How to Make Log Furniture

You can make rustic furniture out of logs in a few steps. Beginners should try building a basic log table before moving on to make more advanced log furniture projects.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Log slice approximately 2 inches think and 20 inches in diameter
• Four logs 2 to 3 inches in diameter and 15 inches tall
• Four logs 1 to 2 inches in diameter and 12 inches tall
• Saw
• Drill
• Measuring square
• 2 and 3 inch decking screws
• Polyurethane varnish

Gather Your Supplies

1. Find a large log slice for the furniture's top. Garden centers often carry such slices to be used for walkways.
2. Check your yard, or look through firewood bundles for the smaller logs needed for the table legs and supports.
3. Clear a stable bench or other work area to construct your log table on.

Prepare Your Logs

4. Cut your four leg logs to the appropriate length. Be sure to make level cuts so your table doesn't wobble.
5. Examine your log slice and choose which side to use as your table top.

Attach the Legs

6. Use your measuring square and a pencil to draw a square on the underside of the log slice.
7. Place a leg inside one of the corners of the square.
8. Begin to drill into the leg parallel to the table top. Then begin to angle the drill down to the table top. This will create a diagonal drill hole from the leg into the top.
9. Repeat the diagonal drill hole process on the other side of the leg.
10. Screw the leg into the table top using 2 inch decking screws through both of the pre-drilled guide holes.
11. Repeat this process for the remaining legs.

Create and Attach the Support Rungs

12. Select a support rung log and measure it against the distance between the table legs. You will need to cut the support log to size.
13. Cut the support log a bit longer than the gap it will fill. If it is too tight, use a small hammer to push it into place.
14. Secure the rung to the legs using the 3 inch decking screws.
15. Choose another support log and repeat the measure, cut and attach procedure.
16. Place each support rung at a different height. This creates added stability.
17. Repeat this process with the remaining two support rungs.

Varnish Your New Log Furniture

18. Follow the instructions on the polyurethane can to varnish the table top.
19. Varnish the underside of the table too to prevent water damage.

Tips & Warnings

• Never force your drill, instead back the bit out and begin again.