If you've ever thought about making a tree stump table, fall is a good time to actually do it. That's right. It's tree stump season! Fall sees a lot of firewood deliveries and trees coming down in storms which gives you, the intrepid reclaimer, easy access to tree trunks. Let's get started.
10 years ago I made a tree stump table. It got shared, copied and posted about so much it's one of 3 posts that I consider to have kickstarted my blogging career (thanks in part to Design*Sponge loving it too.) That table still sits in my living room looking as good as the day I made it.
Stump tables, made out of tree trunks, are one part architectural piece, one part table, one part bugs. Don't worry. We'll get rid of the bugs.
The point is they aren't just a place to put your coffee, a stump table brings the outside in giving your room a cozy organic feel.
They can feel modern or completely hygge and organic. It depends on how you finish them.
FYI! You can also use these as bases for a stump table with a glass top.
These two tree stump ideas are for using them indoors and no chain saws are involved.
I'll show you how to make an unfinished table that's similar to the famous Crate and Barrel tree stump table and a finished one that sits on tall legs.
First the finished stump table that's on legs.
Table of Contents
Materials
- Tree stump
- Sandpaper (medium and fine grit)
- Polyurethane (high gloss, semi-gloss, satin … whichever you want) I used satin which has just a nice sheen
- Paint brush
- 1 package of 4, 6" Capita legs from Ikea (these legs aren't available at Ikea anymore but they ARE available on Amazon.)
- Drill and appropriate bits
First things first. You have to get yourself a tree stump.
Where to find a tree stump?
Keep your eye out for city workers or private tree companies taking down trees. Pull over, ask them if you an have a section of a branch if they're big or the stump. Simple as that.
Call up places near you that sell firewood. They advertise a lot during this time of year so they'll be easy to find. That's what makes fall tree stump season!
I got my stump delivered with my yearly wood order.
How big should it be?
It depends if you want your table to be on legs or sit directly on the floor. I like the look of legs.
Your legs will be 6 inches high, so figure out how tall your stump needs to be for where you want to put it.
Generally you're going to want a tall tree stump for this.
If your sofa has arms at 25" and you want it to be around level with the arms, then you need a stump that's 18" tall.
My stump is 15" across by 18" high, with the 6" legs it's a total of 24" high. This brings it to just below the arm of my sofa.
Steps
Step 1 DRY IT
Allow your stump to dry out for at least a month. It’ll lose several pounds and the bark will loosen, making step 2 easier.
Coincidentally if you allow yourself to dry out for a month you’ll lose several pounds too.
You can dry the stump outside for a couple of months, then bring it inside for a couple of weeks.
If your stump was already cut and dried from wherever you got it, you can just bring it inside for a couple of weeks.
Step 2 REMOVE THE BARK
Now the work begins. You have to remove the bark. Sometimes this is easy, sometimes it isn't.
The first stump table I made was from Oak. The bark just pulled off with my hands.
The second stump table I made was from Walnut. The bark was a nightmare to remove. I needed an array of tools and a 14' length of prayer beads.
To remove the stump's bark, you'll need these tools to do it:
A Hammer
A Prybar
After your stump has dried inside for a couple of weeks insert the prybar between the bark and the stump. Hammer it enough to loosen the wood then either keep hammering or pull the bark loose with your fingers. Keep doing this all the way around the stump until all the bark is off.
And yes, you do need to remove the bark. If you don't, over time it'll loosen and fall off on its own leaving you with a cruddy looking piece of crud as a table.
If the bark is particularly stubborn, like this stupid thing was ... do the same thing but with wood chisels. They're sharper and will cut through the fibres between the bark and the stump better than a prybar. Be careful not to hack into the wood with the chisel though.
Do not hack into yourself either. Wood chisels are sharp on all sides, not just the tips, so be careful.
Now your stump is cleaned of its bark.
When it's dried out the stump might split a bit like this. That's O.K. It adds character.
Step 3 - SAND IT
The stump now needs to be sanded to get all the little hairs and slivers off it.
You need a smooth stump. Use a variety of sandpaper grits to sand it smooth.
Start with the coarsest grit, gradually working your way to sanding the stump with the smoothest grit.
Get rid of all the hairs.
Sand until you can run your hand over the stump and it feels smooth.
