Bobby Slack Posted October 12, 2013 Report Share Posted October 12, 2013 Question about the slab. Do you think it will stay perfectly flat? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tpt life Posted October 12, 2013 Report Share Posted October 12, 2013 Scared for the purpose of this discussion: Concerned about the wasted fuel and time if you drive to six mills and find nothing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Llama Posted October 12, 2013 Author Report Share Posted October 12, 2013 Question about the slab. Do you think it will stay perfectly flat? I just like the way it looks. I know it will have to be flattened over time. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Llama Posted October 12, 2013 Author Report Share Posted October 12, 2013 Scared for the purpose of this discussion: Concerned about the wasted fuel and time if you drive to six mills and find nothing. I'd call ahead first. I did some calling a while back with no luck. The point of the post was to see if anyone else had a hard time finding big slabs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bobby Slack Posted October 12, 2013 Report Share Posted October 12, 2013 I would be scared about couping and twisting and not having true flatness overtime Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Llama Posted October 13, 2013 Author Report Share Posted October 13, 2013 I would be scared about couping and twisting and not having true flatness overtime If dried properly, it should be minimal. I think? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tpt life Posted October 13, 2013 Report Share Posted October 13, 2013 There's the old "slam it on the ground" technique to encourage natural stresses to do their thing before you finish the milling. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChetlovesMer Posted October 13, 2013 Report Share Posted October 13, 2013 2 things: First, I'm not sure there's anything wrong with a Walnut bench. The hardness is about in the middle, similar to Cherry. My Roubo is Walnut and Cherry and I wouldn't trade it. A lot of folks believe your bench has to be light colored to reflect the light in your shop. I don't subscribe to that theory. Again, mine is darker colored and not a problem... just some food for thought. Second, I recently visited a guy who mills lumber for custom mantels. He had a bunch of the slabs you'd be looking for. So, you may want to try searching for solid slab mantels? ... Again, just some food for thought. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bobby Slack Posted October 13, 2013 Report Share Posted October 13, 2013 I am not sure. I listened to the Nakashima folks and takes a long time to get a slab perfectly stable. I think that the beauty of lamination (displaying the edge grain) gives you much better results over time. May be this is something our friend Shannon can chime in At the same time, I love slabs, don't get me wrong. If dried properly, it should be minimal. I think? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Llama Posted October 13, 2013 Author Report Share Posted October 13, 2013 I'd like to hear more about this! Walnut may be a good choice. I have it grained in my mind that benches have to be lightly colored on the top. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eric. Posted October 13, 2013 Report Share Posted October 13, 2013 I'll echo both Chet and Bobby...walnut would be fine for a bench if you wanted to pay the extra cash for walnut. I built mine out of soft maple and it's softer than walnut. And I would only build my bench top with slabs if I had them laying around or found a steal of a deal on them. A laminated top is going to be more stable than slabs, that's just a fact. Whether or not it moves a little or a lot is up to a bunch of variables. But I think the extra time it takes to laminate your bench top is gained back in the future when you have to flatten it less frequently. These wouldn't be a solution for your bench because they're "only" 2 1/4" thick (and it certainly wouldn't be cost-effective), but I thought I'd post them anyway since I'm sitting here staring at them at the moment. Sorry for the crappy phone pic. Full 8' feet long and DEAD flat. I so badly want to take two home and build a new dining room table out of them. Put on a diaper and I'll tell you what they cost. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Freddie Posted October 13, 2013 Report Share Posted October 13, 2013 My diaper is on, what do they cost? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eric. Posted October 13, 2013 Report Share Posted October 13, 2013 800 bones each. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Freddie Posted October 13, 2013 Report Share Posted October 13, 2013 Not too bad if you had a big bag of money Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eric. Posted October 13, 2013 Report Share Posted October 13, 2013 Nothing is too bad when you have a big bag of money. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
..Kev Posted October 13, 2013 Report Share Posted October 13, 2013 Ouch! Makes me feel very lucky for what I'm paying! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eric. Posted October 13, 2013 Report Share Posted October 13, 2013 I forgot to mention the two on the left are a bookmatched pair. Awesome. Only $1500 for both. Not awesome. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G S Haydon Posted October 13, 2013 Report Share Posted October 13, 2013 Solid wood gives me solid...... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
..Kev Posted October 13, 2013 Report Share Posted October 13, 2013 I forgot to mention the two on the left are a bookmatched pair. Awesome. Only $1500 for both. Not awesome. Big ouch! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Llama Posted October 13, 2013 Author Report Share Posted October 13, 2013 Solid wood gives me solid...... Very nice! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Llama Posted October 13, 2013 Author Report Share Posted October 13, 2013 800 bones each. I found some for alot less, but I think I want a lighter color top. I would like the contrast of darker legs... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Freddie Posted October 13, 2013 Report Share Posted October 13, 2013 I love this one from the benchcrafted site. Dead sexy contrast! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Llama Posted October 13, 2013 Author Report Share Posted October 13, 2013 I love this one from the benchcrafted site. Dead sexy contrast! I am seriously torn between building this bench, or a Roubo. They are both very similar, but very different at the same time. All I know is my bench will be huge. I am planning around 10 feet long and around 24" deep. The Shaker bench also appeals to be because I love their furniture. I love the idea of having the tool storage right there, but there will be times when a large panel is in the way, and I need to get into the drawer for something. I just know it! Also, with the drawers, holdfasts are an issue. But of the two, the Shaker bench appeals to me even more than the Roubo. Likely because of the contrast, and I know I can plan around its deficiencies. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tpt life Posted October 13, 2013 Report Share Posted October 13, 2013 I drive by a massive (8' diameter or better) oak log in a yard every day. Think about you when I see it Mel. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Llama Posted October 13, 2013 Author Report Share Posted October 13, 2013 Ooh! Bring it by! I'll square it up, and put a vise on it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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