Sand the whole surface with 80 grit, continuing to 120 on the aggressive setting. Then sand the sap wood (live edge) with a smaller headed sander to bring out the color and remove any bark or dirt. Once the surface is prepped to 120 grit with the aggressive sander, Move onto a random orbit finishing sander.
How to finish a live edge wood slab?
Finishing a Live-Edge Wood Slab Isn’t So Difficult 1 Sanding If you’re thinking “ok, let’s get these cracks and openings filled up” as the first thing to do, stop. ... 2 Fill in the Voids If there are large voids like in the case of pecky woods, then the best option is to use a two part epoxy such ... 3 Finishing up
How to finish a wood slab desk?
Once dried, sand the slab to remove excess epoxy and also obtain a smooth finish. Next, apply a quality wood finish to the bottom and top of the dining tabletop. Apply as many coats while sanding between coats until you obtain the desired finish. For a wood slab desk, the surface must be very flat; hence you need to do a lot of sanding.
Do I need to seal the wood on a slab?
The slab comes sanded, but you need to finish sanding the surface and edges to desired smoothness. Seal the wood slab on both the bottom and topsides. I recommend the Monocoat 2C wood sealer since it offers excellent protection and is easy to apply.
Do you sand the bark off of a live edge slab?
Lots of woods often have worm holes under the bark. You can sand these off or leave them on for a cool effect. Sand the sharp edges on the ends of the slab, if needed. Live edge slabs usually have bark on 2 sides; the other 2 sides are sometimes jagged from where they were cut.
How do you finish the edge of a live edge slab?
For a simple oil finish, use a sponge brush to apply three coats of polyurethane, and sand with 500-grit sandpaper after each coat dries. Then, wipe the slab surface down with mineral spirits and wet-sand the slab with a 2000-grit sanding pad.
Do you stain live edge wood?
To beautify the wood, use an oil-based stain, such as Minwax Wood Finish. The colour you choose is a matter of personal preference. You can go dark for an elegant, modern look, or choose a natural stain that simply enhances the existing appearance of the wood.
What do you do with live edge wood slabs?
What Can You Can Make with Live Edge Slabs? 12 Project Ideas.Dining Room Tables. Dining room tables are the most common thing we make from our live edge slabs. ... Coffee Tables & End Tables. ... Countertops. ... Live Edge Bar. ... Home Office Desks. ... Benches. ... Doors. ... Cutting Boards.More items...•
How do you finish a live edge with bark on a slab?
Pour over epoxy resin is your best bet to hold the bark in place if you plan on keeping it. Polyurethane would be another option, but won't be quite as strong. Oils and waxes seal the wood, but they aren't going to serve as an adhesive like epoxy would to keep the bark in place.
How do you keep Live Edge wood from splitting?
You can keep wood from splitting by applying a sealant or stabilizer, using a salt paste, applying varnish, applying paintable wax, or applying boiled linseed oil. Those methods will help you to keep wood from splitting when nailing, screwing, drying, cutting, and sawing.
How do you sand a walnut slab?
1:3611:21How to Fill, Sand & Fine Sand your Live Edge Slab - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSo if you haven't seen the first video go back look it up and have a look at it. So today we'reMoreSo if you haven't seen the first video go back look it up and have a look at it. So today we're going to show you how to sand it and fill it soften the natural edges and get it ready to coat we've got
How do you preserve live edge wood?
Seal the surface with polyurethane if you want to keep things simple. Apply a coat of polyurethane coating with a sponge brush. Wait for the coat to dry, then sand it with 500-grit sandpaper. Do this 2 more times, then wipe the surface down with mineral spirits.
How do you Epoxy a live edge slab?
1:0144:19Live Edge Wood Slab, Casting with Metallic Epoxy. - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAnd change something or make it more functional by doing some different things than epoxy is theMoreAnd change something or make it more functional by doing some different things than epoxy is the medium that bridges that gap it really gives us an opportunity to make this thing one-of-a-kind.
How do I stop my live edge table from warping?
How to avoid warping:Store it upright after it's flattened, not laying down.Store the slab wherever it's going to be used as a table for 1-2 weeks before finishing it. ... Check the moisture content before buying. ... Cover them with moving blankets and support the entire slab evenly when transporting them.More items...•
What does tung oil do for wood?
What is tung oil? Originating from China and South America, tung oil—an extract from tung-tree nuts—is a natural drying oil that coats your fine wood furnishings with a transparent, wet finish. It enhances the color of your wood, offers excellent protection and is eco-friendly.
Should you remove bark before drying wood?
Debarking helps speed the drying process. The bark can provide a hiding place for insects. After a log has been cut or a branch has been severed, insects have new openings that allow them to slip beneath the bark more easily. There, they can multiply and thrive, and they don't need much space.
How do you seal the live edge before epoxy?
1:436:27Preparing Wood for Epoxy Resin | Alumilite - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipOut of this piece to make sure it was ready for a seal coat. So remove your bark sand down that edgeMoreOut of this piece to make sure it was ready for a seal coat. So remove your bark sand down that edge and get rid of all the cambium layer.
