{"id":99708,"date":"2018-11-27T11:55:09","date_gmt":"2018-11-27T17:55:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.artofmanliness.com\/?p=99708"},"modified":"2021-06-02T12:19:45","modified_gmt":"2021-06-02T17:19:45","slug":"diy-rustic-wood-coasters","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/beta.artofmanliness.com\/featured\/diy-rustic-wood-coasters\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Make Easy, Rustic Wood Coasters"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-99805 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/content.artofmanliness.com\/uploads\/2018\/11\/coasters.jpg\" alt=\"Wood coasters with a drink glass.\" width=\"600\" height=\"400\" srcset=\"https:\/\/content.artofmanliness.com\/uploads\/2018\/11\/coasters.jpg 600w, https:\/\/content.artofmanliness.com\/uploads\/2018\/11\/coasters-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/content.artofmanliness.com\/uploads\/2018\/11\/coasters-400x267.jpg 400w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Most of us only think about coasters when we\u2019re reminded that we haven\u2019t successfully used one. But, maybe that\u2019s because a lot of coasters are uninspired and boring. Making coasters out of well-seasoned logs is an easy woodworking project to tackle in just a few hours, and it\u2019s almost guaranteed to give you a reason to remember using a coaster the next time you set a drink down on more delicate pieces of furniture. One of the best things about DIY wood coasters is the potential for experimentation. From colored epoxy resins to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.artofmanliness.com\/articles\/a-beginners-guide-to-pyrography-aka-woodburning\/\">wood-burning techniques<\/a>, there\u2019s no limit to what you can do. The below guide is meant as a base to guide your explorations. So, let\u2019s get started.<\/p>\n<h3>Supplies Needed:<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Miter saw<\/li>\n<li>Stiff brush<\/li>\n<li>Seasoned log approximately 3.5\u20134\u201d in diameter<\/li>\n<li>Sandpaper (and sander if you have one, for convenience)<\/li>\n<li>Stain, shellac, varnish, or mineral oil of your choice<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>1. Select and Prep Your Wood<\/h3>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-99709 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/content.artofmanliness.com\/uploads\/2018\/11\/IMG_6824.jpg\" alt=\"A dry tree log.\" width=\"600\" height=\"400\" srcset=\"https:\/\/content.artofmanliness.com\/uploads\/2018\/11\/IMG_6824.jpg 600w, https:\/\/content.artofmanliness.com\/uploads\/2018\/11\/IMG_6824-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/content.artofmanliness.com\/uploads\/2018\/11\/IMG_6824-400x267.jpg 400w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Choose a log that\u2019s well-seasoned; otherwise it can continue drying and cracking after you&#8217;ve made your coasters, and you don&#8217;t want that. Most wood will season in a dry, well-circulated area after about six months.<\/p>\n<p>You can choose any type of wood you want. Softwoods like fir, cedar, and pine often result in a rustic look, while hardwoods like alder, beech, hickory, mahogany, maple, and oak will look more refined, and may be more durable. Look for logs that are reasonably straight, at least a foot long, and 3.5\u20134\u201d in diameter.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-99710 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/content.artofmanliness.com\/uploads\/2018\/11\/IMG_6825.jpg\" alt=\"Cleaning log with stiff brush.\" width=\"600\" height=\"400\" srcset=\"https:\/\/content.artofmanliness.com\/uploads\/2018\/11\/IMG_6825.jpg 600w, https:\/\/content.artofmanliness.com\/uploads\/2018\/11\/IMG_6825-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/content.artofmanliness.com\/uploads\/2018\/11\/IMG_6825-400x267.jpg 400w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Once you\u2019ve selected your log, use a stiff brush to remove any excess dirt and loose bark. If you want to remove your bark completely, you can do so with a chisel, hand plane, or even a hatchet.<\/p>\n<h3>2. Cut Your Coasters&nbsp;<\/h3>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-99711 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/content.artofmanliness.com\/uploads\/2018\/11\/IMG_6827.jpg\" alt=\"Cutting coaster with power miter saw.\" width=\"600\" height=\"400\" srcset=\"https:\/\/content.artofmanliness.com\/uploads\/2018\/11\/IMG_6827.jpg 600w, https:\/\/content.artofmanliness.com\/uploads\/2018\/11\/IMG_6827-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/content.artofmanliness.com\/uploads\/2018\/11\/IMG_6827-400x267.jpg 400w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>While you can certainly use a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.artofmanliness.com\/lifestyle\/gear\/toolmanship-how-to-use-a-handsaw\/\">handsaw<\/a> to make your wood coasters, a power miter saw makes this project much, much easier. To begin, cut off the end so that you&#8217;re starting from a perfectly flat surface.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-99713 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/content.artofmanliness.com\/uploads\/2018\/11\/IMG_6830.jpg\" alt=\"Coaster size of 1\/2\u20133\/4.\" width=\"600\" height=\"400\" srcset=\"https:\/\/content.artofmanliness.com\/uploads\/2018\/11\/IMG_6830.jpg 600w, https:\/\/content.artofmanliness.com\/uploads\/2018\/11\/IMG_6830-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/content.artofmanliness.com\/uploads\/2018\/11\/IMG_6830-400x267.jpg 400w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Next, set your miter saw to cut your first coaster round, approximately 1\/2\u20133\/4\u201d thick. To guarantee consistency, clamp a scrap piece of wood to your saw base and use it as a guide for cutting subsequent coasters. Cut as many coasters as you want. Most sets of coasters contain at least four.