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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...

Hello, I am DIY enthusiast looking for an inexpensive slab with live/waney edges to cut/trim, sand and finish myself for a desk frame I already have. The slab needs to have no/few cracks or major flaws or infestation, be a minimum of 1300mm x 700mm x 35-40mm, be ready for sanding (have a low moisture content, kiln-dried preferable) and delivered to Romford (RM7 9DA). I am interested in species of wood such as ash, oak, elm, walnut, chestnut, beech.... I am happy to do the sanding and finishing myself. Is this something someone can help with? Please get in touch. Hopefully I've placed this in the right place! Thanks - Tim.

So after lurking for a little while on here its time I introduced myself! Im Matt, I'm 24 and I've been in the industry for 6 months now! I trained at Merrist Wood at the beginning of the year and I'm now working full time. I moved from landscaping to arboriculture, best move I've made yet! The Forum is awesome and I hope to contribute more as I learn more and develop more skills. So, now to the secondary purpose of this thread! When reducing, are you the guy who likes his tree to look perfectly shaped with no protruding branches, or of the natural persuasion, reducing by a set amount to leave the tree the same shape, only smaller? Tread Steady, Matt