One advantage of these rhododendron benches is that you can easily change them if you don't like how they look. I designed this one as a viewing seat for the bamboo forest, with a future canopy of clematis. It was supposed to be asymetrical, but not unbalanced. After studying it for two years, I decided to add a few more branches on the neglected side. With a new pond and bridge,and a new three-legged rhododendron bench nearby, I also wanted the bare bark look and reluctantly began the tedious chore of removing it. |
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It is much easier to remove the bark with the branches detached, especially with a complex network like this one. But it is nearly impossible to remember how to put the assembly back together, even numbering the pieces. I remove them one at a time, debark them, and reattach them. Screws in predrilled holes make this process much easier. After trying to take the bark off with a pressure washer, electric sander, drill driven wire brushes, and other power tools, I finally settled on a wood rasp. It takes forever. Maybe a sand blaster would work. The pressure washer does work well to return the cedar seat and back to its fresh-cut color. I like the weathered gray for bark-on benches, but not for stained furniture. The stain, by the way, is a UV protection cedar color product. |
Jordan delivers the restyled bench to is location. |
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The location of the original bench was in the lower left corner of this picture. After the addition of the pond and restyling the bench, I moved it back so the view stretched across the water and into the bamboo. |