Thread: Yellow Box Slab Projects

I'm a total novice too, so take my thoughts with a grain of salt... I can't contribute too much, but the epoxies will fill current cracks, I think you need to find a way to stabilise the timber more as well, so that the cracking doesn't get worse. A lot of random people on the internet (AKA all the people I know ) will use a set of bowties along the crack to help - and then use the epoxy to fill the remaining gaps, knowing that things shouldn't get worse. As far as picking an epoxy, well I really don't know what to suggest, except use something you can get in a decent supply (for you that means figuring out the postage question, sorry have no thoughts)

"Outside Table. This slab is substantial [in] size 3000mm x 1500mm x 50mm".
I'm going to get out my pop corn and take a seat to find out how a single slab that size is going to stay flat, while out in the elements.

Is the finished table going to at least be under permanent and complete shade or is it going to be basking in the Victorian sunshine?

Originally Posted by Rons-Place

Hi Guys,
First off I am a complete Novice with no wood working experience. I have a tiny house on a huge block and my shed is 3m x 3m. so all work I'll be doing is in the open.

I purchased 2 Yellow Box slabs about 6 months ago 1 for a kitchen bench and the other for an outside Table. They have been sitting outside flat on an old Bathtub covered from the weather with a tarp.
I am now retired and can start these projects.

Project 1 Kitchen bench.
This slab of yellow box is fairly free of defects with only very minor cracks and some minor twisting and bowing has occurred since being stored outside, I read about seasoning, which I think means storing the wood where it intends to be used. The only place in this house where I can store it is under the couch So i was thinking of making 4 Stickers?? the width of the slab out of that cheap pine you get at the hardware store (I think it's 50mm x 19mm) and slipping it under the couch for a year turning once a month.
I have trimmed the slab to 1600mm x 700mm it is 50mm thick, the finished size will be 1450mm x 600mm.
So a couple of Questions
1. Is there anything I can do about the Bow and twisting, like getting the slab damp again, add some weight on top (fill some icecream containers with cement and let it set) etc. or should I not worry about and try fix it when it's seasoned.( I can afford to loose up to 20mm in thickness)
2. Is there anything extra I need to worry about etc. borers

Project 2. Outside Table.
This slab is substantial is size 3000mm x 1500mm x 50mm it does how some huge end splits and man is it heavy, I would like to fill the end splits before they expand any further I have read about Wests System and Botecote.
To fill I was thinking boxing the ends and underneath with either marine ply or Masonite then filling with either the Wests system or Botecote as I understand they are pour in fillers The when set remove and clean up the foreign wood
This table will be supported by 6 Red Gum Log legs, The red Gum logs were stored in a farm house shed for at least 20 years they had grayed significantly, I did try to bebark them to get back to the natural colour but that was too hard so I hit them with a plane and they have come up alright but there are some quite deep crevices, quite a few bugs didn't like me planning them. I intend to have this table quite rustic in appearance.
So questions here are.
1. Should I dress the timber first before using the fillers
2. Which Filler to use Wests or Botecote or any other suggestions welcomed I'm not fussed about trying to match the colour or hiding the defects in the slab just prevent them from getting worse.
3. Best way to seal this slab to prevent greying it will be in the open and hit with all the elements
4. Red gum legs Should I soak then in a Rubbish bin of Borax mix to get rid of pests before sealing them.

Miscellaneous.
Where to mail order BoteCote or Wests System or other Proxy pour in resins from, I live in Rural Victoria.

Feel free to give any other advise.

Thank you
Ron

Photos please.

IMG_0302.jpgRIMG_0303.jpgIMG_0306.JPGIMG_0307.jpg@ kidbee added a couple of photos, the slab for the kitchen bench which is inside seasoning, a couple of the outside table slab, sorry for the ugly selfie but that was to give an idea of length I'm laying flat on the slab, and finally a shot of the red gum posts I'll be using as legs for the table.

@ daveVman I'll fire up the pizza oven, I'm sure you'll be able to cook your popcorn in there.
it will eventually be under cover but when finished it will have to live in out in the open for a couple of years first.

@ pounds the cracks aren't too bad, I'm hoping to get some 6"x2" red gum timber to box under the table and bolt the legs to then screw the table slab to that, that with the proxy resin should help prevent the cracks from opening further.


being a wet could winter I haven't made any progress on the project but we're almost at the end so looking forward to make some progress