswood is soft and a lot of folks use it for carving.

-- Lew- Time traveler. Purveyor of the world's finest custom rolling pins!

I went to michaels and bough a few slices of basswood. i think this will work fine. now i have to find some wood to use for the column on the cake pedestal

-- Please visit my Etsy site, http://www.etsy.com/shop/cgurnham or http://www.christinagurnham.com You can also follow me on my artfire blog: http://www.artfire.com/users/cgurnham/blog

Elm has a distinctive and pronounced bark- if that is the effect you want.

-- Lew- Time traveler. Purveyor of the world's finest custom rolling pins!

I did one of these recently with the wood from Michael’s. it worked out okay. I put a couple holes in both pieces and used dowel to hold it together. Just used poly on it. I think the bride used a piece of round acrylic between it and the cake.

-- Lis - Michigan - http://www.missmooseart.com - https://www.etsy.com/people/lisbokt

did you ever take photos? do you mind posting them?

-- Please visit my Etsy site, http://www.etsy.com/shop/cgurnham or http://www.christinagurnham.com You can also follow me on my artfire blog: http://www.artfire.com/users/cgurnham/blog

How did you make your cake stand? I am new to wood, and would like to make cross section slices 12”x2-3” for my wedding centerpieces, and 1 large size for a cake platter (on top of a wine barrel). Someone on craigslist has just cut down a Modesto Ash and said I could have the pieces from it, but I’m a bit hesitant because I read a blog online that said Modesto Ash is really hard to cut. I have no clue how to go about cutting (which tools, etc) and then making it somewhat level. I’m afraid to get in over my head, but definitely can’t afford to buy the basswood slices. Any help/advice is greatly appreciated! ~Modesto, CA

Hey I am still working on the cake stand. Please follow this blog (although its a WIP, and i won’t get to work on it for another month because I am doing another project)

-- Please visit my Etsy site, http://www.etsy.com/shop/cgurnham or http://www.christinagurnham.com You can also follow me on my artfire blog: http://www.artfire.com/users/cgurnham/blog