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Looking for some plans? I told her its kind of an ambitious project but she said she has a friend who 'dabbles' in WW.
Or maybe something like this:
I'm thinking three sided could be built with 2 x 4s. I'd recommend eight sided instead of a hexagon so the built in angle detents on a miter saw could be used.
What say you? Links to plans?
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The bench is not difficult. Just build six benches with the sides at 30 degree angles. Drill the side stretchers for bolts. The length of the benches will be determined by the diameter of the tree. Being sectional will make it a lot easier to assemble and disassemble it as needed, you could even store it during winter if desired.
Ralph
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Teaching project. Have her research plans. Build a model she designed.
Then do full sized.
Don't need plans, just basic math.
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The first picture comes from Canadian Woodworking website. Plans are right under the picture:
web page Depending on the size of the tree, hexagonal makes the benches longer and you only need to make 6 of them instead of 8. Angles are just 30 and 60 degrees.
By the way, doesn't the diameter of the tree eventually outgrow the opening in the bench? I know it's slow, but assume that's different for different species. I've often wondered about structures built around living trees.
Steve
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LOML wants one of those too.
Making the bench is easy. Supporting it around something that grows up & out or having posts in a known rooted area is an entirely different discussion.
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Quote:
By the way, doesn't the diameter of the tree eventually outgrow the opening in the bench? I know it's slow, but assume that's different for different species. I've often wondered about structures built around living trees.
Yes. but you can leave a decent gap. 6" on a tree that's growing 1/4" a year gives you ~24 years. Time to build a new one after that.
I'm working with the same issue at the wife's Kindy. They had a nice wooden deck build around the sand put, with some small flowering cherry trees growing through the deck. Looks nice, and quite practical for some summer shade. But they can't have a gap that a 3 year old can stick a foot in and get trapped.
So after a year they trees are getting too big for the holes. I've trimmed the boards back once, but it's a pain because of the tight space, trying not to damage the tree, and everything being full of sand.
It now needs doing again so I'm going to hack a decent size hole, and make a removable collar with a trunk size hole. Then I can unscrew it and make the hole bigger each year... Once the trees outgrow that, the deck will be due for a rebuild anyway.
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PSA... the one in the second pic is a good way to kill a tree.
Well, Bye...
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Mags® said:
PSA... the one in the second pic is a good way to kill a tree.
That was my first thought about the planter, that it would suffocate the tree and kill it.
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Lots of information online:
https://www.google.com/webhp?sourceid=ch...ding+tree+plansThis Old House lists this project as "20 hours & $770.00"
http://www.thisoldhouse.com/toh/how-to/step/0,,20395892,00.html
No animals were injured or killed in the production of this post.
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