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Making a set of coasters from a fallen tree will allow the beauty of that wood to live on and tell the story in its rings. This project goes perfectly with the Branch Coat Rack I made a few months ago.
It was a sad day when the largest, oldest tree on my street was hacked down and unceremoniously chucked into construction waste bins. The 50’ Western Red Cedar still had a lot of good years left but got in the way of developers’ dollar signs and no amount of reasoning could sway them. Neighbours came to say goodbye, walking through the wreckage, collecting a memento or two; tears were shed. It’s amazing the impact a tree can have and the sense of loss for one treated with so little respect.
I collected a few thick branches to turn into sets of coasters that I will pass onto neighbours who remember their kids climbing those same limbs, many, many years ago.
The project is simple but it will take some time to cut and sand each piece. The more time you spend getting them right, the nicer the final product will be.
Materials:
- Straight branches that are no smaller than 3.5” in diameter
- Hand saw
- Sandpaper
- Clear Varnish
Directions:
1. Using the saw cut sections of branches that ½” thick.
2. Sand each section with heavy grit sandpaper, and then use a finer grit to smooth out the surface. Do not sand the bark on the edges.
3. Coat front, back, and sides with clear varnish and let dry. Untreated wood can also look beautiful as it absorbs the drips and condensation from the glasses that sit on it.
Update: due to many requests, I have listed 2 sets of 4 of these coasters for sale on Etsy: Natural Branch Coasters.
What a simply beautiful idea! Love it.
These are fabulous! I think they would make for a wonderful hostess gift!
Jeanine
I love these! They are beautiful!
These are awesome, Stevie! I’ve already shown them to my husband, but he (being a grinch ;-) said that he didn’t have a saw for that. So I can only dream of them (or give him a new saw for his next birthday ;-)
Love a bit of rustic and these are perfect! I’ll be searching for the perfect branch so I can make my own.
Kelly
I love these! If I ever run across a tree branch large enough I will definitely be giving this a go. So simple but gorgeous!
xoxo,
Melissa
Ooh, I love the new look of your blog! So pretty. Also, this project is awesome! I would so love to try it sometime, but I guess I’ll have to wait for some big branches to come down…
x Katherine
I love these such a simply idea but so cool. I can’t wait to try this.
This is one of the best ideas for coasters that I have ever seen. Thank you for the inspiration.
What a fun idea! Love it!
You will be featured at this week’s {nifty thrifty sunday}!
Have a wonderful weekend!
xo! Vanessa
What kind of varnish do you use to keep the wood from cracking?
Kelcee, I used clear satin finish Varathane.
Stevie, your coasters are gorgeous! Such a clever idea! *Note to self, check yard for fallen branches to make pretty like Stevie did!
I did this last Winter. But I just varnished one side so the top could absorb the condensation from the glass.
Did the wood try to split at all as it dried out?
Not at all Rebecca. I dried the cut pieces for a few month before sanding and varnishing. No issues with splitting.
Stevie,
How did you get the bark to stay on for the final product? Does the clear varnish keep it from peeling or flaking off? The varnish you used doesn’t look clear. It looks like it has some staining in it?
I just cut some cedar posts so I can make some coasters like yours and wanna make sure I have everything I need before I start.
Did you use the heavy sand paper an then varnish and then use the finer grit sandpaper on top of the varnish??
Sorry for all the questions. Thanks
Hi Cori, the bark stayed on due to the type of wood, Western Red Cedar. I was careful to not pull it off but it is pretty sturdy. I did varnish the sides around the bark as well. The varnish was labelled as clear, but it does have a honey colour in the can. It made the final coasters look a little darker than the dry wood which I expected and like. Yes, you can sand as you outlined, my husband also suggested that. I just sanded it smooth and added the varnish. I like them a bit more rustic and I’m happy with the result. I can imagine they would also be wonderful made very smooth as well. Have fun with your project and I’d love it if you would send me some photos!
Truely beautiful @so memorial to those days passed
Just one questions, where did you get the table cloth from? I’m in love with it!!!
Rebeckah – It’s a table runner from CB2.
Did you glue felt or anything to keep the coaster from marking the furniture?
Hi Shirley, I thought about that originally, but when sanded they are smooth so won’t scratch anything, and they are varnished and dry so they don’t stain. You certainly could put felt or little feet on them if you choose. I can’t hurt. Thanks for visiting!
I love these! Such a nice way to re use some timber and make them more than just a unique coaster.
I love these coasters. What a great idea to preserve memories. Thanks for sharing.
Very cute! I want to make some of these for wood carver friends who are getting married. So, dumb question…..what kind of hand saw? LOL
Thanks!
Hi Shannon, it’s a bit of a process with a saw so ask for help from someone you know with some table saw / chop saw / dual bevel sliding compound saw (Ok, I’m not even sure if those are things and if will work, I don’t use the big tools!) If not, then what I mean by hand saw is just a plain old saw from the hardware store. It’ll build some muscle too!
Funny to see this idea. I told my a husband last weekend that one of the big trees that has to come down to build our house is all mine! However, my plan is to make slices for “placemats” and a very large lazy susan for the center of our table.
I have sections of larger branches from trees that were cut from the land where we are now building a house. My intention is to make slices to hang on the wall in a group. I wasn’t sure how I should “preserve” them…this process sounds perfect! Thanks!!
Love the coasters, but love the story most of all. What a thoughtful gift for your neighbors! <3 I saved wood from the tree I grew up with, but it split badly. :-(
These are beautiful, but some advice: glue some felt to the back of the coaster. The sap from the tree CAN seep through…..and unfelted backside can also scratch your furniture. :)
Do I need to let the wood dry out before I seal it? I am doing something just like this to make trivets, but I was planning to use Linseed Oil to seal it. Do you know if that will work just as well?
Thanks! Yours are beautiful!!
Hi Elizabeth, yes, let the wood dry out first, and the linseed oil would look wonderful I would think.
Great idea, cant wait to try it as soon as I find a cedar tree limb suitable. How difficult is it to make the cuts using a hand saw, I mean I have trouble making a straight cut! Any suggestions? Also do you coat all sides top, botttom and the side (bark) with the varathane? Thanks for your post and answers to ll the questions on here, its very helpful.
Also you said to let the wood dry out first, dry out as a limb/branch first before cutting into coasters, or cut the coasters out and then allow to dry out.
Hi Chuck,
Let the branch dry first, it will be easier to cut that way. A hand saw is fairly difficult. Cut them as straight as you can and be prepared for some sanding. I Varathaned the cut sides with two coats lightly sanding between each coat, and the bark around the edge only once.
Thanks for visiting!
Love, love, love!!!!! Pinned these beauties, too <3
Christina @ I Gotta Create!
Wildly Original link party is open.
I love your coasters, I am going to try them with white birch . My Husband cuts them with a table saw and they come out very nice and with just a little sanding .
I love this idea, but in my previous varnishing experiences, when i applied heat (a hot mug of tea?) the varnish then stuck to the mug, and of course ruined the effect on my coasters, does anyone have any tips? is there something i could put on thats not varnish that would have a similar effect? I read somewhere that simple vegetable oil can be applied, but i dont want to end up with slimey coasters! Thanks, :)
Hi Faye, I varnished mine way back when I wrote this project and have been using the coasters all winter which means a LOT of hot tea and coffee has perched on them. No marks, no melting. They are in perfect condition. I’m not sure what happened in your past experience (climate? not cured enough? brand? age of varnish?), but this has worked perfectly for me.