Tree trunks for bar legs

[JasonMcBride]

Hi guys, I have a redgum slab for my bar, and I'm trying to decide what to do for the frame.
I've decided to keep it open underneath and double sided.
I am going to make the frame out of steel, but I want to put two tree trunks underneath (with a couple of branches going up to the underneath of the bar)
I'm not talking about anything huge. About 200-250mm should do it.
My question is what type of timber should I use that is going to stay relatively the same as it dries? ie. not bark falling off etc.
It is not going to be structural, it will be rebated around the steel.
I have access to a lot of gums, and a few english oaks, plus a heap of others that I'm not sure what they are.
Any help would be much appreciated
Cheers
Jase

[BobL]

If its not structural it won't matter if it shrinks a bit so it doesn't matter what you use but if it were me I would use the same type of wood as the top.
.
No matter what you do, the bark will sooner or later come off, and when and while it comes off it looks dead tacky and there will be dust and flakes of bark all over the place.
It's much better if the bark is removed first.
I use an angle grinder with a fine wire wheel, and as you get close to the wood use lighter and lighter strokes parallel to the grain.
The effect will look pretty close to natural.

This shows what the wire wheeled natural edges on WA Redgum looks like - its one of the bench tops in my shed..
Finish is one pack PU
The lighter patches inside the blue box shows what happens if you don't remove all the bark.

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