Lucas Mill Elm Slab Table.

[topchippyles]

15 minutes ago, Billhook said:

Dear wife has just put the tenth and last coat of Tung oil on.  We have put some different legs on which we are happy with

No need to keep applying all that oil 3 coats is ample 

[5thelement]

A cabinet maker friend told me to oil my newly finished furniture once a day for a week, once a week for a month, then once  a year for life. 

[Billhook]

If the wife is happy , I am not going to stop her!  Happy wife happy life!

[Billhook]

In the top picture it has become apparent that the grain in the foreground this side of the whiter patch has some spalting and is on the cusp of starting to decay and although it still feels hard and heavy, is more absorbent and takes the oil much easier than the other which also is where the trunk divided and has very hard grain,  Time will tell!

[ucoulddoit]

1 hour ago, Billhook said:

In the top picture it has become apparent that the grain in the foreground this side of the whiter patch has some spalting and is on the cusp of starting to decay and although it still feels hard and heavy, is more absorbent and takes the oil much easier than the other which also is where the trunk divided and has very hard grain,  Time will tell!

Ronseal wet rot wood hardener can be used on areas that are softening due to spalting.

[hodge grayson]

How are you all getting these slabs to dry flat? I don't even bother slabbing now because anything that has the pith in turns into an Escher painting after a few months on the stack.

 

[Billhook]

Well as Clint said, "A man's Gotta know his limitations". so we bit the bullet and sent it away to a friend of a friend who has a small business doing this sort of thing.  

The whole thing has been a big learning curve, from the selection of the English Elm the width of the slab, the first time using the Lucas slabbing attachment, first time sticking the planks and finding an open fronted shed for them to season.  Then first time use of the Lucas planer, which replaces the blade. (very impressed with it) the first time use of sanding attachments which again replace the blade.   Next decision on type of oil to use and decided on Tung oil.  Then there was agony over the choice of legs, wood or metal, different designs,  we started with cross shape but need up with the three legs you see in the earlier photo.  When it came back they suggested it would sit better on two legs which it does, also not interfering with the human legs of the folk sitting in the middle

However managed to put too much Tung oil on with not enough rubbing down, not happy with the result, hence sent away.

Then there was the lighting!  Went to B&Q bought half a dozen led bulbs and a dimmer switch, however nowhere did it say that the dimmer was not compatible with the bulbs so had to go and buy some more bulbs

Hung them from a Beech branch lying across the beams.  Now have a result that we are pleased with!

I might add that I built the whole conservatory using Ash from the farm cut with the Lucas back in 2010 and it has never leaked.  The wood stove heats a dozen radiators and keeps us warm even in those minus 5 nights we have just endured

Many thanks for all you opinions and help and a Happy New Year to you all!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Aarrow boiler stove, excellent machine!

6EACB80C-9D09-48DD-9506-70B883D2E744.heic

[Mark Bolam]

What a fantastic room!

[Squaredy]

Yeah that is a lovely room, fair play.  I would say the actual building built from ash is way more impressive than the table.  Not dissing the table at all but many people could do that; few try and construct a real wood conservatory these days.  Well done.

[Squaredy]

On 01/09/2025 at 11:31, hodge grayson said:

How are you all getting these slabs to dry flat? I don't even bother slabbing now because anything that has the pith in turns into an Escher painting after a few months on the stack.

 

From someone who has milled many wide slabs over the years, I have a tip.  Try softwoods, especially cedar of Lebanon, sequoia, pine.  They behave really well.  The hardwoods like oak and ash that you could mill in the UK love to move and twist all over the place.