Hi All,
Not sure if this is the correct section but I'll ask anyway. I need help on where I can purchase a tree trunk slice in Melbourne. Like the ones people are using as stands for cakes, relatively flat with bark along the edges. It needs to be approx 14 inches / 355mm in diameter and approx 2.5 inches / 50mm thick.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Cheers
I've just searched this for ages and it's hard! I found some on Etsy, but they are all overseas. This one seems the right size for you:
https://www.etsy.com/au/listing/266740540/14-inch-rustic-tre…
ETA: Actually, this won't ship to Australia, and probably would be a customs nightmare.
There are some locally on Gumtree, like this at Cranbourne who can make to order:
http://www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/cranbourne-south/decorative-a…
They mainly seem to be hired out as wedding table centrepieces as opposed to available for purchase. Good luck!
Thanks for that! I'll get in touch with the Gumtree seller and see how I go
call up some tree felling people and explain your needs. they might be able to help you out.
though, they will be "green" and need drying and sealing.
'call up some tree felling people and explain your needs. they might be able to help you out.'
I actually don't advise this, because the drying of freshly cut wood takes many months; and it will not sit flat/the same whay it was cut, after it has dried (it will warp a bit/wobble about). You would need to cut it quite precisely, and from an already dry log of wood if you want it to be dead flat (level) on both sides. Depending on your budget, you could get a carpenter to make one for you. Probably one with either a massive ban-saw or table saw, who is a good sander/has a keen eye for detail.
If it is for a 'single use', and the cake can sit on a disc of some sort of ornate version of baking paper rather than on the actual wood, then you could get it made for relatively little money by a carpenter methinks. Conversely, if you plan to keep reusing it and you want to be able to place the cake directly on it, then I reckon the 'sealing/treatment' aspect will be a the most expesive part of it. I'm no expert, but I'd imagine it would involve coating the entire thing in some type of epoxy resin, maybe multiple times. And that stuff is exy, and tricky to get right. I think that's the only way you could render the bark 'durable'/stop it sloughing off over time. Dried bark is actually pretty fragile stuff.
I hope a seasoned carpenter (or wood sculptor?) chimes in on this thread with some facts, because I'm really interested now that you've asked the question!
Thank you both. I've been told by some cake experts that I'll need to sit the cake on a board first then place the board on a larger diameter tree slice, hence the 14 inch. So I don't mind a fresh or dried sliced based on that. Someone else told me if I dry the slice then treat it with linseed oil that will be okay for the cake, as this type of oil is edible.
Try queen Victoria markets there a few vendors there who sell wood products for kitchen use
Nice idea thanks! Vic market can always surprise you
What you should be looking for is a great deal on chainsaws.
There are plenty of trees in Melbourne, take your pick.