On my online workbook this week: Still wrapping my head around this one

Dear

This week's inspiration is a strong connection. Can you believe I have been adding a new design every single week for the last 700 weeks straight?

My tip for you this week is also about making a strong connection. Because yes, the perfect log (conveniently chopped in half so that it won't roll) with the perfect side branch… with a fork… that is just nice and long… and pointing just so… can absolutely be cut if you have a few trees that should be cut. Or you can simply go through a bag of firewood and choose the perfect log and then glue a branch (I dried this one after I admired it for its cherry blossoms in spring) to it, exactly where you want it, facing the way you want it.

To make the dowel joint: make sure the branch wont split when drilling into it by tightening a few cable ties (see the picture above) around it. Drill a hole about 2 inches (5 cm) into the branch. Drill another hole into the log where you want to join the two. The two holes should be big enough to fit a medium thick dowel. Cut the dowel to be about 4 inches (10 cm) long. Insert and epoxy glue this dowel stick into the hole in the log. Set it aside to set. Next we place some epoxy glue (I use a bamboo skewer as an applicator) into the hole in the branch. Slip the branch over the dowel stick and slide it into position to match against the log. Snip away the cable ties and the branch is in position.

I love how strong this connection is. Using a dowel connector is not only a more or less invisible (so much more so than screws) design solution it is also the strongest method of connecting two pieces of wood and can hold surprisingly heavy loads.

Enjoy!

Every good wish,

Christine