Tree Stump Cooler!

[cccamper]

Just came across a great idea for a backyard bbq area!

If you have a large tree stump as many of us do after the ice storms last winter and hurricanes this summer you can make a cooler. It's a no-brainer. Hollow out all but about 8" around the edge of the stump. Line the stump center with whatever you are comfortable with. Garbage bag is suggested but don't know if they are consumable sanitary. Anyway, line it with plastic bag, large container or whatever. Then pile in the ice and drinks. The outer edges even can serve as a place to set your Coca Cola!

If you use a level and cut the top flat you can put wooden top over the stump when not using as a cooler.

I love folk looking things. I have an outdoor tabletop that is made out of a round top I got at Lowes. Solid knotty pine, 2" thick.
Draw outer concentric circles to make the look of the end of a slice whole watermelon.

(Center is red, 1st circle is 2 - 3 inches wide for the "white" rind. Then dark green on the outside, make sure there is about 1 1/2" left for the green outside paint)

Stain it with Early American Minwax.

I use CeramCoat Acrylic paint. There are latex you can use but you want to get a barn type red especially. It used to be hard to find those colors. Maybe isn't now.

Brush red paint on over about half - rapidly. As soon as it begins to dry, I use 220 sandpaper and start sanding on the paint. The object is to get the stain to show through in some places. If you get a good grip some place it will start to peel a little. This is great! Get lots of texture.

When the paint dries thoroughly brush on another coat of Minwax.

If you want to make it special, before staining the second time get some implelments of destruction and and "distress" the surface. Just don't get too carried away. DON"T make all the dents of only one or two items. It'll look like Folk Art 101.

I have a large set of woodburning tips and they are *wonderful* for getting "wormholes", woodpecker traces, little boys, etc.

I've made things like this and left them outside for years. THey weather a little and VIola, look even better.

It's nice to be able to pretend to still have something to offer!

e

[traveler]

Sounds like a great thing extra for me to do next summer. There are three tree stumps, about three feet high, in the back yard and I also have a 5' wooden wire reel that I could make into a picnic table, as for the bar-b-que, well that is another thing that shouldn't take that much thought. If I really sit down and think about the "things" that are in my yard and garage, I should come up with something.
Bruce

[cccamper]

Sounds like a great thing extra for me to do next summer. There are three tree stumps, about three feet high, in the back yard and I also have a 5' wooden wire reel that I could make into a picnic table, as for the bar-b-que, well that is another thing that shouldn't take that much thought. If I really sit down and think about the "things" that are in my yard and garage, I should come up with something.
Bruce

Oh, spools are good for all kinds of tables.
Hey if you have a stump 5' tall you could cut it down to bar height and make a bar table people could use.

Funny, my sister has a large deck and a large set of furniture. One part of the set is bar height table and 4 bar stools w/backs. (this is metal, but the mesh stuff so it is really comfortable) That's everyone's favorite place to sit whether for drinks and snacks or outdoor dinner.

I realized it's something to think about, I would not have assumed the height can make such a difference.

Oh, and one night on a tv show the characters were on a patio at a very Miami type bar. The tables were spools and each surface was painted a different color, turquoise, strong pink, orange etc. It really looked great.