3 things to consider before buying a live edge slab.
The popularity of and demand for live edge slabs has increased exponentially over the last few years. Live edge pieces provide a ready-made canvas for a new or experienced craftsman to create furniture and art that brings a natural and grounding presence to a room. There are businesses out there latching on to this trend and selling discounted green slabs to unknowing purchasers. The sage advice of “you get what you pay for” applies here also. Here are the top three things you need to know before buying a live edge slab and why it is in your best interest to buy from a reputable company such as Shenandoah Planing Mill that has the proper equipment to prepare your slabs for fabrication.
A Cherry Live Edge Slab makes a beautiful countertop in this outdoor setting.
One: Bandsaw is Better When Buying a live edge slab.
Inexpensive Alaska chainsaw mills are a great tool for breaking down a tree that has fallen into manageable pieces. But cutting slabs into finished dimensions on one of these can be problematic. Often cuts are not precise and the chainsaw blades can leave deep gouges in the wood which will have to be sanded or planed later. Purchasing a 2” thick slab with grooves or uneven cutting often results in a finished piece that is 1” thick or less by the time you are finished. That’s a lot of sawdust you are purchasing. A bandsaw has a thinner blade that makes precise and smooth cuts when operated properly. A smoother product means more useable material. So, while you may pay less per board foot for a chain-sawed slab, you will end up with more useable material that is easier to work with from a bandsaw mill.
Shenandoah Planing Mill has 3 bandsaw mills on site and is able to cut logs up to 93” in diameter. Our sawyers are experts in their field, and there’s almost no tree they can’t handle.
Two: Kiln Drying is a Must when buying a live edge slab.
When a tree is first cut down, it can have a moisture content ranging from 30% to over 100% (that’s not a typo!). In this condition, the wood is very unstable, and is prone to checking (cracking) and warp of all types. Kiln drying brings the moisture content down to 6-8% for lumber or below 12% for slabs, in order to make sure it’s stable and ready to be worked with. Unfortunately, many people unknowingly buy slabs that are touted as “dry” that actually aren’t. The most frustrating thing is investing money in a slab and time finishing it, only to have it cup or crack, ruining your finished piece. Purchasing kiln dried slabs from a reputable company eliminates this problem.
Kiln drying also kills bugs that may be nesting and dormant inside of the wood. Ants, termites, silverfish, beetles, moths, among others, will burrow into wood and stay there until the warmth of your project’s new indoor environment coaxes them out. They will often then burrow back through your newly finished piece and take up residence in your or your customers home. Proper kiln drying will kill all pests in your wood so you don’t get unwelcome house guests!
At Shenandoah Planing Mill, we have a VacuPress Vacuum Kiln, which dries wood 10x faster than conventional kilns. I could go on about the reasons why you should dry your slabs in a vacuum kiln, but I’ll save that for another day.
Kiln drying your live edge slabs kills all unwanted pests that may be residing in the wood.
Three: Surfacing Sucks. Get some help.
Some larger mills offer surfacing services, which can save you HOURS or even DAYS of sanding, planing, and routing. Shenandoah Planing Mill is set up with the proper space and equipment to get the job done quickly and professionally. It may seem like an expensive service, but if time is an issue, or you don’t already have the right tools, getting your slab surfaced is the right move.
At SPM, we have a 52” Planer/Sander that can plane and sand slabs with minimal effort. If a lot of surfacing is to be done, or if your piece contains epoxy, we also have a 5’x15’ CNC table where we can flatten just about anything.
Buying a slab is an investment, and while it can seem enticing to get one cheap, consider the benefits down the line of investing in a slab from a reputable mill. Buying a slab that is cut properly and kiln dried will ensure that you end up with the finished piece you’re envisioning, and that you don’t have to sand it all away, or pay additional for kiln drying later. Shenandoah Planing Mill has the selection, equipment, and experience you’re looking for when you’re ready to buy your next live edge slab, and almost all of our slabs come kiln dried and surfaced at no extra charge.
Come in and let us show you what we can do for you!
Amanda McDaniel is Co-Owner of Shenandoah Planing Mill. 1 part lumber lady, 2 parts mom, 3 parts nature lover.
Lumber 101: How to buy hardwoods like a pro.
While coming into a lumber mill can be a daunting task, there are a few things to know about shopping for hardwoods that will help you feel more confident walking into a Planing Mill like ours.
Coming to a lumber mill can seem like a daunting task. The first time I went to a mill by myself, I remember feeling overwhelmed despite having tagged along on many trips with my Dad as a kid. Lacking confidence and a command of the jargon, and especially being a woman, I felt like I had just arrived in a strange land full of flannel, smelly gloves, and sawdust. (Little did I know I would later embrace the flannel and become one of them…). While we are always excited to answer questions and we welcome woodworkers of any skill lever, there are a few things to know about shopping for hardwoods that will help you feel more confident walking into a Planing Mill like ours.
Surfaced lumber is always available at Shenandoah Planing Mill.
You will need to buy the whole board.
Just like you have to buy the entire bag of flour, or the whole head of lettuce, even if you only need a cup or a piece for a recipe, you have to buy the whole board, even if you only need 4’ for your project. Many times we will have shorts lying around, so don’t hesitate to tell us what you need, but don’t be surprised if you end up leaving with a little extra. The good news is that properly stored wood doesn’t go bad, so you can save the rest for your next project!
Hardwood Lumber is sold by the Board Foot.
This can be one of the most confusing things when you’re trying to order lumber, or when you’re looking at your receipt afterwards. Because hardwoods are sold random width and random length, we use a volume measurement to know how much we are producing, buying, or selling. One “Board Foot” (BF) is the equivalent of 1” x 12” x 12”, or 144 cubic inches. Pricing will be given to you as price/BF.
Every old fart that works at a mill will tell you a different way to calculate your board footage, but this lumber lady and math lover uses the following formula:
(Thickness in inches x Width in inches x length in inches) / 144 = board footage
So for a board that is 1” thick, 6” wide, and 10’ long and cost $2.50/BF, the equation would look like this:
1 x 6 x 120=720
720/144=5 BF 5BF x $2.50=$12.50 cost for the board.
If this is confusing, we are always happy to show you how we’re doing our math!
4/4 and 8/4 Soft Maple is always in stock at Shenadoah Planing Mill.
Rough lumber thickness is measured in quarter inches.
You will hear us ask what thickness you want- 4/4 (said “Four Quarter”), 5/4 (“five quarter”), 6/4 (“six quarter”), 8/4 (“eight quarter”). These measurements help us to know that we’re talking about rough lumber. 4/4 is usually the thinnest that lumber is sawn on a sawmill. From there it can be planed down thinner, but board footage is calculated from the original sawn dimension. You can usually expect to lose 1/4” of thickness in order to get a board that is completely smooth on both sides, so plan to buy lumber that is 1/4” thicker than the finished dimension you seek.
When ordering, you might ask for something in this way- “I need 50 BF of 4/4 red oak, planed to 3/4” with one straight edge”. But as always, we will help you get there if it’s all new jargon!
At Shenandoah Planing Mill, we want everyone to feel comfortable walking into our warehouse and finding something that inspires them. If you’re nervous, give us a call and let us know you’re coming, or stop in the office when you get here and we’ll walk you around and show you the ropes!
The Lumber Lady
Amanda McDaniel is Co-Owner and Co-Founder of Shenandoah Planing Mill and Mom to shop dogs Birdie and Boo. Her passions include music, gardening, and making Red Oak cool again.