The hollow Cherry Tree…
This tree was on my own property, and was unfortunately dead when I moved in. I took it down to spare my cars (it fell right onto the driveway), and marveled at the hollow stump. The void went far into the ground, within the taproot. I cut the remaining stump as flush with the ground as possible, and set it to dry.
There followed a vexing problem: The tree was hollow because it was rotting, a process that needed to be halted if it were to be made into furniture. The biologically active material in the core needed to be neutralized, and the worms eating the remaining wood needed to be killed. So, I performed an experiment. I started a small fire inside the stump, and once the punky wood began to glow, I stoked it with my shop-vac…
The resulting heat consumed the rotted wood, neutralized the fungus, and killed the larvae in the remaining wood. Now, the labor can begin.
A need for a tool;
A welders brush on a stick, and some winter sweat, got the majority of the char out of the tree core…
Note the small box fan pulling air through the stump and blowing it outside. You do not want to breath this ash.
The Core
The lines from the brush follow the grain, I think I may keep them.
A special stand for the router sled had to be built to accommodate the stumps height. This is much different than leveling a slab.
The trunk of the stump was leveled first, since I always level the table surface last.
The first passes have been made, the 2-tone coloration is revealing itself, as well as the swirls and striations of the grain…
Once the final passes were complete, I needed legs. Not just any legs, but something that complimented the shape of the stump, and that would take me out of the world of straight lines…
First steam test, a success!
This maple was steamed, bent by hand, and clamped in place to cool. An exciting first step!
Second steam test, a failure
This test with ash in the thickness I required did not go so well. 3 subsequent tests ended the same. I needed a solution that allowed tighter bends with limited steaming capability, and reduced spring-back to allow for a predictable end product.
A “hybrid laminate” construction was eventually sorted out. Thin strips were steamed and clamped to the forming to cool. They would take the needed shape readily, but had some spring back after cooling. Once cool, glue was spread between the layers and they were re-clamped to the form. The end result was a strong hickory bow with no spring back. The designing could continue!
I opted to use a combination of Hickory and maple for the legs, to accent the laminate rather than try to hide it. 3 tapered notches were chiseled into the trunk, and 3 bespoke legs were made for each. The three legs were tied together with 3 more curved base pieces, which affixed with a blind thru-pin. All 6 parts are unique, requiring their own forms to get the shape right.
As with all my tables, it met the requirement of being able to stand on its own with no glue. The stumps weight itself drives the tapered joints into their notches. They are retained with dowels so they don’t fall out when you pick it up. The legs tips were then rounded off, and the assembly glued together, completing the assembly of this table!
