Walnut Slab Coffee Table

[PeteM]

I got this 4/4 slab from Shamrock a while ago. It was warped about 2" end to end and had about a 3/4" twist. There was nothing to lose so I experimented. I wet it down (soaked it) and clamped it to my workbench. I sat there for about a month with me adding shims and water to try and get it flat. Surprisingly it did flatten out prett well. I laminated 2 not very good (but flat) walnut boards I had to the bottom of the slab and I think it will stay flat. It's not pool table flat but it's as close as i could get it. The base is also walnut but I stained it with a dark gel stain as I wanted to keep the focus on the top.



Here's the finished table:




pete

 

[JCraig]

Very nice!

 

[cskipper]

That's really cool!

 

[Shamrock]

looks good-what finish do you use?

 

[Tim Sherwood]

Great looking table. I really like the leg design.

 

[Trent Mason]

Beautiful!!!! :thumbs_up:thumbs_up

 

[TracyP]

Great job, as someone else said; the leg design makes it really stand out.

 

[Bill Clemmons]

Great job Pete. The top really stands out. :eusa_clap

Bill

 

[kooshball]

Looks great and good rescue of that slab!

 

[Sealeveler]

Fine looking table,you done good with the legs too.
Tony

 

[Sharpclifton]

I have some of this same wood from Shamrock, I have made a few items thus far and am picking up more in two weeks! This wood is amazing! Your design is superb, very unique!

 

[bobby g]

Nice work Pete! Beautiful.

bobby g

 

[kommon_sense]

Looks great!

 

[magellan44]

HI Pete,
I have to tell you i'm surprised that the method you used worked. I would have never thought that by wetting it down and clamping it to a bench that it would straighten. I'm amazed. I normally would use a router and a jig to flatten a slab. Well done, nice work.

 

[bwat]

Looks great! Even more impressive is your patience and recovery efforts. Nice finish too:icon_thum

 

[PeteM]

HI Pete,
I have to tell you i'm surprised that the method you used worked. I would have never thought that by wetting it down and clamping it to a bench that it would straighten. I'm amazed. I normally would use a router and a jig to flatten a slab. Well done, nice work.

I too was very surprised. I really didn't think it would work but I figured it was worth a try. It was a 4/4 slab and if I flattened to with a router/jig I would have ended up with a piece of walnut veneer! I'm hoping the boards I laminated to the slab will keep it flat. Time will tell.

Bill - "Looks great! Even more impressive is your patience and recovery efforts."
Fortunately I have 2 benches and lots of other little projects to keep me busy!

pete

 

[NCGrimbo]

Very nice table.

 

[Goat]

That is an excellent looking table! I especially like the leg design. Did you do these from plans or come up with it on your own? Do you have any pictures of the bottom of the table? Again great table!

 

[cpowell]

I like the lines you picked to shape the top. The shape really makes the piece.

Very nicely done.


Chuck

 

[MikeH]

Pete that is awesome! Great job.