Once your stump is smooth wipe over it with a damp, lint free cloth or a tack cloth.
A lot of wood dust will come off. Keep wiping until your cloth comes away clean.
Now flip your stump over and get ready for the fun part.
Step 4 - ATTACH THE LEGS
Get your pre-purchased legs. Like I said, mine are the Capita legs from Ikea which are soon to be discontinued. You can buy the exact Ikea Capita legs on Amazon though.
To make the end table more like the $900 Crate and Barrel one, ditch the long legs and use little bun feet like these instead. You'll also need a wider, more squat stump.
Each leg comes with a bracket that you screw into the base of your table.
Whatever kind of legs you get make sure the height is adjustable like these are. Adjustable legs on the table means you can make sure it's level without having to squish up a folded up piece of paper. Or if you're a certain age and type - a book of matches.
Don't forget. Adjustable legs are the way to make sure your stump table is level.
Place your legs on the underside of your stump. You can use all 4 legs or just 3. I'm partial to 3, but 4 is definitely more stable.
Use a measuring tape to make sure they're an equal distance apart.
Once you have the legs positioned, mark the holes in the plates with either a pencil or a marker.
Remove the legs and fit your drill with the appropriate sized drill bit.
Pre-drill holes at the spots you marked for the screws.
Once all your holes are predrilled, place your legs and brackets back on and screw them into place.
To make my life easier, I put all my screws into a little dish. Don't question it. Just do it.
Now all your legs are on!
Step 5 - STAIN & SEAL IT (OPTIONAL)
If there are any sections where you accidentally took too much of the wood off (it's lighter underneath) you can skim over it with some stain. I have a whack of different cans of stain so I picked the one I thought would match the best.
Appropriately, it was "Walnut" stain for this walnut stump.
Just wipe it onto the light portion of your wood with some paper towel. It just darkens it up enough to make it blend in a little better. There will still be a colour variation, just not quite as distinct. Again, the look and colour and grain will be different depending on what type of wood stump you're working with.
The staining is a matter of choice. On my first stump table I didn't do it ... on this one I did.
Let your stain soak in and dry.
SEAL IT
Now you have to seal all that hard work in.
To stop your stump from drying out even more and to keep it from getting marked on top when you put things down on it you should seal your tree stump.
You can use any wood sealer. If you want a completely natural look I'd recommend sealing it with Thompsons Water Seal which will give the look of having no finish on it at all. Just remember that Thompsons Water Seal is water based which means it can only go on natural wood or wood that has been stained with a water based stain.
I used an oil based Polyurethane to make my stump top as durable as possible. I tend to be a bit spilly and bangy.
If you're using an oil based finish use a natural bristle brush.
Seal the whole stump.
Seal the top, sides and bottom of the stump with 2-3 coats.
The top of the stump will get really dark, but it'll lighten up once the finish sinks in and dries.
After your first coat dries, gently sand off any burrs and bumps.
The sanding will leave the finish with a white haze. Don't worry about it. It'll go away once you apply another coat of finish. Seal the sides and underside again 1-2 more times according to the manufacturer's directions.
Your stump may need up to 6 coats on the top. Because of the open grain, the finish soaks into the top a lot more and requires more coats. Always let your finish dry the recommended amount of time in between coats.
Once you've completed all coats of finish you're done.
Want to paint it?
If you're rather have a painted stump table, after sanding and wiping it apply a coat of primer. Once the primer has dried you can paint it with either water based or oil based paint.
Tree Trunk Table
How to make a tree stump table.
Materials
- Tree stump (your choice for size)
- Sandpaper (medium and fine grit)
- Polyurethane (high gloss, semi-gloss, satin … whichever you want) I used satin which has just a nice sheen
- Paint brush
- 1 package of 4, 6" Capita legs from Ikea (or similar)
Tools
- Drill
Instructions
Get your stump and allow it to dry out for at least a month. It will lose weight over this period and the bark will shrink away from the wood.
If you let your stump dry outside, as opposed to inside you'll still need to let it dry out inside for another couple of weeks to acclimatize it.
Once the stump has dried out remove the bark from it using a prybar and a hammer to chisel it away. Be careful not to gouge the wood stump.
If the bark is difficult to get off let it dry longer or carefully use a chisel with a hammer to remove it.
