How to Hollow Out a Tree Stump (Using 2 Methods)

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To some people, tree stumps can be an annoying part of their garden, while to others, it can be an opportunity to create a lovely garden accent. Hollowing out your tree stump is a great way to add some style to your garden, but how do you hollow out a tree stump?

Two common methods to hollow out tree stumps are by hand or using a chainsaw. Hollowing out the stump by hand with a chisel and hammer will take longer, but it will offer you more precision. Chainsaws can be difficult and dangerous to use, but they will make the job faster.

What equipment do you need to hollow out a tree stump by hand? How do you safely hollow out a tree stump using a chainsaw? Let’s Find out!

Ways to Hollow Out a Tree Stump

Having a tree stump or two in your garden may seem like an unappealing look to some people. However, there are so many creative things you can do to those tree stumps that can turn them into a gorgeous part of your garden or even the centerpiece of your garden.

Turning the tree stumps in your garden into something that you can use and something that adds some pizazz to your garden will take some effort and a bit of elbow grease, but it is worth it.

You can use two ways to hollow out the tree stump in your garden. They are:

• Hollowing out the tree stump by hand
• Hollowing out the tree stump with a chainsaw

These two methods are somewhat simple, but you will need to set aside some time in your day as they can take a while to complete. Let’s go through these methods step-by-step, so you can hollow out your tree stump and turn it into something beautiful!

1 – Hollowing Out a Tree Stump By Hand

We will first cover hollowing out the tree stump by hand. This approach is the most time-consuming and requires more effort, but you have more control over the final appearance of the tree stump than other methods.

For this method, you will need to set aside a good 3 to 4 hours to complete the hollowing out of the tree stump as you are doing it by hand, which will take longer. Ensure you give yourself a break when needed as you don’t want to injure yourself due to fatigue from long hours of working.

Ensure you stay hydrated and shield yourself from the sun by wearing sunscreen. The last thing you want to deal with is dehydration and sunburn when you are only halfway through the job.

Equipment Needed

To hollow out the tree stump in your garden, you will need some equipment to help you and make the job easier. The equipment you will need includes:

• Garden gloves
• Protective eyewear
• Course-grain sandpaper
• Chisel
• Hammer
• Drill or router

The Method

When you have the equipment ready, you can begin the task of hollowing out the tree stump. Remember to wear sunscreen and keep a bottle of water nearby to help you stay hydrated. Here is the step-by-step method to hollow out a tree stump by hand.

Step 1 – before you begin the process of hollowing out the stump, you should soften the wood of the stump first.

This is not required, but it will make the job ahead of you easier. You can soak the tree stump with water from a garden hose for about 20 minutes. You should do this at least two hours before you start so the water can soak into the stump.

Step 2 – place all your protective gear on. You should always dress in protective gear when you are working with tools.

Step 3 – drill or router holes into the top of the tree stump across the section of the stump you wish to hollow out. You need to place the holes you make about 2 inches apart throughout the section of the tree stump.

Step 4 – once the holes are made, use your chisel and hammer to start removing sections of the wood from the stump. Chip away at the wood from one hole to the next. Ensure you keep your chisel at a 45-degree angle to make the process easier. Remove all the pieces you chisel out.

Step 5 – once you have hollowed out the tree stump to how you desire it, you can now smooth out the inside of the hollow with the sandpaper. Make sure you chisel off any sharp edges that could hurt you.

Step 6 – remove and wipe away any leftover debris from the tree stump. You now have a lovely hollowed-out tree stump.

2 – How to Hollow Out a Tree Stump with a Chainsaw

The second method is hollowing your tree stump out with a chainsaw. This method is a lot faster, but it will require more care. Chainsaws are dangerous to use, so make sure you know how it works before using one. When using a chainsaw, safety always comes first.

Equipment Needed

Before you begin hollowing out your tree stump using this method, there is some equipment you will need to gather. This includes:

• Protective gear
• Protective eyewear
• A chainsaw that’s fully fuelled
• Some coarse-grain sandpaper
• A chisel
• A Hammer

The Method

Once you have all the equipment needed for this method, you can begin hollowing out your tree stump. Here is how you do this method step-by-step.

Step 1 – ensure you are wearing all the protective gear needed to work a chainsaw safely.

Step 2 – use the chainsaw to cut out the middle of the tree stump carefully. Once you have carved out the middle with the chainsaw, remove the wood from the stump.

Step 3 – use your hammer and chisel to carve out any uneven and sharp pieces of wood from inside the tree stump.

Step 4 – once you are satisfied with the hollow of the tree stump, use your sandpaper to smooth out the inside and give it a nice smooth appearance.

Step 5 – wipe away any leftover debris from the hollowed-out tree stump. Your tree stump is now hollowed out and ready for whatever you want to use it for.

Final Thoughts

There are two methods you can use to hollow out your tree stump. Both ways are pretty simple, but one method will take significantly longer than the other. However, it is worth it as you can use your hollowed-out tree stump as a planter or even as a fairy village for your children. Good luck hollowing out your tree stump!

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