Coffee Table WIP

So having recently finished my first coffee table, and getting back into a bit of woodwork, I'm looking at starting another one.

First table here: https://www.woodworkforums.com/f187/r...le-wip-137431/

I've been given some wood to work with, lengths about 1600x150x35, which I've been told is Elm. It's quite a light colour, with some interesting dark knotty patches in a couple of the pieces. But generally the grain is very plain. So I was thinking of trying my hand at some inlay, to provide a bit of interest and contrast to the table top. For this I've got a couple of options. Some unusually dark tassie oak with a fiddle back grain, some blackbean (I think) and some ebony. Unfortunately the ebony has cupped and cracked a bit.

I also have a couple of nice natural edges on the Elm so my first question is...how does one glue up the table top when one or both edges are left natural? I've searched but didn't find anything about this.

Pictures attached are the elm, tas oak, and blackbean/ebony.

Any comments or suggestions appreciated!

I'd kill for some decent timber like in your third picture as I have a project for it, so don't waste it.:D:D

SB

Those two lengths are about 800 and 1200. I think at about 40 thickness now. The long one is very bowed.

Maybe I could bandsaw into veneers to get the most out of the grain and use it for something else? Although I would only need 1 or 2 of those veneers for any inlay stuff in the coffee table. And still have heaps left over.

What is a good thickness for an inlay? And a veneer?

And what is the project that you have in mind?