8/16/2023 0 Comments Live edge wood slab dining table![]() ![]() Then hunch down to the plane of the slab and view these two sticks from a few feet back off one end. To check for twist, use two straight edges as “winding sticks” by place one across each end, perpendicular to the grain, and approximately parallel to each other. Placing a single strip across the width at various points will reveal how much cupping. These will go a long way in making some critical checks. My suggestion: 3 straight sticks or rips of good quality plywood that are 3/4'“ x 2” x 3’. a trick of the tradeīringing a straight edge with you for shopping live edge is helpful, two or three is even better. A dining table or bartop you generally want pretty close to flat, perhaps with a tapered corner orPers edge at most. Flat is preferable for a coffee table, but not necessarily critical, or at least not critical to every edge of the coffee table. Flatness is not that important for live edge wall art or a headboard. ![]() How much deformation is acceptable is a decision you need to make up front, and much of that depends on use. Some degree of bow, cup or twist is to be expected from the drying process and can still result from seasonal moisture movement on a flattened but unfinished slab, or even within a finished product. A rough sawn slab, however, may still be….rough, but can be reasonably flat and free of bows, cups or twists. If the slab was twisted or bowed before it still will be coming out of a wide-belt. A wide-belt sander, for example, can achieve a uniform thickness, but without additional efforts does not produce a flat slab, only a uniform slab. A smooth slab looks and feels nice, but there are many machining options that can smooth without eliminating bows (end-to-end curves), cups (curves across the width) or twists. Keep in mind, smooth and flat are different. You may find the perfectly sized and shaped live edge slab with all the characteristics you could hope for, but in the excitement of the moment forget to look at whether that slab will flatten out to the thickness you want. As a woodworker or end product consumer this is critical. To have a slab that is cut perfectly flat move an inch or more out of its original plane is not unusual. Had it been properly dried you would not have seen that piece even offered for sale but because live edge slabs are large, movement can be significant. I once had a person send me an inquiry and photo about a bartop their builder sourced and installed (from others) that ended up twisting nearly 30 degrees over its 8’ length after installation. know your end productĮven if sawn flat, wood moves as it dries. However, the biggest thing to consider when narrowing the search is suitability of the thickness and flatness at your final size and for your intended use. will all determine what type of slab you’re looking for. ![]() A straight piece, an edge with a lot of character, unusual grain patterns, species etc. What slab is best for you depends on what you’re looking for. What slab is best for you thickness and flatness. ![]()
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