Our life living off the land in our log cabin, breathing fresh mountain air, and getting back to basics.

Wednesday, July 24, 2013

Building A Primitive Table

Yesterday I told you we decided to build a rustic end table to put by our swing, and we did.  Bringing a piece of basic, primitive furniture from a blueprint in our minds into reality was both fun and rewarding, especially when we (I say we, Wayne and Johny did the bulk of the work) used only natural supplies right out of the woods! 

This is the end result of our efforts...


We began with three branches about 1" in diameter and one half of a red oak log.

Johny and Wayne used a draw knife...
...and chisel to make the surface of the log smooth and flat...
...giving us beautiful curls of shaved wood.
This is a closeup of the texture of the log before they began...
...and after some shaving and sanding...
...the log looked like this.

Then they cut four 1 foot long legs out of the branches...
...and used the draw knife to create the skip/peel look.

We used a drill to make the holes for the legs (the only power tool used)...
...and inserted the first leg to determine the placement of the other three legs.

Then we brought the end table up to the swing to level it...
...banging the legs deeper into the holes until they measured the same distance from table top to floor.

Behold our little end table!

The boys then sat in the afternoon breeze relaxing and benefiting from the new table!

This morning, I used butcher block oil as a finish, which brought out the natural beauty of the wood.  We all really like our creation!

Have you ever built a piece of basic, primitive furniture, or does the thought leave you bewildered?

Visit ABCWednesday for more blogs highlighting the letter B.  Many thanks to the founder, Mrs. Denise Nesbitt, and to Roger for taking the helm.  And congratulations on the lucky 13th round!

Thanks for visiting my blog, you are the best f/f/r/s/f's, see you tomorrow,
Lise

10 comments:

Susie Swanson said...

That is so beautiful. You all did a great job on it. I just love things that are hand made. My husband and brother made an entertainment center for us four years ago and It looks just like the day they made it. Everyone compliments us on it. That table will last forever.. Hugs, Susie

Judi said...

That is so adorable! There used to be a show on PBS of a gentleman who made so many things with just hand tools and I enjoyed it ~ Tell 'em to get back at it and make another one so you have one on each side of the swing LOL!! I loved all your pics from your walk too ~ the mushrooms are so amazing. Thanks too for your kinds comments, you obviously are a very wise woman! Judi

Reader Wil said...

Very skillful and inventive! I have never built a piece of furniture, but I have two lampshades made of baskets.
Wil, ABCW Team

Lise said...

Thanks Susie, the great thing about building something yourself is you can build with high quality so it will last! I bet your entertainment center is beautiful!

Thanks Judi, we considered a second table, but that side of the swing has log beams that can be used as a shelf so to speak, so we just use that.

Thanks Reader Wil, I bet those lamps are beautiful!

Ann said...

I can appreciate the work, my husband is a woodworker but usually uses his power tools. That is a wonderful piece for your cabin!!
Ann

Dad/Pepere said...

My 2 favorite memories of something I built was a bookshelf with my dad that I used for years, changed it lightly by adding legs to it after I married. The second project was a cocktail table after I was married. It was plywood, 1 inch tile squares, and legs...we had it in our living room for years. Hugs!

photowannabe said...

Oh I really love this work of art.
Things like this are so special and every time you look at it you will feel such pleasure and satisfaction.

We have a small willow twig chair that was made many years ago for my Mother in law...at least 60 years. I wish I knew the history of it but alas that part of the family has passed years ago.
It sits on our patio and I enjoy just looking at it. (its too small and far down for me to sit on.) Of course I could sit but I would never get up again. (:0)

Carver said...

I like your table very much. Carver, ABC Wed. Team

Roger Owen Green said...

I am no BUILDER!

Lise said...

Thanks Ann, it's working!

Dad, do you have pictures of those items? I'd love to see them. Hugs back!

Your chair sounds wonderful photowannabe...having that piece of history even if you don't have the details must help you stay connected with your past!

Thanks Carver, me too!

Oh Rog, too bad, because then we could call you Rog the Builder, just like Bob! You are a builder of blog community:)