Big Timeline Table

YellowHammer · May 06, 2018, 11:48:47 PM

I've had this decent sized red oak log sitting around for a little while, and I noticed that week after week, customers were standing next to it taking pictures of themselves standing next to it. It's bigger than they are so it was becoming quite an attraction. I also noticed folks counting rings, and it gave me an idea to build a timeline table, or memory table, or whatever it's called. I've never done one, but have seen a couple. Basically, it's a massive cookie table that when finished, has brass plates that are tacked to the growth rings where important things happened. The dates when man walked on the moon, WW1 and WW2, the Kennedy assanation, basically anything of historical importance will be marked by a small brass plate in that particular growth ring of history. As an added bonus, at least for my table, (this may be the first of several) I will put important personal dates such as children's and parents birthdays, deaths, etc.

I'm thinking this will be a fun project, and if it looks good, will also be a significant product stream because I could customize it for a customer's specific family important dates. If it turns out well, maybe a grand or two for the finished table. Maybe more.

I've done a lot of cookies, but never anything of this magnitude, so it may very well be a complete flop, or it may work out. Either way, it will take some significant time, and will be fun as I experiment with different techniques and learn new skills.

So here goes. First order of business is to introduce the log. It's a decent sized red oak, has 1540 bdft, and seems perfect for this. It's bigger around than the hay bales in the background. It's only a little over a hundred years old, so the growth rings are far apart and will be perfect for little brass engraved mane and date plates to be attached.

I needed to dress the end cleanly, so got out my little chainsaw and started cutting, trying to be as flat as possible. Even the 52" bar gets completely buried in the log. Fun stuff, indeed. ;D

For reference, I'm 6'4".

Got it done, pretty flat cut.

Screwed some temporary 2x4 structural supports to the face to prevent catastrophic cracking and splitting when I sever the cookie from the log and put it on a pallet. I also used a big ratchet strap to give me something to hook a chain so I could hoist this beast into the air to handle it.

<
The final cookie, maybe a foot thick, significantly wider than my pallet. This is going to be a challenging project. I have only vague ideas on what and how I'm going to do it, but I don't need no stinking plan! I'm going to wing it.

rjwoelk · May 06, 2018, 11:58:16 PM

this is a very good idea i like it. Nice job of cutting.

Roxie · May 07, 2018, 05:24:33 AM

Love it! 8)

How much would one cookie weigh?

thecfarm · May 07, 2018, 05:52:15 AM

A real good idea.
I would like something like that. But not so big. I only have an average size home. ;D How about a smaller one,like 3 feet across? ;D
And yes,nice job cutting it.

Southside · May 07, 2018, 06:35:06 AM

Can't wait to see the progress!!

YellowHammer · May 07, 2018, 07:10:15 AM

Yeah, this is a classic YellowHammer overkill project. I wanted to make a piece of furniture that makes a statement, wanted people to look at it and go "Wow". I have no idea where I'm going to put the monster when it's finished :D, I'm not sure the chances of success are high enough for me to worry about it yet.

I estimated the log to weight about 17,000 lbs, so maybe the cookie weighs in at 1,400 lbs or so green. I'm going to have to take some off to get the surfaces flat and parrallel so I'm shooting for maybe at least 8 inch thick when I'm done. Maybe when dry it will be 700 or so lbs. with it being so big, it's going to add some unusual challenges.

I'm thinking of getting RiteLeg to build me some powder coated special legs, or I may have to fabricate some steel legs myself.

I need to cut a couple more cookies out, so they can all be drying and I can figure out how to keep them from cracking. I'm not sure traditional methods will work, I'm open to suggestions.

I'm considering adding some steel reinforcement either on the face of the cookie, or in it, but again, I don't really have a plan, just going to see what happens.

fishpharmer · May 07, 2018, 07:22:22 AM

YH, are you shooting for the 8" thickness to prevent deformation while drying? I like this project, looking forward to updates.

Southside · May 07, 2018, 07:34:49 AM

Along the lines of the reinforcement. If you cut out a base for the table legs out of steel that mimicked the cookie itself you could attach it from the bottom, that would help to prevent movement, cracking, etc. Won't do much for the weight issue...

WDH · May 07, 2018, 07:38:54 AM

To calculate green weight, take the diameter in inches and square it. Multiply by .005454. That is the cubic foot volume of a 1 foot cookie. Assume 60" diameter. 60 x 60 = 3600. 3600 x .005454 = 19.63 cubic feet. Multiply the cubic feet of 19.6 x 78 pounds per cubic feet of wood and bark for red oak. Weight = 1531 pounds.

PA_Walnut · May 07, 2018, 08:30:06 AM

Quote from: YellowHammer on May 07, 2018, 07:10:15 AMI need to cut a couple more cookies out, so they can all be drying and I can figure out how to keep them from cracking. I'm not sure traditional methods will work, I'm open to suggestions.

Yellow, I have an answer for you..for a change! ;D

There's a great way for you to salvage that thing and dry it successfully. Preservation Solutions. They have some great potions that actually WORK! (I have used it on many occasions and am excessively pleased. In fact, I'm purchasing a 55 gallon drum to keep on hand.

Read this case study to see that it's EXACTLY what you need. Get it on there ASAP!

Small, but comparison, but I have a 100 year old Sycamore that I'm about to quarter...yes, exactly 100 years old. (my daughter counted 'em and was excited to report). So, I'm going to cut a cookie and make a similar table for her. It will be a nice keepsake for her to remember the work we do together.

