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Style/ethical question for large slab table

1K views 17 replies 11 participants last post by  StDane 
#1 · (Edited by Moderator)
I am planning to build a dining table sized slab top table. I am considering using as my base a very cool and large tree stump. At its base the stump measures about 40" across. I have some Hackberry slabs (almost 3" thick before flattening and smoothing, expect to end up at 2.25 to 2.50) but one is about 42" across, and the other about 30, so not quite large enough to compete with the base when you are sitting at the table. Not sure what species the stump is, but the colors for the slab and stump are very similar, so they will look good together.

So here's the dilemma: Would it be bad form and detract from the look and purpose of using a large slab to splice in an extra 10 or so inches by ripping and adding wood from the two slabs together? They are from the same tree and match up well, but are not book matched. Would dividing the single large slab 'break a rule" here?

The other option is to leave the big slab as one piece and make a slightly smaller trestle style table. The slab is about 6' 4" long and has nice live edges that would be preserved in either scenario.

Thoughts?

Thanks

Dan
 
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#2 ·
The way I look at it -

It is your wood, your table - who cares!

If this is a commission piece and he/she is supplying the wood, tell them of your concerns and ask what they want.

Once you splice the two, you will have to deal with the the structural aspects. For a seriously large slab, if it is not quarter sawn, you could get cupping once you get it thinner.

For the stump - be careful of bugs and critters hiding in it and dry it carefully and slowly to minimize splitting.
 
#4 ·
Wow, Great idea.

Now somethings I would have to consider. Weight and mobility, a stump that size is going to be really heavy, dry or not. Next how do you get that inside most homes?

I would not be afraid to split and add a section to that slab. Might even consider a contrast type of wood.
 
#5 ·
I would put something in-between the sections so it looks intentional, like a band of a contrasting color wood, or an acrylic pour, or even just an air gap. Maybe dovetail keys to stitch them together across a gap?
 
#6 ·
The only rule would be broken is if you tell people it's a single slab table. Pretty much every table I've seen is a glue up unless they say it's a single slab.

I've taken live edge pieces and have ripped them to take out any severe cracks and have used matching wood to fill in the spaces.

If you don't do a good job of matching it and the pieces really clash, then you've broken a rule of aesthetics for sure :)
 
#8 ·
I wouldn't hazard a guess as to which one would sell better, but I would prefer the slab trestle table to one with stumps for legs. But that's me . . .
 
#10 · (Edited by Moderator)
Stump for a base would be completely retarded, don't do it. People won't have space for their legs. On top of how mixing "slabs" would mess up the slabbiness.

Use the big slab, and make a trestle table. There's a reason you don't see stump bases on dining tables.

Note how uncomfortable (impossible) it would be to sit in front of the stump in the picture above.
 
#12 ·
To be a little more serious, I know that a lot of folks like rustic furniture, and it could be that your slab is particularly suited to that kind of furniture.

I love the Nakashima-inspired pieces where the natural beauty/contours/grain/shape of the live edge piece is harmonized with interesting and beautiful woodworking. But what I like isn't what everyone likes. And given what some folks are buying . . . who knows.
 
#17 ·
Last year, at a visit to Bell Forest Products in Ishpeming Michigan, I purchased a huge slab of Mappa (European Black Poplar). It was 7 1/2 feet long, almost two inches thick, and was 33" wide at the base and around 29" at the top. The slab had natural edges on both sides with a lot of inclusions and beautiful grain swirl.

After I got it in my shop, which required two guys to move it, reality began to set in. what was I going to do with this thing? Make two big coffee tables? No they would be too big for our house. How about a dining table? No. Not quite wide enough and we certainly did not have a place for such a huge occasional table. At the cost of this slab, cutting it up for smaller projects would be a waste of very expensive wood.

Could I cut this monster in half and glue in another type of wood to make it dining table wider? How in the heck could I rip something this big and joint the edges. I have a nice shop, but this is a bigger and heavier project - out of my capability.

The answer was…...I called Eric at Bell Forest and he graciously agreed to take it back and give me full store credit. It didn't take long for someone in California to fall in love with this slab and that's where it has landed. I wish this guy all the best.
 
#18 ·
Agree about the size of the stump and sitting in front of it, that's the whole point about making the slab bigger-I would gain about 10" of over hang. But, thinking now that maybe the trestle idea is better visually and keeps the aesthetic of the slab.

Thanks for the input everyone.
 
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