Another project for the wedding centerpieces

This is another driftwood project. Early this spring, we had a really large branch wash up on the rocks. It didn’t look like much, but when we cut it up, it had this fantastic spalting in it where fungus had grown. I loved how it looked.

Since the cross section is what looks so cool, we decided to cut them up into about 3/4″ slices and use them to set candle holders on for the wedding (which are actually straight sided glasses that I am collecting from the local thrift store for $.35/each).

In order to get parallel cuts, my husband made a pair of v-blocks to hold the branch pieces in something like a cradle to keep them from rocking, etc.

On some of them, we had to cut them most of the way with the radial arm saw, and then finish cutting them with a demolition saw.

Here they are all cut up.

We are going to rough sand them and put water based polyurethane on them to ensure that we don’t have any bugs on the tables.

Now we have these ends left. My husband was concerned about safely cutting any more slices from these. I think that I am going to have him cut the rough end off flat and parallel with the other end and use them for candle holders this fall/winter.