(*disclaimer: I have no affiliation with Preservation, and make precisely $0 from a referral. Just good stuff!)

(no, I didn't cut it with the baby saw...just on there for reference). :D

GAB · May 07, 2018, 09:24:56 AM

Quote from: YellowHammer on May 07, 2018, 07:10:15 AM
Yeah, this is a classic YellowHammer overkill project. I wanted to make a piece of furniture that makes a statement, wanted people to look at it and go "Wow". I have no idea where I'm going to put the monster when it's finished :D, I'm not sure the chances of success are high enough for me to worry about it yet.

I estimated the log to weight about 17,000 lbs, so maybe the cookie weighs in at 1,400 lbs or so green. I'm going to have to take some off to get the surfaces flat and parrallel so I'm shooting for maybe at least 8 inch thick when I'm done. Maybe when dry it will be 700 or so lbs. with it being so big, it's going to add some unusual challenges.

I'm thinking of getting RiteLeg to build me some powder coated special legs, or I may have to fabricate some steel legs myself.

I need to cut a couple more cookies out, so they can all be drying and I can figure out how to keep them from cracking. I'm not sure traditional methods will work, I'm open to suggestions.

I'm considering adding some steel reinforcement either on the face of the cookie, or in it, but again, I don't really have a plan, just going to see what happens.

In reference to your last sentence - have you considered 2 silo hoops? Something you can tighten as the cookie dries.
Gerald

pineywoods · May 07, 2018, 09:39:07 AM

WOW, I'd recommend a consult with tule peak.. I have a butt cut sycamore about that size, if you succeed, I might just try. I have seen a cookie table close to that size, but it was cedar, not so prone to crack..

caveman · May 07, 2018, 05:42:01 PM

That should make a cool time table. I noticed that Martha and your family's Cat are doing the heavy lifting.

Ljohnsaw · May 07, 2018, 06:00:26 PM

:P

Joey Grimes · May 07, 2018, 06:15:24 PM

Wow that's huge!!

POSTON WIDEHEAD · May 07, 2018, 07:26:23 PM

Quote from: WDH on May 07, 2018, 07:38:54 AM
To calculate green weight, take the diameter in inches and square it. Multiply by .005454. That is the cubic foot volume of a 1 foot cookie. Assume 60" diameter. 60 x 60 = 3600. 3600 x .005454 = 19.63 cubic feet. Multiply the cubic feet of 19.6 x 78 pounds per cubic feet of wood and bark for red oak. Weight = 1531 pounds.

say_what

POSTON WIDEHEAD · May 07, 2018, 07:27:38 PM

Robert, how old is that cap you are wearing?
Evertime I see you you have the came OLD cap on. :D

Larry · May 07, 2018, 07:55:13 PM

Some years ago I saw a similar red oak slice, I think it was in the new at the time Hobbs State Park building. It had a timeline of interesting events. There was always several people looking at it. I thought it interesting that the cookie did not have a big crack as almost all of them do.

It wasn't long after that I got involved with another oak slice. I didn't have a big enough chainsaw to slice it but got called to surface it with a router bridge. It went into a room in a lake home with a time line on development of the White River chain of lakes. One of those statement things in a high end home.

WDH · May 07, 2018, 08:24:30 PM

He looks posed in that chain saw pic. I think that he is just a Stunt Double, just standing in for the pic. Martha probably actually sawed it :D.

YellowHammer · May 07, 2018, 11:54:34 PM

Me and my hat are the eye candy and trademark look of the company, just like Colonel Sanders of KFC. :D With the Colonel, it would just be another restaurant sellling chicken.

When I bought the embroidered hats, I got a dozen all the same color. As Forrest Gump says, "That's one less thing to worry about."

I appreciate the comments on the cookie. I think I will be trying several of them. One of the issues with this log is that it has a large natural seam or crack in the pith that goes 75% from one bark edge to the other.

JMoore · May 10, 2018, 02:45:50 PM

Hey Robert I watch just about anything wood related on the tv. Anyways Redwood Kings did one similar to a redwood and before they even cut it they attached a plywood face to it using lotsa screws. Later they recessed that plywood "face" into the base if I remember correctly so the top was the timeline but if you looked underneath it was plywood. This thing was huge though and seems like it was 1000 years old or more.

JMoore · May 10, 2018, 02:55:46 PM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CR4kN5Xiw-o Older then I remembered and not the full build but You can see where they attached the support wood.

WDH · May 10, 2018, 08:51:14 PM

That is so cool!

PA_Walnut · May 11, 2018, 06:23:36 AM

Quote from: JMoore on May 10, 2018, 02:55:46 PMOlder then I remembered and not the full build but You can see where they attached the support wood.

OK. I'm gonna take my 100 year old sycamore cookie and throw it on the firewood pile now. :(

YellowHammer · May 21, 2018, 12:36:59 AM

I like the plywood idea, I hadn't seen that. I need to watch the full episode. I may also try some steel plate or both.

So I ordered and received some pentacryl, but a gallon is about $75 and the instructions say I'm supposed to keep pouring it on until it stops soaking in, basically filling the wood with the product. Well, does anyone else see a problem? I'm way undergunned. I think I'm gonna need more pentacryl, maybe 25 gallons!

I considered pouring other things on it including oils, but didn't want to ruin it. However, I need to get it stabilized enough to start moving it, because it will crack under its own weight.

I've considered using bow ties, but they would have to be huge and I'm not sure that wouldnt ruin the look.

I need to get moving on it, I don't really have time for it to dry, I'd like to get it flat on one side and braced and stabilized.