How do you preserve live edge wood?
Seal the surface with polyurethane if you want to keep things simple. Apply a coat of polyurethane coating with a sponge brush. Wait for the coat to dry, then sand it with 500-grit sandpaper. Do this 2 more times, then wipe the surface down with mineral spirits.
How do you maintain a live edge table?
Keep reading to learn our top four tips for keeping your live edge wood furniture clean, polished, and safe!Keep your live edge water and stain proof. ... Dust with microfiber towels. ... Use natural cleaning products for a natural wood piece. ... Polish live edge wood with a conditioning cream.
How do you stain live edge shelves?
0:3111:07How to Stain a Live Edge Floating Shelf by Federal Brace™ - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipYou don't have to have an electric sander if you don't have one a sanding sponge or a sanding blockMoreYou don't have to have an electric sander if you don't have one a sanding sponge or a sanding block works totally fine next to that we're going to need some clean rags. And then of course our stain.
How do you finish raw wood?
Sand raw wood in the direction of the grain starting with a coarser grit sand paper such as #120 sandpaper, and finish the final sanding with a fine grit sandpaper such as #180 or #220. On soft woods such as Pine, Aspen or Alder sand first with #120 and finish with #220.
How to sand live edge slab?
Sand the sharp edges on the ends of the slab, if needed. Live edge slabs usually have bark on 2 sides; the other 2 sides are sometimes jagged from where they were cut. If this is the case with your slab, sand the roughness away with 120-grit sandpaper. Work your way to 150-, 180-, 220-, and 320-grit.
How to cut a slab for a kitchen?
Cut the slab down to the right length, if needed. Secure the slab to your workbench with hand screws. Add a MDF (medium density fiberboard) strip if you need a straightening guide. Cut the slab to the length you need with a 7 1/4-inch (18-cm) circular saw.
How to sand bark on a wood edge?
Get the attachment that looks like a bunch of pieces of sandpaper bound together to form a wheel. Start with a 120-grit wheel, then work your way up to 180- and 220-grit. You are only sanding the edge that had the bark on it for now.
What is a Voids wood?
Voids are holes in the surface of the wood. If they are in the middle of the wood, you don't need to tape off anything. If the holes extend to the edges of the slab, however, you need to cover the edge in that area with masking tape. The tape will act like a dam and prevent the epoxy from leaking out.
How thick is a slab of wood?
Online stores are a great place to purchase unique slabs made from rare varieties of wood as well. Look for slabs that are at least 2 inches (5.1 cm) thick. You can cut the slab from a piece of felled lumber, or have a lumber mill do it for you. Choose wood that was felled during the summer.
What is the best surface for a rustic side table?
Decide how much you want to flatten and smooth the surface. A slab with an uneven face (top surface) would work great for a rustic side table. A slab that is going to be used as a writing desk will need a smoother finish and perfectly-flat face.
How long does it take for wood to acclimate to humidity?
Wait 1 to 2 weeks for store-bought slabs to acclimate. If you choose to buy a slab from the store, you need to wait 1 to 2 weeks before you use this. This will give the wood enough time to adjust to the humidity of your home.
What to use to fill voids in wood?
If there are large voids like in the case of pecky woods, then the best option is to use a two part epoxy such as the West System Epoxy to fill all the voids. If you’re planning on finishing up your slab with a stain, go ahead and find a color additive to the epoxy so it will match the rest of the slab once it’s finished.
How to make epoxy smooth?
Let the Epoxy sit until it’s hardened. Take your sander and begin working on the slab until reaching a smooth feel. This can be up to a 400 grit paper. This will help make the entire surface even despite the epoxy that you applied.
Do woodworkers use live edge?
Woodworkers are also developing techniques to maintain the unique aspects of slabs; even more so if it’s a live-edge slab. As beautiful as slabs are they do present some challenges that require special techniques. Wood slabs without live-edge are like any wide piece of wood and require virtually the same technique to finish.
Can you putty on a slab before applying epoxy?
It’s important to remember that if the voids go through the entire slab, such as in the case of big root growth, or knots that go through the entire slab, then apply masking tape or putty on the non-visible side of the slab prior to applying the epoxy. Epoxy is a thick liquid that can flow in and through the cracks preventing it from hardening. Don’t worry if you spilled any epoxy or if it over flowed, the final sanding will take it right off.
What is the best way to flatten a sheen?
Rubbing down would be to flatten off. If all you're seeking to do however is knock back the sheen you can do this in a single step, using fine steel wool or something like ScotchBrite. This can be done dry or with wax.
How long does it take to dry shellac over varnish?
Then once the shellac has dried (wait about an hour if possible but 15-20 minutes can do it) you can go straight to your first coat of varnish. Using this method you can go from oiling through to 3 coats of varnish in a single day.
What did BLO and tung do to wood?
In the end I decided that I liked what the BLO and tung did to the wood. They both popped the grain and made it "richer", but in different ways. Rather than picking/choosing/overthinking it I just mixed 1 part BLO 1 part tung and 2 parts mineral spirits. That way I could tell myself I got the best of both worlds :)
Can shellac pop the grain?
