A tree seat is a bench that wraps around a tree.It can serve as a great place to cool off in the shade during the summer and it is an excellent way to give your garden or yard a little personality.To build a bench around a tree, use wood boards and legs and braces to support the structure.Before you start on this project, you need to know how to use a miter saw.While the steps are not hard for a do-it-yourselfer, they are quite time consuming.
Step 1: Add 6 inches to your tree's diameter.
Look for the thickest point near the bottom of the trunk.Wrap the measuring tape around the tree.To get your diameter, divide this number by pi.Write that measurement down with 6 inches (15 cm) added to it.To make things simpler, round your numbers up to the nearest whole number.Divide the tree's circumference by 3.14 to get the total.If you want to write your base number down, round it up to 28 inches.If the tree grows at an odd angle, the extra space will prevent it from breaking your bench.If your tree is on the younger side and you expect it to grow over the course of the next 10 years, add 12 inches to the diameter.A 6-sided bench is ideal for wrapping around a tree without leaving a lot of variation in the amount of open space between the bench boards and the trunk.
Step 2: To find the length of your bench boards, divide the diameter by 1.75.
The tree bench is made from a sequence of parallel boards that wrap around the tree.Divide your base measurement by 1.75 to figure out how big your bench boards will be.Write down the length on a piece of paper.To make things easier, round any numbers up to the nearest whole number.If your base length is 86 cm, divide it by 1.75 to get 19.42 inches.To make things easier, round this up to 20 inches.
Step 3: The interior board length should be marked on a 4 by 6 in board.
A 4 by 6 in length of wood should be put on a stable work surface.Measure out the length you just calculated with your measuring tape.To mark the bottom of the board, use a carpentry pencil.The length of your interior board is indicated by these marks.For the wood, make sure that it has been treated to protect it from the elements.
Step 4: The line should be drawn at a 30-degree angle.
The base of the board is where you made your first mark.If you want to point away from the center of the board, you have to pivot the speed square.Use the speed square to draw a line through the board.On the other side, repeat this process.The lines should lead away from you.
Step 5: 5 more times, finish your interior boards.
You can repeat this process on 5 additional lengths of 4 by 6 in boards with your measuring tape, speed square, and carpentry pencil.You won't need to measure for the bench once you've measured the interior boards.
Step 6: You can cut interior boards with a saw.
Put on gloves and protective eyewear.You can adjust the angle of the saw by moving the guideline on the base of it until it reads 30-degrees.Put your first board against the saw plate.Slowly lower the blade as you draw a line to trim the board.On the other lines that you have drawn, repeat this process.Since you drew lead away from the center, you have to flip the board around.
Step 7: One of the interior boards should be covered by 3 other boards.
Once your interior boards are cut, place them on the ground in the shape of a hexagon to make sure they fit.Then, place one of the boards on a stable surface with 30-degree cuts pointing away from you.Above the piece that you cut, lay 3 boards.To separate them a little, insert 4 in between the boards.Ensure that the boards are separated evenly by putting at least 2 spacers between them.The amount of space between each board will be determined by the size of your spacers.The bench will be sound if the distance is less than 1 in and more than 0.25 in.
Step 8: To mark your cuts, use a piece of wood as a straight edge.
There is a piece of wood on top of the boards.The edge of the cut interior board should be flush with the scrap piece of wood.You can extend the angle by using your carpentry pencil.You should repeat this process for the other lines.Once you finish extending the lines of an interior board, set the pieces aside and a new set of 3 boards for each board.Extending the 30-degree angle out from your interior board is what you are doing.If you don't have a lot of space, make a note in the middle of each board to indicate if you should put it in one of the first, second, third, or fourth layers of your bench.To keep track of your layers, set the boards aside in the proper order.
Step 9: The boards should be cut at a 30 degree angle.
Don't change the angle of your saw.Put each piece of lumber underneath the blade and use it to cut through your lines.Cut the pieces the same way you cut the interior boards.Set your pieces out on the ground or a large table and check to make sure that all of your boards fit together in a hexagonal shape.
Step 10: The board is 10 by 10 cm.
