Zignot5 Posted September 15, 2014 Report Share Posted September 15, 2014 I bought a large walnut slab. It's about 2.25 - 2.5 inches thick & kiln dried. It came skip planed, so it is fairly flat. It is too big to fit in any of my saws or planers. The grain is so gnarly & beautiful, I'm wondering if I can have it cut into 2 slabs on a bandsaw mill (like having it re-sawn). My concern is that due to the kiln drying, cutting it will release a huge amount of internal stress & warp both pieces. Would you consider having it re-sawn or just use it full size. I'm planning on making a coffee table with it. Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
..Kev Posted September 15, 2014 Report Share Posted September 15, 2014 Not sure how big it is? Will it fit in your bandsaw? Sounds like a good thickness for a coffee table! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T-astragal Posted September 15, 2014 Report Share Posted September 15, 2014 How wide? As for cupping and reacting, maybe but lots if times it doesn't. My resaw goes to 12" and would cut that thing like butter if you could get it to me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
..Kev Posted September 15, 2014 Report Share Posted September 15, 2014 How wide? As for cupping and reacting, maybe but lots if times it doesn't. My resaw goes to 12" and would cut that thing like butter if you could get it to me. At 12", that would be a pretty narrow coffee table.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wdwerker Posted September 15, 2014 Report Share Posted September 15, 2014 I would bet that it would at a minimum cup or twist enough that by the time you got it planed flat the results would be pretty thin. Play it safe and make a beautiful coffee table. Post some pictures so we can see the results ! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave H Posted September 15, 2014 Report Share Posted September 15, 2014 You could rip the slab down the middle, resaw those pieces mill them flat than glue the halves back together now you have two slabs with a barley visible glue line. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
..Kev Posted September 15, 2014 Report Share Posted September 15, 2014 With respect to the posters here, nobody but the OP knows how wide the slab is or if it will fit in his saw. I'm pretty sure Steve is correct but, it's a mute point if he can't get it in his saw. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zignot5 Posted September 15, 2014 Author Report Share Posted September 15, 2014 Thanks for all the great input. The slab is over 3 feet wide & over 4 feet long, with natural edges. I'd need to take it to someone w a lumber band saw mill. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
..Kev Posted September 15, 2014 Report Share Posted September 15, 2014 I would be tempted to leave it be if it were mine. For starters, it's my opinion that thicker live edge tables just look better. Secondly for the reasons that Steven mentioned. And thirdly, I'm not too sure what the cost would be to have it cut. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zignot5 Posted September 15, 2014 Author Report Share Posted September 15, 2014 I'm going to leave it whole. I'm just being greedy wanting 2. My gut says it's a bad idea due to the gnarly grain. As far as band saw cost... There is a guy near me that'll do it for nothing if he's already got the saw running. But I can't guarantee how smooth or accurate the cut will be. Thanks for the input! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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