Cedar log arbor with built in benches, hand made from cedar logs and branches. Joined with mortise and tenon, no bolts
Hand Made Log Arbors in Pennsylvania and New York
The arbors and other log items you see here are mostly made from storm fallen cedar. Every Spring time, late April, I tend to notice storm fallen trees–have even scored run right after it fell across the street!
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Another log arbor. Built from a storm fallen tree–this tree, let me tell about this tree. I was driving down the road on a windy day and actually witnessed the tree fall down–right into the road. Well, it was holding up traffic, but luckily I did have my saw with me that day. Kept the traffic moving–and I got some awesome lumber out of the deal.
Log and Branch Cat Trees, made in the Pocono mountain region of Pennsylvania
One of my favorite cat trees. The cat’s pretty cool too.
Hand made from natural materials, built with an eye for artistic form and fine detail
All connections are made by mortise and tenon–you will not see any visible screws, bolts or nails connecting any of my log work. The easiest way to make connections like this is to use a tenon cutter. This tool fits on to your drill and acts like a pencil sharpener, allowing you to carve the end of a log into a peg.
Other times I’ll use a hole saw to start a tenon, describing a circle on a log’s end, and then using a hand saw to make a stop cut 2 or 3″ down from the log end, and then using a wood chisel to carve out the peg. This method takes longer, and creates a less perfectly round tenon….but the advantage is this method allows you to create a mortise and tenon fitting that sits flush, without the bevel.
A combination method, which I’m growing to like more and more, is to cut the tenon using the tenon cutter (shown in the link above) and then using the hand saw and the chisel to remove the bevel.
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All the time I see allegedly up-scale log furniture and arbors, with visible bolts and I’m wondering why
Even if you do need to use a screw here and there, you can always counter sink the screw and conceal it with a bit of dowel.
This one does not have an actual “stand”, rather it gets bolted right to the wall. Takes up a lot less floor space that way.
Cat trees! Ages ago, I built my first cat tree, from lumber which I got for free from a construction site. A few years after that I had the notion of hey, it’s called a cat tree….why not make it out of branches–rather than 2×4’s?
This ones made from birch, except for the platforms which are cedar
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Natural Log Art and Stone Art
interesting shelf, made from a single log with branches intact and pieces of flagstone
This last one is my newest. I had this awesome log laying around for over a year–I knew as soon as I saw it how it was going to look–it was going to look basically unchanged. no need to peg any branches into place at all, they were all already in the right place. Some of my other pieces are built this way as well–other times, I need to mortise and tenon a new branch into place. So yeah, I just made the stone stand for it, and fit the platforms into place. I think this will stay outside and be used to house potted plants.
….alternatively, maybe it will be part of my workshop. Tools and stone will be stored on these shelves! Hey, my customers get all this cool stuff built by me…..I think I get to have one for myself. Usually, my tool shelves are these functional, but unappealing structures made from scrap wood and re-claimed cinderblocks. Having my hammers and what-not stored up on this will surely brighten my day a bit.
And the job sign. Pretty cool for a contractors job sign, right?
And this one too:
Fine art print displaying of one of my dry stone spheres, in a cedar branch frame.
Other hardscaping services in available from Devine Escapes include:
- hardscape design
- flagstone patios
- walkways
- walls
- Masonry
- dry stone sculpture
- log arbors
- Ponds
- Phone consultation/DIY flagstone help
- custom built stone benches and stone birdbaths
Thank you
