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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask what you'd do with the wood from 100 year old tree

26 replies

Lostinouterspace · 28/05/2017 19:57

Sadly I have to have a beautiful old tree cut down for safety reasons. I'm very attached to the tree and would like to have something beautiful made from the wood. My husband thinks AIBU as it'll make the job of felling more difficult/expensive. If you agree with me do you have any bright ideas about what to make?

OP posts:
traviata · 28/05/2017 19:59

how much will there be and what could you afford?

I'd love a beautiful box or small chest (£££) or a simple bench (£).

I'd speak to a specialist furniture maker before the tree is felled.

ophiotaurus · 28/05/2017 20:00

A bench for the garden?

marthastew · 28/05/2017 20:01

Kitchen table?

A bowl?

Lamp bases?

MariafromMalmo · 28/05/2017 20:02

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Crikeyblimey · 28/05/2017 20:02

What type of tree is it?

MarvinKMooney · 28/05/2017 20:05

A couple of years ago, I was looking for a lovely handturned lamp base. Some wise soul on here recommended Nick Hammond. Such a good call: he really cares about his craft (and no I'm not on commission!). I'm sure a craftsman like him could advise you on your options, depending on the wood? Lucky you!

HaudYerWheeshtBawbag · 28/05/2017 20:07

Depending on the tree I would make a bed or dinning room table with chairs.

If not so big, candle holders, planters, garden seating etc...

TondelayaDellaVentamiglia · 28/05/2017 20:08

have a look on Pinterest.

I'd go for something like this coffee table or this one!

Or even a ruddy great bench affair for the garden

ohfourfoxache · 28/05/2017 20:09

Mirror?

Bitconfused75 · 28/05/2017 20:18

Talk to a woodturner - if the wood is seasoned and doesn't have any splits they can make something beautiful from slices of the trunk.

665TheNeighbourOfTheBeast · 28/05/2017 20:32

Anything made of planks, so, tables, beds, benches etc..will require the timber to be rough sawn then dried for years (5?) Before it was usable
It will need to be stacked with air gaps outdoors out of the rain or in a airy shed, that's a lot of space, patience and then commissioning a craftsperson to design and make it....you will need to pay extra to have it sawn into planks too and your dh is right it will be harder to take the tree down because it needs to be cut into at different points to preserve the best timber.
Its one of those things..if you're into it and doing it yourself it's totally worth it.
But, If your standing back and watching someone else do it for money, it's going to really cost you.

Percephone · 28/05/2017 20:39

A huge old beech tree fell down in our garden when I was a young teenager. I made a trinket box out of one of the huge rounds which were cut from it. I still have it now. The rest was cut up and used to heat our house for the whole winter!

GladAllOver · 28/05/2017 20:39

Depends on the type of try, and its condition. If it's being felled for 'safety reasons', is it rotten?
As 665 says it will have to be seasoned, either in open air or kiln dried.

Original poster
Lostinouterspace · 28/05/2017 20:40

The tree is beech. Will look at nick Hammond - thanks!

OP posts:
GladAllOver · 29/05/2017 10:33

Beech is great for making furniture, after seasoning. But they are lovely trees and it's a great shame when one has to come down.

CiliatedEpithelium · 29/05/2017 10:36

Beech is great for furniture making but it doesn't feature as a wood you see because the grain is pretty featureless. Regardless of this, a local beech tree to me was cut down and I kept a piece of the wood to make a key ring as the tree had sentimental value. The actual grain is boring though.

Newtssuitcase · 29/05/2017 10:38

It will cost you an awful lot. You'll have to have the tree felled in large sections and then transported somewhere to be sliced into planks. Then the wood will have to be seasoned for a long time or kiln dried and then you'll have the actual manufacturing process. Then transportation back to you.

We take down a lot of trees. The cost of doing that on its own is enough. You'll also pay more in many cases for the tree to be felled in the first place since the tree surgeons usually make money on selling the wood afterwards.

user1491572121 · 29/05/2017 10:59

Love spoons.

BrexitSucks · 29/05/2017 11:22

DH built a huge cat tree out of large scrap branches & scraps of carpet (the carpet shop gave us, even). No need for seasoning.

MatildaTheCat · 29/05/2017 11:26

Take a slice of the trunk and sand down for a wonderful platter. A friend did this and it's beautiful though took ages to saw.

Domino20 · 29/05/2017 11:29

I second love spoons. Look into the symbolism and design something significant to your family. Could also design as gifts go family/loved ones.

Domino20 · 29/05/2017 11:29

For not go

AntigoneJones · 29/05/2017 11:32

get the trunk sliced into planks. Then you have to get them stacked in such a way that they can be stored and turned periodically while they are seasoning. Like a stack with bits of wood between iyswim.

Then you could make benches or hanging shelves or kitchen worktops with them.

It is a lot of work though.

EatTheChocolateTeapot · 29/05/2017 11:39

From a slice of the trunk you can make a little table, add pieces of big branches for the legs

Nymerialuna · 29/05/2017 11:47

Depending on budget I would go with either a coffee table, a memory box or use a few pieces to do photo transfers onto.