Log Furniture Making

I have started collecting sticks for some out door building (small table , benches, etc) and would love to hear other peoples ideas. I know there are may builders of rustic furniture here and I have marks several projects as favorites so I can go back and look at the designs. So far I have not done any real research on what I need to do but I have a few ideas.

How do I dry my logs (mostly sticks :)
How to connect them (tenons, deck screws, glue??)
How to seal the project after it is done (spar varnish? maybe to shiny :)

It will be fun to see what you come up with. I am going to let my sticks sit outside this winter and see how they dry on their own, then next spring (or this winter if I am bored) bang them together into something more useful than fire wood :)

Good luck, I’ll be watching

-- "so much to learn and so little time"..

http://www.danielmack.com/oldsite/books.htm
Start with Daniel Mack’s books on rustic furniture making. Always start with the available info. There’s also a forum on yahoo that covers the topic.

Frankly I’ve been on the web since the early days and asked three questions in the beginning and the replies were so lame I learned to just go straight to the answers. There’s really no new questions, just new people asking the same old questions. You realize there are over 50 general hobby woodworking forums out there.

Maybe it is the new question (rare as it may be) is the true spark of innovation?

-- "so much to learn and so little time"..

There is a log tenon jig that operates with a router that I use (logman tenon maker is the name). It cuts different size tenons and is just perfect for non commercial use. If I want a good looking joint I scribe cut with my grinder connect with very large screws and cover them with plugs. Good luck!

-- http://www.woodsongsfurniture.com

rick3ddd, here is another lame question for you. Where are those 3 questions? Were you under a different name? I really wanted to see those lame answers. I checked your home page, cause I figured no one has as lame of answers as me, and I couldn’t find them.

-- http://www.woodsongsfurniture.com

Hi Dean:

Lee Valley has some nice twig and log tenon cutters that cut up to 2” Diameter:

Lee Valley

LV also carries a selection of Daniel Mack books and a video on cutting small twig tenons.

I sometimes use the above tenon cutters, but I’m more partial to hand-cutting tenons with Japanese hand saws, a carving hachet, drawknives, and a variety of rasps. I prefer to saddle-up the shaving horse rather than plug in the power tools.

Safety first. You’ll need a heavy duty drill with a 1/2” chuck. Be sure to strap it down and rig some kind of sled to push the log end in to the tenon cutter. Commercial setups are available.
When these tenon cutters bind, you’ll get a torque kick-back that can bruise you like the loser in a mule kicking contest.

Also consider wearing a face shield, leather gaunlet gloves and any additional safety equipment to protect those body parts you wish to maintain in working order.

-- Randy (P), rustic wood crafts, Morning View, Kentucky