How to Measure Table Cutouts

Rhododendron Bench #9 How #9 was made

 
 Getting the holes in the right place when placing boards around slanting branches is a challenge. I found it easiest to cut a grocery sack into strips the width of the boards. I cut out for a branch and then tried it for fit. If it was too small, I cut a little more; if it was to large, I taped some more paper into the cut and did it over. When the pattern was right, I cut that board, leaving plenty of material at both ends for later trimming, and tacked it into place.

I then repeated the process for the next pattern and board. A rasp helps fine tune the slants inside the holes.

Once the pieces are all tacked into place, I drew the shape of the table onto the boards, removed them for sawing, and then secured them in place.

Cardboard also works for patterns, but the flexibility of grocery sack paper allows for better maneuvering when making holes on opposite sides of the same board.