Just a few feet north of the parsonage of my parents church in 5 1/2 acre heavily wooded lot stood a 24" diameter 6ft long Black Walnut blow down stump still attached to roots.Noticed it there a couple yrs back.Asked the Pastor last week if I could get rid of it for them.I wanted to make a bench for the church yard if the wood was still sound.... He said 'Help yourself' So Friday afternoon I had some spare time & went to work... Church is barely 10 minutes from me,started to sprinkle pretty good when I got to work,but I just kept on sawing....
Didnt notice the embedded chain link on the back side until then,so instead of cutting right down the pith of the heart like normal,I went to one side just a little.I lucked out,all until cutting the 'legs' of bench to length,as you can see by the blue stain.Only minor damage to 3-4 teeth (naturally it was a brand new 28" full chisel chain,about $30 grrrr...)
.But a few minutes with the file made things good as new.
Also got a couple short thick blocks for woodturning & a small stack of firewood from the scraps,good thing I was paying attention when cutting them,that embedded wire can do some damage.
Took down most of that one high spot on the back edge with the saw,then cleaned it up with 130 yr old Scottish cast iron panel plane.Will go back in a few days to clean up the notches cut in the legs w/ mallet & chisel & a few more minor adjustments for a snug & level fit.Being its all heartwood,the bench should last 30 yrs easily.
Didnt notice the embedded chain link on the back side until then,so instead of cutting right down the pith of the heart like normal,I went to one side just a little.I lucked out,all until cutting the 'legs' of bench to length,as you can see by the blue stain.Only minor damage to 3-4 teeth (naturally it was a brand new 28" full chisel chain,about $30 grrrr...)
.But a few minutes with the file made things good as new.Also got a couple short thick blocks for woodturning & a small stack of firewood from the scraps,good thing I was paying attention when cutting them,that embedded wire can do some damage.
Took down most of that one high spot on the back edge with the saw,then cleaned it up with 130 yr old Scottish cast iron panel plane.Will go back in a few days to clean up the notches cut in the legs w/ mallet & chisel & a few more minor adjustments for a snug & level fit.Being its all heartwood,the bench should last 30 yrs easily.
so 2 younger guys from the church loaded them up in pickup & brought them here around to the front of parsonage. Will start to turn silver grey in a few months,that's OK though.
