A gentleman near us has given us a petrified cookie that measures 32" x 26" and is 1.5" thick. He has asked us to design leg/legs for this piece.
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/11461/petrified-cookie.jpg)
Kevin was thinking it might make a nice pedestal table. What do you think?
The man who gave it to us made a beautiful bench from ipe that was recovered from the Coney Island Boardwalk after Hurricane Sandy. He has some interesting pieces. I will have to find the pic for you.
Three legs forming a triangle?
I wonder if you will need a solid surface (or something more extensive than just three points of support) under the petrified cookie to prevent it from cracking, or will the legs themselves provide adequate support?
I found the pic of Seth's bench. The wood is ipe and he used Alissa style legs.
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/11461/IMG_0245.JPG)
Quote from: John Mc on April 17, 2015, 12:20:22 PM
Three legs forming a triangle?
I wonder if you will need a solid surface (or something more extensive than just three points of support) under the petrified cookie to prevent it from cracking, or will the legs themselves provide adequate support?
John - Kevin is not here for me to ask but on the stools he uses a wide flange to place the seat. I wonder if he used one of them and put wood in between.
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/11461/newalissastool.jpg)
what do you think of inlaying the cookie into a wood table top?
Nice cookie - didn't know lumberjacks were making slices that long ago!
Quote from: Tamiam on April 19, 2015, 11:29:01 AM
what do you think of inlaying the cookie into a wood table top?
Sounds like a good idea to me.. less risk of the petrified cookie getting busted and embarrassing a guest who didn't realize it may have been delicate.
But then, being able to get a look at all sides of such a prize piece of history has its advantages too.
Some petrified wood is very delicate, does not take stress or shock well. I suspect to be on the safe side and leave the edges visible a wood cookie under it to hold it level would be the best shot. A tapered round where it gets close to the edge but barely visible.
I'd be making a sturdy round wooden table top, then tracing around the petrified piece and trimming / sanding the wooden top to match. You could then paint the wood black to match the legs and be inconspicuous under the cookie.
Another way would be to make an oval wood table a little larger, with a raised edge high enough for the cookie, then put glass on top.
Thanks for all your suggestions. I'll keep you posted and will take pics.
Seth (owner of the piece) sent me this: Arizona petrified wood is 225 million years old, it is a type of
pine....Araucarioxylon arizonicum
so the customer gets what the customer wants. After many phone calls back and forth and two bases, here is the final project. He didn't want anything to distract from the cookie. Like many of you suggested I would have inlaid the cookie to protect it.
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/11461/FullSizeRender~0.jpg)
Very nicely done.
Elegant. ;)