<\/p>\n<h3>3. Sand and Finish<\/h3>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-99715 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/content.artofmanliness.com\/uploads\/2018\/11\/IMG_6832.jpg\" alt=\"Coasters with a palm sander.\" width=\"600\" height=\"400\" srcset=\"https:\/\/content.artofmanliness.com\/uploads\/2018\/11\/IMG_6832.jpg 600w, https:\/\/content.artofmanliness.com\/uploads\/2018\/11\/IMG_6832-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/content.artofmanliness.com\/uploads\/2018\/11\/IMG_6832-400x267.jpg 400w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Sand your coasters by hand or with a palm sander, working from a coarse grit, like 120, up to finer grits until your coasters are as smooth as you want them.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-99717 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/content.artofmanliness.com\/uploads\/2018\/11\/IMG_6834.jpg\" alt=\"sand off wooden coaster.\" width=\"600\" height=\"400\" srcset=\"https:\/\/content.artofmanliness.com\/uploads\/2018\/11\/IMG_6834.jpg 600w, https:\/\/content.artofmanliness.com\/uploads\/2018\/11\/IMG_6834-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/content.artofmanliness.com\/uploads\/2018\/11\/IMG_6834-400x267.jpg 400w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>This is also an excellent opportunity to sand off any extra loose bark or to add finishing touches, like sanding the edges smooth.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-99720 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/content.artofmanliness.com\/uploads\/2018\/11\/IMG_6844.jpg\" alt=\"Wiping wooden coaster with microfiber cloth.\" width=\"600\" height=\"400\" srcset=\"https:\/\/content.artofmanliness.com\/uploads\/2018\/11\/IMG_6844.jpg 600w, https:\/\/content.artofmanliness.com\/uploads\/2018\/11\/IMG_6844-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/content.artofmanliness.com\/uploads\/2018\/11\/IMG_6844-400x267.jpg 400w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Once sanded, wipe your coasters clean of dust with a microfiber cloth and apply your choice of stain, mineral oil, shellac, or varnish (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.artofmanliness.com\/articles\/basics-finishing-wood\/\">you can find tips for applying a wood finish here<\/a>). Sealing the wood on all sides will help protect it from condensation from cold glasses, and prevent the wood from drying out too much which can cause cracking.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Most of us only think about coasters when we\u2019re reminded that we haven\u2019t successfully used one. But, maybe that\u2019s because a lot of coasters are uninspired and boring. Making coasters out of well-seasoned logs is an easy woodworking project to tackle in just a few hours, and it\u2019s almost guaranteed to give you a reason [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":34,"featured_media":99805,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6,42259],"tags":[],"yst_prominent_words":[],"class_list":["post-99708","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-featured","category-skills"],"featured_image_urls":{"large":"https:\/\/content.artofmanliness.com\/uploads\/2018\/11\/coasters-538x280.jpg","reactor-320":"https:\/\/content.artofmanliness.com\/uploads\/2018\/11\/coasters-320x213.jpg","aesop-tiny-cover":"https:\/\/content.artofmanliness.com\/uploads\/2018\/11\/coasters-400x267.jpg","aesop-character":"https:\/\/content.artofmanliness.com\/uploads\/2018\/11\/coasters-200x200.jpg","aesop-collection":"https:\/\/content.artofmanliness.com\/uploads\/2018\/11\/coasters-300x300.jpg","aesop-grid-image":"https:\/\/content.artofmanliness.com\/uploads\/2018\/11\/coasters-400x267.jpg"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/beta.artofmanliness.com\/app-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/99708","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/beta.artofmanliness.com\/app-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/beta.artofmanliness.com\/app-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/beta.artofmanliness.com\/app-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/34"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/beta.artofmanliness.com\/app-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=99708"}],"version-history":[{"count":8,"href":"https:\/\/beta.artofmanliness.com\/app-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/99708\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":173629,"href":"https:\/\/beta.artofmanliness.com\/app-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/99708\/revisions\/173629"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/beta.artofmanliness.com\/app-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/99805"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/beta.artofmanliness.com\/app-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=99708"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/beta.artofmanliness.com\/app-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=99708"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/beta.artofmanliness.com\/app-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=99708"},{"taxonomy":"yst_prominent_words","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/beta.artofmanliness.com\/app-json\/wp\/v2\/yst_prominent_words?post=99708"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}