Thread: Slab for table top

Hi NWW,

I do not have a slab to offer you. I do, however, have a comment if you really are new to woodworking as your forums' name states. If that is just a joke and the advice below is like teaching my grandmother to suck eggs then feel free to ignore this warning. One of the major issues with whole, single-slab table tops is that many species will split and warp over time. I have even had wide slabs of dry Australian cedar warp quite spectacularly when I kept them in a hot garage and cedar is renowned for its stability. Maybe, if you can get a kiln-dried slab that has been allowed to equilibrate for a while (and maybe also been flattened) after the drying process it might be OK. Of course, you may also just to be happy to put up with warping, unevenness and to fill any cracks with epoxy etc. - but I thought it would be worth letting you know.

Good luck with it.

If you're going to just stain it, why does it need to be a whole slab? Just buy some stable dried timber and join it together, if it is stained "dark" you won't notice the joints too much and it will be much more stable than a whole slab.

Thanks guys for the thoughts.

I would like to try and find a slab that is well and truly dry to avoid warping/cracking.

I have also contemplated laminating/joining boards but the 'client' would prefer a single piece of timber.

Thanks for the comments guys.

I would prefer to try and find a slab that is well and truly dry to try and avoid warping/cracking, but I am prepared to do some epoxy infill.

I had thought about laminating/joining boards, but the 'client' would prefer a single piece of timber.

I've copied your post to chainsaw and farm timber milling group. The group is currently closed to new members. Hopefully someone will respond here for you. 800 wide is a big ask although it can be done. Because of the size of such a slab a more definite location such as Western Vic, NE Vic or similar might be informative.

Originally Posted by dadpad

I've copied your post to chainsaw and farm timber milling group. The group is currently closed to new members. Hopefully someone will respond here for you. 800 wide is a big ask although it can be done. Because of the size of such a slab a more definite location such as Western Vic, NE Vic or similar might be informative.

Hi DP,

Much appreciated. I am in the inner South East, but can travel depending on location.

NWW

I've contacted a colleague in Wantirna with a stash of Blackbutt, but his slabs are all around 400-450mm wide.

cheers, Ian

Originally Posted by Newoodworker

Hi DP,

Much appreciated. I am in the inner South East, but can travel depending on location.

NWW

If you need the slab surfaced let me know, the place I work at can both flatten and sand up to 3100x1300x100. The factory is in Moorabbin

G'day I currently have 16 red mahogany slabs being kiln dryed won't be ready till mid June tho and I'm in Tabulam nth nsw they range from 750 to 600 wide ����

Originally Posted by Newoodworker

Thanks guys for the thoughts.

I would like to try and find a slab that is well and truly dry to avoid warping/cracking.

I have also contemplated laminating/joining boards but the 'client' would prefer a single piece of timber.

if you don't mind me saying, it sounds as though your "client" hasn't a clue.
a 2.4 x 0.8 dry stable "slab" that can take an ebony stain will not be cheap and after the staining, you might as well have used finger jointed radiata.

I think that we woodworkers do have a duty to point out the realities of life to our "clients". However, in my case that is often my wife and, as the saying goes "happy wife ..." My other "clients" (almost all family members) are more easily persuaded, though my daughter does have this knack of twisting me round her little finger! As such, though ian (post #11) may be "on the money" his advice may be difficult to implement.

The 1970's were really big on these single slab top tables. I can remember being really impressed myself. Everything that is old becomes new again.

Hi

Mannum Men's Shed has several Red Gum slabs of that size,dry as a bone, I posted several photo's of them last year in this forum.

Cheers Barry (mannum3)

Posted on 20 July 2016 search for Red Gum Slabs Cheers barry

"I am not too fussed what the species is..."

Any of these fit the bill?