Thread: slabs or tables?

Why not do both!

What prices for your slabs?

Don't bother value adding to slabs.

Just sand & finish ONE side, you will sell lots of 'em!

A friend of mine has 2½ acres of slabs to 5' high. He usually sells to NON-WOODWORKERS!!!

There are only a small percentage of males that realise you need serious machinery to be able to work slabs.

It's a dumb male thing...... I'm not pulling your leg!!! I've sold some slabs for my friend.

Almost all say 'I can make a coffee table out if that' and usually they have no idea.
That's why you will see one off slabs for sale in the weekend paper, they have had them for a while & don't know where to start. The Mrs. is at him to do something with it but it's a lost cause.

A one-side-finished slab will sell quick!!!

Not really sure on prices yet Bob.Most of them still need further drying out, but i'm thinking maybe $50.00 - $100.00 for different pines, $150.00 - $200.00 for silky oak..... just rough guestimations.

Couldn't help but chuckle at Major's post!
I've had many experiences of being asked if I 'could do something with this 'luverly piece of wood' the person fell in love with some years back. And then they dig it out from under the pile of kids' things and old carpets, dead washing machines, etc. revealing something 3 inches thick, harder than the hobs of Hell, heavily warped from uneven drying, and usually with a great ugly crack down the bit of heart left smack in the middle......

Yairs, you need serious machinery, alright, to handle something like that, unless you're an incurable masoschist with arms like the legs of a front rower, and an arsenal of handplanes begging to be worn out!

And just to stir up the pot a a bit, I reckon most slab furniture is the product of too much machinery and too little imagination, and a tragic waste of good cabinet wood, in many cases. Why on earth would you want a 3" thick table top? (Alright, those heavily into Cossak dancing need not reply, here!).
There, I've said it, and I feel better now......
Avagooday,

Originally Posted by IanW

..... I reckon most slab furniture is the product of too much machinery and too little imagination, and a tragic waste of good cabinet wood, in many cases. Why on earth would you want a 3" thick table top? (Alright, those heavily into Cossak dancing need not reply, here!).
There, I've said it, and I feel better now......
Avagooday,

Gotta agree,
Some slab furniture looks attractive but most of it is **** especially when compared to a nice p[iece of fine furniture!!!

Originally Posted by IanW

And just to stir up the pot a a bit, I reckon most slab furniture is the product of too much machinery and too little imagination, and a tragic waste of good cabinet wood, in many cases.

Couldn't agree more. I call it Flinstones furniture.

But hey, I guess whatever turns you on. Personally it doesn't float my boat.

Giday all,well i have heaps of blackwood slabs here and intend to value add into table tops but as you say the hardest thing is to finish the slabs and the easiest way if you have no machines is to take it to a big joinery and put it through their big sanders so in half an hour it is all ready for fine sanding and very little dollars outlayed.We have eight big blackwood logs to mill soon and would like your thoughts on slabs versus boards as we have a fair bit of each drying here.........

Reguards Tasman.........

I don't mind slabs but I prefer conventional joinery furniture so the worth of slabs to me is being able to cut matching boards from them.

Originally Posted by echnidna

I don't mind slabs but I prefer conventional joinery furniture so the worth of slabs to me is being able to cut matching boards from them.

Ditto.
The doors below came out of a 'coffee table' slab of cedar. Also got the drawer fronts and corbels out of the same piece, plus there's another bit that will make a couple of not quite as spectacular panels for something else, and a few odds and ends that will find a use someday. I think I put it to better use than a wany-edged coffee table would have.
Cheers,

Originally Posted by IanW

Ditto.
The doors below came out of a 'coffee table' slab of cedar. Also got the drawer fronts and corbels out of the same piece, plus there's another bit that will make a couple of not quite as spectacular panels for something else, and a few odds and ends that will find a use someday. I think I put it to better use than a wany-edged coffee table would have.
Cheers,

Sweet job!

Squizzy's Dictionary;

1. SLABS [ne, adj] - Made of concrete, flat like and you stand on them when doing woodwork.

2. SLAB - Box, Carton, Case, filled with 24 to 30 Aluminium or Glass drinking receptacles containing yummy beers, ales, lagers, draughts etc.

Cheers

Struth, the way you blokes are talking i may as well go and put a match to them. Haha.

Originally Posted by Oscar555

Struth, the way you blokes are talking i may as well go and put a match to them. Haha.

They are no good at all - pack them up and send to me immediately.

I agree that the slab coffee table has been done to death (I have two of 'em at home!) However, there are plenty of other thing intresting and different things that can be done with slabs - I will post a pic of my slab computer work station soon (still in the Film Age here) - As for warped slabs, they can add real character to a piece