Sand your stump to get it smooth and then run over it with a tack cloth or damp cloth to remove any sawdust.
Flip the stump over so you're working on the underside of it and screw in the legs. Pre-drill your screw holes and make sure to measure so your legs are equal distances apart.
Stain and seal the table if desired.
Notes
If you want a very natural look to your stump, use a water based stain followed by Thompson's Water seal.
For optimal protection and a bit of a sheen on your stump use an oil based stain and a Polyurethane finish in satin.
Recommended Products
I'm an Amazon affiliate some I get a few cents when you buy something I've linked to.
Unfinished stump table
This is pretty obvious, but if you'd rather make a more natural looking log side table, just skip adding stain and any finish to it.
For an even more organic look, leave the legs off of it.
To make one just find a log, let it dry out, then sand it smooth.
Wood from deciduous trees: Ash, black walnut, birch, cypress, cherry, elm, maple and oak are all good choices.
You should AVOID conifers. Those trees that have resin that are a sticky mess. Trees like cedar, fir, juniper, pine, redwood, spruce, yew, larch should not be used. (think of how sticky the bottom of a Christmas tree is after cutting it)
The only drawback to these tables? Everyone is going to want you to make them one. So you can either start a blog, get a following, contemplate quitting, keep at it, and then one day write a post about how to build a stump table that you can tell them about.
Or you can just skip all that and direct them to this post instead.
→Follow me on Instagram where I often make a fool of myself←
Heather
Karen,
Gorgeous table! I'm so excited to get started on making my own. If u were to estimate, after the wood drying process, how long do you think it takes for you to make one?
Thanks!
Karen
After the wood is dry? It depends on how easily the bark comes off. If it comes off in one fell swoop you can be done in a day, but then you have a couple of days where you're applying the finish and giving it time to dry before the next coat. :) ~ karen!
Fran
Hi there-
What a great idea! I will have to do this! Also I LOVE the throw on the chair!!! Is is a rug or an actual throw? Where did you get it?
Thanks!
Karen
Hi Fran - It's a Mongoloian lamb blanket. I got it at Homesense (which is the equivelant of Homegoods in the States). ~ karen!
Bipasha
super! thanks for sharing the steps in so much detail. I've always wanted to try making one of these, and thanks to you, one day I just might do it.
Karen
You're welcome! You might as well find the stump and leave it to dry. Then if the mood strikes you .. you'll have it sitting there ready to go. ;) ~ karen!
Annie
"Coincidentally if you allow yourself to dry out for a month you’ll lose several pounds too." HAHA. You have made a friend for life. :-)
Karen
Thanks Annie. Feel free to send me potato chips. All my friends send me potato chips. ;) ~ karen!
Ksuha
Job beautifully done!
Karen
Thanks Ksuha! I can't take all the credit. The tree did most of the work. :) ~ karen!
Pamela
Great idea. good job on the table, just wish you wouldn't use the word "stupid" so much when describing things. The word is overused in your vocabulary.
Karen
Thanks Pamela, I'm happy with how it turned out. As far as the word "stupid" goes, it's repeated in the first paragraph to create a point by using literary rhythm. ~ karen
Bruce Johnson
What a fantastic project, Karen. And the appropriateness of the Minwax Walnut Stain is great. Very nicely done. - Bruce
Karen
LOL. Thanks Bruce! Judging by the name of your site I would guess you have an appreciation for Minwax. ;) ~ karen!
Tim
Do you do the polyeruthane on the bottom as well?
Karen
Hi Tim - I actually can't remember! I honestly don't think it matters if you do or if you don't. :) ~ karen!
Su
What a pleasure! Not only did I learn how to turn the 12 pieces of tree (neighbor's tree fell across our pool) currently sitting in the back yard into useful fire pit furniture, I had a good laugh. Thanks for both the tree ed. & laugh.
Danielle
Slowly sanding mine...they are sheddy little buggers! But I linked to your post on my blog. Thanks!
Reagan
Thank you so much for posting this. I want to do just this for give my transitional/contemporary living room a bit of earthy flare. My husband does woodworking for a hobby but he wasn't sure how long to let the stump dry out. I wonder if you need a shorter time here in Texas. Well again, thank you for your post. Now I just need to find the perfect type of wood.
