I have been thinking a bit about your bench...
Splitting will work, and split wood like split shingles weather for a long time (much longer than sawn) As Granny has suggested, they will not be smooth and pleasant to sit on. The resin will definitely work, but ultraviolet light tends to make it milky over time. It works great indoors though. You may have seen some tables with seashells, coins, trinkets imbeded in the thick finish - that is the resin ‘cast’ surface.
A crosscut saw could be used, but believe me, it is exhausting to cut the length of a 6’ log. (Since we are none as young as our brains think we are.)
I think that what may be a solution would be using a chainsaw to split the log. While you could cut it freehand if you have a good ‘eye’ and steady control, it would probably be easier to make a temporary jig to guide the saw. This does work, and is the basis for the Alaska Sawmill that is widely sold, using a chainsaw to take the place of a circular saw or band saw as larger sawmills use.
Let’s see, if you have that log there, how about asking him - ‘Do you have a minute?’ Would you start the chainsaw for me so I can cut this log in half... (grin) You know he will then do it to show you how it is done... That was one my mother used to use with very good results - My wife uses that on me too. We guys are a sucker for that line.
Hey, on another topic... Maybe you could give us all some tips on locating antique parts online to help us also fix up our equipment as needed.
Ah yes, you Freepers are wonderful!! Have seen that resin finish in camps up north but would never have thought of it. I have an OLD (sound familiar?) electric chain saw that I use mostly to chop off a few inches on logs too long to fit in the cookstove. With a couple 100 foot extension cords, I can wreak a lot of carnage around here. With a four foot level, I should be able draw a fairly straight line. Don’t really care if it turns milky. Not looking for a professional look, just usefulness.
Oh, yes, he is a sucker for that macho bit. In 60 plus years, I have used that gambit soooo many times. He usually does know an easier way to do outdoor things, but the day (several years ago) he told me how to hold the dustpan more efficiently was the day it became his job to sweep the floor. Likewise, he hated my dishwasher and complained constantly about the noise and waste of water. One day, he said he would rather do dishes by hand than put up with that. When that dishwasher wore out, we never replaced it. Guess who has done the dishes for the past 30+ years. Too proud to admit that dishwashers are quieter and more efficient now.
Yesterdays tractor is a good source for parts. Have many more sources in my “bookmarks” on the desktop up in the loft. Don’t climb the stairs anymore than I have to. Treated myself to a laptop several months ago, but if someone needs the info, I would be glad to check upstairs. Have sources for parts for golf carts as that is what I use to zip around with. Forgot to mention that is in the pole barn along with 2 John Deere garden tractors. Last spring DH’s John Deere developed strange symptems and we have several acres to mow, so naturally DH had to go purchase a new mower. Subsequently, another old crony of his checked the gas filter and guess what? He replaced the filter and “voila” we now have Mr. and Mrs. John Deeres. He religiously replaces oil filters but the gas filter escaped him.
Dh also makes wine. Doesn’t drink it, but makes it just to prove he can and to give away. Any fruit or berry we grow around here is fair game for wine-rhubarb, blueberry, strawberry, peach and even corn. That corn was too potent for even our grandsons and their “modern” friends. We see more of the grandson than we ever did before the wine-making days.
I laugh when you tell how exhausting it is to use a cross cut. DH and I cut the logs for our first home with a cross cut. We were young and the dreams we had made it easy work. My grandfather owned a sawmill and sawed the logs for us. We used grampas truck to take them to a planing mill for planing and some made into clapboards and were all set. How much more we appreciate the things we work hard to obtain.
Now, I can’t wait for summer and the river to get low enough that I can scavange for small, flat varied colored stones to put under that resin.
That thick resin used to be called “Build 50” but now it has a new name. LOL we are dating ourselves because we all remember that stuff being in style.