So I've wanted to get into split log furniture for some time now and after watching some of the canoe threads on here realized that I just needed to get down and do it! So here's my first attempt. All of the pieces are made of Douglas fir tree limbs that have fallen on my property or on my neighbors' property. I peeled and dried some of the pieces for about a year before I made this. You definitely have to peel the limbs when they're fresh or it's impossible to get the bark off without a lot of work. The top is limbs that I split with a hatchet and just lightly sanded. I used a lot of wood putty to fill in the gaps and give a sort of log cabin effect.
I like the result but have learned a lot that will make my next build that much better. This table I assembled before doing the detail sanding. That was a mistake as there are a lot of blemishes that I probably could have gotten off with a more detailed sanding job earlier, sanding each piece well before doing the final assembly. Guess I got a little impatient! I used nails and screws to assemble the piece together, predrilling the holes. I learned that screws are much more forgiving and do a better job. What I really need to get is a tenon joint kit but that will come in the future.
What's great about this type of construction is that it's very forgiving and being rough and rustic in its very essence allows you to get away with things you wouldn't if you were working on finer furniture. As it is, I've got a new hobby now and can't wait to apply the lessons I've learned to the next piece. And I can always refinish this one in the future if I need to.