Thread: What caused this live edge slab break :(

I think that was bound to happen. It looks like the break happened on the shortest section of grain, and looking at the other cracks in the piece, it already had weak points. I would believe their story.

Not surprised either. Wood is not strong across the grain. Ask those martial arts guys that break boards with their hands.
Regards
John

Yup, what they said. I have had quite a few slabby bits “fall apart” on the weak spot, a friend bought a Lucas mill and the pieces in question were his first attempts.

cheers

Cpops

Even though 80mm is a good chunk of wood, once cut into that shape there are two inherently weak points and as Ironwood and Oraloon have correctly stated it was always going to be likely to break at those points. There is considerable evidence of other cracking on the slab and it just gave up the ghost at the weakest points where the grain was shortest. Even if it had been picked up in the horizontal plane by two people it still may have fallen apart under it's own weight.

Depending on whether you purchased it green or dry, the drying process of a thick slab could also have worked against you. The fundamental problem of the cut was it is a "biscuit" cut horizontally through the stump of the tree. Left as one piece, it might have survived as a coffee table, for example, but it had no structural strength to begin with. Once you cut the main part of the "biscuit's" strength away you were left with the degraded natural edge, which may well have looked appealing but was weak.

Sorry. It must be disappointing for you. And welcome to the Forums. A pity your first visit was not a warm and fuzzy one.

Regards
Paul

Its Mother Nature doing her thing.

Not sure if I am missing something, but are the pic's just of the offcuts and you have the round centre slab that fell apart?