As to popping the grain, oils are great at this (so is shellac incidentally, although it won't deepen the tone like you're looking to do).
Can you use Tru Oil on walnut?
Pops the grain better than BLO in my opinion. However, for a coffee table, I would top coat it with polyurethane as the tru-oil doesn't protect against water damage all that well.
Can you varnish over still wet BLO?
I have also tried varnishing directly over still-wet BLO using poly thinned to wiping-varnish consistency (about 1/3 to 1/2 added spirits) and not had any issues with drying. But in this case the second application of varnish usually needs to wait until the following day.
What woods look better with a warm finish?
Darker woods like walnut, on the other hand, look better. with a “warmer” finish that brings out the rich, dark color. If you plan on using a water-borne varnish or lacquer finish, consider warming up the walnut first with a coat of dye. We used the aged walnut recipe diluted three parts to one.
What to use before adding color to wood?
before adding color with dye. Use two-part wood bleach, available
What colors are used in blending sapwood?
as a starter set for blending your own custom colors; burnt umber, raw umber, burnt sienna, raw sienna, Vandyke. brown, yellow ochre, black and blue. Complete the process of blending the sapwood by applying. a layer of glaze, as shown in Photo 2. Keep the brush.
Is glazing the same as dyeing sapwood?
of dyeing and glazing is the same as that for blending sapwood. We left extra glaze in the recesses around
Can you blend sapwood after sealer?
the sapwood blends after the sealer is applied you can move on to applying. the final coats of finish. To blend the dyed sapwood more completely, and add greater depth and richer color, apply a thin layer. of glaze before applying the final coats of finish.
How to remove bark from live edge slab?
Removing the bark on a live edge slab is a pretty simple process. We typically use a small chisel and hammer and angle the chisel with the way the live edge tapers. After all of the big pieces are removed, you can sand the rest until your edge has a smooth surface.
What does a live edge sanding tool do?
It allows you to sand the live edge making it less sharp and giving it a smooth feel to the touch.
What is the best way to keep wood bark in place?
The last thing you need to consider is finish. Pour over epoxy resin is your best bet to hold the bark in place if you plan on keeping it. Polyurethane would be another option, but won’t be quite as strong. Oils and waxes seal the wood, but they aren’t going to serve as an adhesive like epoxy would to keep the bark in place.
Why do we debark wood?
Those reasons are: It’s highly likely to fall off with time, regardless of the measures taken to preserve it.
Who is Nolan from Lancaster Live Edge?
Nolan is the Marketing Manager for Lancaster Live Edge. When he isn’t working on our marketing initiatives, he’s in the shop building tables and furniture with the team. Prior to working with Lancaster Live Edge, he worked for a digital marketing agency for nearly 4 years. His family owns a custom building company and he’s helped build everything from custom furniture to home additions. Nolan has been woodworking for nearly 20 years.
Does hickory lose its bark?
For example, hickory, also known as “shagbark hickory” will lose it’s bark regardless of what you do. Sycamore is another that can naturally shed it’s bark. Other species, even walnut, can get small bugs between the bark and the sapwood, which can make it lose it’s bark more easily.
How to get a smooth finish on a wood slab?
You are once done, ensure that your working surface is free from dust by vacuuming. Apply three coats of polyurethane for a nice oil finish. Ensure you sand the slab after every coat. Wait for the slab to finish to cure completely before using the slab.
How to fix splits in wood?
To stabilize splits in the wood, make butterfly keys and create spaces that fit the keys. Use a clear epoxy to fix the keys into the spaces. Ensure that the keys are flush with the face, then Sand the epoxy key once the epoxy dries .
How to smooth epoxy on a slab?
I recommend a circular 80 grit sandpaper to ensure the surface is as smooth as possible. Apply 3 thin coats of polyurethane on the bottom part and 4 coats of polyurethane on the top. Don’t forget to sand between coats for a smoother finish.
What is the best sealer for wood slabs?
Seal the wood slab on both the bottom and topsides. I recommend the Monocoat 2C wood sealer since it offers excellent protection and is easy to apply. For countertops designed for chopping on, sand it to 250 grit to obtain a smoother surface, and use a butcher block conditioner to seal the top. Finally, use a polyurethane topcoat to obtain a furniture look on your countertop.
What is live edge wood?
If you ask any experienced woodworker what live edge wood is, the definite answer will be that any woodworking tools have not altered the edge of the wood. The edges of finished slabs or furniture retain the original features and shape of the tree and its bark.
What is rustic wood slab?
Rustic wood slabs are unique and are lovely to work with since most of the wood features are preserved in the finished product. You can use them in your DIY projects to create stylish yet unique woodworks. While selecting your wood slab, I suggest a slab with an uneven surface for a nice rustic look.
What wood is good for rustic wood?
There are over 60,000 wood species that can make good pieces of rustic wood slabs. Some of the few I selected are; redwood, black walnut, cherry, Claro walnut, and oaks. Always choose a piece that you are comfortable working with. An excellent rustic slab should be completely dry to prevent warping and splitting. Air-dried wood is better than kiln-dried ones.
