KiwiInLondon

Ok, maybe it was inevitable but I ended up not getting a slab, due to price, options within my price bracket, the pandemic making some sources not contactable and sometimes transport issues. I thought of going with a table top but ending up getting a worktop made of walnut. Can I please have your opinion on the best way to shallow bevel-cut 3 of the 4 edges? I've marked in this picture the type of cut I want to make.. I should note a few things that would determine what's suggested: - The worktop is heavy (about 30kg) and measures 1400x720mm - I only have a mitre saw - in order to make these bevel cuts I may need a table saw or skill saw - A would need a jig of some sort

I won't lie, I've been tempted to go down that road but I feel it wouldn't be as 'unique' if you know what I mean. I may resort to this, that's if I can find something ideal to work with, if the slab route is a no-go.

Might commandeer my wife's facebook account - I deregistered years ago and have gained more hours in a day in my life back as a result!

Thanks for that .

I've posted something here... https://arbtalk.co.uk/forums/topic/120255-desktop-project/

Hello, I am an DIY enthusiast looking for a slab with a live/waney edge to make a desk. My wife and I recently finished our house renovations, thankfully just in time to work from home at a time like this. At present I'm dominating the dining table and the wife swaps between the table and the kitchen bench (mostly because she doesn't like to sit for long but I'm sure she thinks I'm too noisy!). In any case we need a desk and it was always my intention to make a custom desk that I could hopefully be proud of. Basically I would like to get a dry wood slab with a good looking grain (wood species such as ash, oak, elm, walnut, chestnut, beech and similar are of interest but then there's probably many others which look great), I plan to do all work myself in getting it to a presentable state, then attach it to a desk frame. I am expecting to put in a fair amount of work into the slab/desktop and know it's something I can't rush, however although my limited knowledge is on the increase, it's still limited plus we would like to get the desk setup, especially as the frame arrived just the other day. Plus the wife harps on at me about getting a desk top "any one - pick one Tim before I turn 60!" and I can tell you I really do not want to resort to Ikea. So I know that the dimensions I need are something that's 1400mm long x 700mm wide x 40mm thick. I know that I would be doing a lot of sanding and finishing work and possibly (read: ideally not!) filling in with the odd bit with resin (something I have seen on youtube but never done). I also know that my budget would be ideally no more than 200£ - some might be quick to react to this but it's my aim (renovations have taken their toll). I am unsure as to whether I should be getting a slab that's been kiln- or air-dried but i know it should ideally have a moisture content of no more than 10-15%. I am unsure whether it's unreasonable/impossible to ask for a slab without cracks, no wood worm etc but that's a conversation we can have or at least something I can come to better understand! If there are questions I haven't asked yet which should be asking others (or myself), or you need additional information, or you have something that might just be what I'm looking for, let me know - I look forward to your reply. Oh, as I don't have transport, it would have to be delivered to Romford (RM7 9DA) - maybe I can investigate transport if it's something you can't provide. Thanks - Tim. p.s. If anything good comes out this you will be recognised (I will do what it takes whether reviews or referrals or I maybe able to help with website work!) - i'm just hoping I don't have to resort to Ikea...

Hi Matt, thanks for the information and the pictures. Would you be able to message me with the detail of what you have and the sizes? Thank you.

Thanks for that, will look into it

On the bright side it provides to a limited extent some light-hearted form of entertainment which is much-needed at this time (not to mention my situation!)!

If only I had my own transport.. Not having a car is seriously beginning to take its toll! AS an example I visited a yard in Epping a couple of weeks ago which took me 4+ hours to get there (bus > train > tube > long walk!). For understandable reasons i'm being advised to come back again to pick a board, however it seems a bit pointless to go and look when all the boards are stacked in the same way they were cut - when I saw the person last they remarked about how much effort it would take to access the ones I said were about the size I was interested in. Clearly he's running a business but as a potential customer who's still going thorough the learning process being told that he had work to do was a bit off-putting too..

Thanks for explaining, I understand I would have thought in fact i read/heard someone saying the kiln drying process reduces the chance of it

Thanks for letting me know. He referred me to someone else but then i was referred again..

What/where is facebay?

Thanks but could be tricky as I don't have a planer/thicknesser let alone the sort of to allow me to operate a router with jig

Just trying to understand, would it warp because it hasn't been kiln-dried sooner than later? And on the note of kilning, does the kiln-drying process kill and prevent insects burrowing their way through?