Take a 4 by 4 in board and put it on a work surface.To mark off 12 marks at a 90-degree angle, use a measuring tape and speed square.The bench should be based on how tall you want it to be.You can trim the board into 12 lengths by adjusting your saw.How high your bench is determined by the length of these boards.Most tree benches are 12 inches (30 cm) tall, so you can make it a little taller or shorter if you want.The bench boards will add a little height as well.Attach 2 legs to each corner of the bench.
Step 11: 12 braces are created out of 4 by 4 boards.
There are 12 braces to hold the legs in place.Use a measuring tape and carpentry pencil to draw your cut lines after grabbing a long 4 by 4 in (10 by 10 cm).Place 1 cut line every 17 in (43 cm) until you mark off 12 lengths.Make your braces by splitting your lumber into 12 pieces.The legs are held in place from opposite sides by the 2 braces.These braces are called stringers.
Step 12: Attach 2 braces to 2 legs.
Put a bracer on a work surface.Set one leg on top of the brace at a 90-degree angle.Line the top left corner of the leg up.Use a second leg on the right.Hold the first brace in place if you put a second brace on top of the 2 legs.Attach the pieces together.This should be a square with one side missing.The braces will go at the top when you install the legs.
Step 13: The legs should be secured with 2.5 in wood screws.
There are 3 pieces of wood on the left.There are 2 screws through the leg and braces on the right.Attach 4 more screws from the opposite side of the legs.If you are not drilling into the exact same location on both sides, it doesn't matter where you place your screws.
Step 14: Your leg assembly will be created 6 times.
Each corner of the hexagon bench will be supported by 5 more leg and brace structures.Put a bracer on top for each piece.There are 2 screws on each side.
Step 15: Put your legs up on a flat surface.
On a flat, stable work surface, place your 6 legs in a hexagonal pattern.If you want your legs to point at the center of your hexagon, line them up.Place the bench boards on top of the legs the same way you will install them.Heavy objects should be placed against both sides of each leg.Don't worry about being precise.The location of the legs will be adjusted after you lay your boards on top.If the bench boards are not laying correctly, you will end up making multiple adjustments.
Step 16: The bench should be on top of the legs.
Take the bench boards and put them on top of the legs.Move your legs until they are even with the hexagonal boards.There is a small space between the front of the bench and the leg underneath if you push the legs in a little.Ensure that the boards have the same spacing on every side by putting your spacers back into them.Nothing is holding the boards in place.Work slowly and take your time.Someone will help you carry and lower the boards.Once you are done, take a good look at the structure.Ensure that the angle where the bench boards meet is the center of each leg and that your boards are evenly distributed before moving on.
Step 17: There are pilot holes through the boards and legs.
Put a pilot bit in your drill.The pilot hole is all the way through the middle of the board.Leave one side of the bench open, but leave the boards in place for reference.When the bench is around the tree, you will finish the last section.There will be 40 pilot holes.A pilot hole is a small hole that you drill into a piece of wood to make a screw.It prevents the wood from splintering.
Step 18: The pilot holes have wood screws through them.
2 in wood screws are needed to secure the boards to the braces.Use the lowest power setting on your drill to slowly drill the pilot hole into the wood.Continue until the screw is flush with the board.All of your boards should be screwed into place.You should have a 5-sided hexagonal with one missing side.
Step 19: Wrap the bench around the tree.
Take the boards off of the bench.A friend can help you carry your bench.Pick it up on one side and carry it to the tree.The bench can be moved around the tree using the open side.The trunk should be in the center of the bench.The bench may break if you attempt to lift it on your own.You can orient the bench by rotating it until you like the way it curves around the trunk.
Step 20: You need to finish the last side of the bench.
Finish the last set of boards by sitting on the bench.Put your boards in place.Attach the boards to the brace with pilot holes through the center of the bench boards.When you're done, take all of your spacers out.
Step 21: A spirit level and garden spade are needed to level the bench.
Take a spirit level and put it on the bench.There is a bubble in the middle of the level.The bench is even if it is floating in the middle.For each side of the bench, repeat this process.If the bench is not level, use a garden spade to remove the dirt underneath the legs.If you are installing the bench on a paved or gravel surface, skip this step.The bench is going to shift and settle over time as the legs compress the soil underneath, so it will never be perfect.