Working with wide slabs

     

A table made with a natural edge Claro Walnut Slab

A wide slab of wood can make a piece of furniture truly special. You just have to pay a little more attention to warping with wide slabs than you do with narrow lumber. If a piece of lumber warps it is because it is either losing or gaining moisture. Here are some tips for controlling the moisture content of your piece of wood:

• Never leave the slab in direct sunlight
• Never store the slabs outside or in a damp basement etc
• Always treat both sides of the slab the same. Either prevent air from reaching both sides (by wrapping in plastic etc) or let air reach both sides by laying the slab on dry sticks.
• Never lay the slab on a damp surface such as a cement basement floor etc. even if it's on stickers.

Some people like to equalize the slabs close to the same conditions where the furniture will be placed for a couple of weeks before starting the project.