Karen
Hi Reagan - You're welcome. In terms of drying time, you'll probably need the same amount because you, like Southern Ontario, where I'm from, get a lot of humidity. You'll know by how much the stump weighs if it's cured. ~ karen!
Jenn
I FINALLY made my tree stump table today! and i am OBSESSING over them. i've dropped all plans so that I can sit in my house and stare at them. i.love.them more than most things. i'm still deciding whether i want to post a picture on your facebook wall of them. that's how much i love them...
Karen
Post away Jenn! ~ karen
Dawn
OMG! I just went out and cut 4 large stumps to do SOMETHING with.....NOW I KNOW! I have 3 beautiful cedar stumps that will be amazing! LOVE the idea!
Laura L
I was on Pinterest and saw a pic of this project and wanted to see what other great Karen things they may have pinned that I missed when, DUM, DUM, DUM (sounds dramatic in my head) I clicked on the link and found this! http://www.duitang.com/people/mblog/11120360/detail//
I can't speak the language but I bet they didn't give credit where credit is due! :(
Even included the picture with your furbaby! Some people!
Kim
Thank you, Thank you, Thank you for these instructions, I can't wait to start my table. With the Nimo snow storm we lost a tree and we are going to put some of it to great use. We have a wonderful fire pit and would love a couple table to put around it.
Thank you!!!
Karen
LOL, well you're welcome! They make good stools too! ~ karen
Nola Cooper
Thank you so much for the inspiration! It is awesome!
Karen
You're welcome Nola! It's been a few years and I still love my stump! ~ karen
Jacqueline
Karen,
I wrote you a few days ago. I brought the pine stumps inside my house as you directed. Good thing I did, because it rained recently. We haven't removed the bark, but there are some parts that are exposed that after four days of being indoors are starting to mold! BTW, we brought the stumps inside before it rained. Is my project ruined?
Karen
Hi Jacqueline - I suspect you're fine. Let them dry out for a bit and then try to remove the bark. It's hard to say how long before the bark will come off because I don't know if the trees were dead or what kind of wood it is. Was it pine? Anyway ... just give it some time and everything should work itself out. ~ karen!
Toby McCrae
Karen,
I forgot to ask, what would you recommend for me to do in order to level it off nicely on the top and bottom? Should I hire a carpenter? I don't have the tools or the know-how.
Thanks,
Toby
Karen
How off is it Toby? You don't need a carpenter, you need someone who's good with a chainsaw. Do NOT do it yourself if you don't regularly operate a chainsaw. You may be able to bring it to a lumber yard or a place that sells firewood and have them straighten the ends for you. ~ karen!
Toby McCrae
Hi Karen!
Thanks for this inspiring tutorial. A tree outside my townhouse got hit by a truck yesterday and a huge limb cracked off the side of the tree. The city came and cut it up, leaving six stumps in the snowpile out front. I posted on Facebook that people should come and get them to make tables. 5 out of 6 of the stumps are gone now and I shared your tutorial with my friends. Three of us are making tables. My friends were brave and took two each! We can't wait to try this.
Thanks again!
Toby
Karen
Excellent! ~ karen
Jacqueline
Karen,
I was passing by a house today and saw some men chopping down two huge pine trees! I've been wanting to do this project for a really long time, guess I got lucky today! I immediately called my husband and he met me and cut a deal. We paid $40 for seven stumps measuring about 3-4 feet in height, each! They were even nice enough to help load the stumps into our truck with their lift gate!!! I'm soooo excited about this project, but I'm worried that the stumps won't dry out properly. They are super sticky :( Did I choose the right tree for this project? I sure hope so, it wasn't easy unloading about a ton of wood. If its going to work do you know about how long it will take for trunks to dry out?
Karen
Hi Jacqueline - Some pine stumps do seem to drip pitch (sap) forever. Others though are fine. You'll probably be fine. But I would suggest you get them cut into shorter lengths. The shorter they are the faster they'll dry out. It's still going to take months for them to dry unless the tree was dead to begin with. You can dry them inside the house near a fire or woodstove. Even by a hot air vent. But you need to keep turning it so it dries evenly and fairly slowly. If it dries too fast you risk getting a great big crack in it. The stump will almost always crack a bit across the top and bottom, but fine cracks. A big crack from quick drying isn't what you want. Goodluck! ~ karen