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Three log bench - PEP BB roundwood.sand.bench

BB round wood woodworking - sand badge
 
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@jeremy, Sure thing. Here’s a photo- the log bench is 91 and a quarter inches (7’6” ish).
IMG_6136.jpeg
3 log bench that is longer than 7 feet
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Jeremy VanGelder approved this submission.
Note: Good job!

 
gardener
Posts: 373
Location: Boise, ID
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I learned a lot building this bench, I gave a full account in my thread: https://permies.com/t/269329/Making-Log-Bench


Starting materials:

This tree became the bench


This tree became the feet
(more starting pictures below)

Log Width (just over 11inches):


Shaping:

Using a planer on the top


Marking the saddles


Chiseling the saddles

Finished!


Overall height (17inches):


Overall length (7feet 4inches):

IMG_1816.jpeg
Starting foot 1
Starting foot 1
IMG_1817.jpeg
Starting foot 2
Starting foot 2
IMG_1856.jpeg
Hewn top 6” wide!
Hewn top 6” wide!
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Jeremy VanGelder approved this submission.
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pollinator
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My 3 log bench is built in the kettle moraine forest. I used a chain saw to split my log. One pass on each side then an axe and hachet were used as wedges  and a few taps from my maul and the log laid right open. I also used the chain saw to start the saddle joints but finished with my hachet. Logs were peeled with my trusty hatchet and the hand hewing was done with the draw knife.
20241112_093817.jpg
logs im starting with
logs im starting with
20241120_112910.jpg
split log
split log
20241120_121453.jpg
peeling leg logs
peeling leg logs
20241120_125806.jpg
saddle joint 1
saddle joint 1
20241120_130930.jpg
saddle joint 2
saddle joint 2
20241130_141610.jpg
over 7'
over 7'
20241201_144958.jpg
more than 11" wide
more than 11" wide
20241201_162829.jpg
under 18" tall
under 18" tall
20241120_141158.jpg
hand hewing
hand hewing
20241201_105902.jpg
my bench in the forest
my bench in the forest
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pollinator
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Minimum requirements:

  - Saddle notches to join the seat and base logs (saddles can be on the base logs or the seat log)
  - 7' minimum overall length for the bench
  - 16-18" height to the seat top
  - seat log needs to be at least 11" in diameter
  - hewn seat surface needs to be at least 6" wide
  - hewn top
  - peeled logs

To get certified for this BB, post three pics.  

  - Your three log chunks that you are starting with
  - your three log chunks shaped
  - final product showing length, height and seating surface width

Clarifications:
 - Chainsaws are allowed for this BB but the finished sitting surface must be smoothed/hewn with a hand tool


For this project I used a chainsaw, ax, drawknife, chisel, and some wedges.
IMG_0236.jpeg
Starting wood
Starting wood
IMG_0541.jpeg
Splitting
Splitting
IMG_0664.jpeg
Trying to smooth the seat
Trying to smooth the seat
IMG_0668.jpeg
Three shaped logs chunks
Three shaped logs chunks
IMG_0673.jpeg
Height
Height
IMG_0670.jpeg
Width
Width
IMG_0680.jpeg
Length
Length
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Jeremy VanGelder approved this submission.
Note: Good job!

 
gardener
Posts: 550
Location: 6a; BSk; Suburbia; 0.35 acres
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Dave Burton wrote:
Minimum requirements:
  - Saddle notches to join the seat and base logs (saddles can be on the base logs or the seat log)
  - 7' minimum overall length for the bench
  - 16-18" height to the seat top
  - seat log needs to be at least 11" in diameter
  - hewn seat surface needs to be at least 6" wide
  - hewn top
  - peeled logs

To get certified for this BB, post three pics.  
  - Your three log chunks that you are starting with
  - your three log chunks shaped
  - final product showing length, height and seating surface width

Clarifications:
 - Chainsaws are allowed for this BB but the finished sitting surface must be smoothed/hewn with a hand tool



After watching so many people working on this task at SKIP 2024 event/Wheaton Labs, I'm glad I tackled this one at home because it took me over 4 weeks to finish!! This was very physically demanding! I notched the underbelly of the bench log with an adz so that rainwater doesn't accumulate in the saddles. Then I wedged out chunks with an ax. I then used a planar and a drawknife to finish the hewn seat.
1_3-chunks-that-I-m-starting-with.jpg
[Thumbnail for 1_3-chunks-that-I-m-starting-with.jpg]
2_my-3-log-chunks-shaped.png
[Thumbnail for 2_my-3-log-chunks-shaped.png]
3_Final-bench-dimensions.png
[Thumbnail for 3_Final-bench-dimensions.png]
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Someone approved this submission.

 
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Cedar bench and ash base logs, split (poorly) with maul and wedges, hewed with axe, smoothed with drawknife
IMG_20250711_180304.jpg
cedar bench
cedar bench
IMG_20250722_135521.jpg
ash logs
ash logs
IMG_20250722_135331.jpg
[Thumbnail for IMG_20250722_135331.jpg]
IMG_20250722_142347.jpg
[Thumbnail for IMG_20250722_142347.jpg]
IMG_20250728_202403.jpg
[Thumbnail for IMG_20250728_202403.jpg]
IMG_20250722_142244.jpg
[Thumbnail for IMG_20250722_142244.jpg]
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Someone approved this submission.

 
I can't renounce my name. It's on all my stationery! And hinted in this tiny ad:
Learn Permaculture through a little hard work
https://wheaton-labs.com/bootcamp
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