Features of the material
The use of various methods for highlighting the natural origin and imperfections of wood makes such slabs especially popular for the production of furniture and interior decor items.
- Connoisseurs of eco-friendly materials choose this material due to its unique shape and pattern created by nature.
- The long service life of professionally processed canvas and its ability to harmoniously combine with any interior style attracts many designers.
- The technology used by craftsmen makes it possible to produce slabs from almost all types of materials.
However, often valuable wood species are used, which belong to the premium price category.
Isn’t there a replacement of concepts behind the fashionable term?
Indeed, one can think that the famous foreign word “slab” is used as an unreasonable replacement for such established concepts as solid board, solid wood, saw cut, wood board and other definitions that are most common to our ears. But that's not true. The concept of slab has no real analogue in the Russian lexicon of woodworkers.
The main features of wood slab:
- slab thickness varies from 50 to 150 mm;
- The longitudinal cut is made from the lower part of the tree, which is characterized by greater width and increased strength.
- a real slab is, by definition, a solid array that excludes gluing and the presence of other types of connections.
- the edges in the slab are left untreated or their natural relief is artificially emphasized;
- in the slab, the emphasis is on the unique lines of the tree: cuts in places where the trunk branches or twists are especially valued; the strict geometry of the array with processed edges is more of a variation on the slab theme.
Slab can be called not only longitudinal cuts of a tree, but also transverse sections of the trunk. Small end cuts of logs that have undergone appropriate processing are used to produce designer tables, bases for lighting fixtures and other creative things.
What are the parameters of a wooden slab?
The raw materials for it are layers, the thickness of which varies in the range of 5-150 cm. The basis for the production of slab can be exclusively the widest parts of the tree trunk. The resulting workpiece is a single sheet without any joints.
Processing of the end lines of the edges is carried out by visually highlighting the unusual geometry or left in its original form. This makes it possible to produce canvases for unique furniture, made in a single copy.
Diversity
At first glance, it may seem that there are not many design variations. In fact, a solid epoxy resin table can be decorated in a variety of ways. There is no need to talk about different styles, since the combination of wood and resin is characteristic of the Art Nouveau and Russian styles, but there can be as many design options as you like. Let's list the main ideas for decor that can be achieved using a slab.
Solid slab
The design of the countertop consists of only two elements - a slab, maximally suitable in size to the base, and epoxy resin, which is poured, forming the top layer and the surface itself. If the slab does not have processed edges and is not the base, then the epoxy, getting into the space between the cut and the side of the mold, will form a kind of border.
From a distance, resin somewhat resembles plastic
To ensure that the design is clearly visible through the thickness of the resin, the saw cut is treated with stain. The resin is rarely tinted, and a light color is chosen. Yellow, light green or turquoise are great colors. This type of table is considered the easiest to manufacture. You can buy a table made of solid slab in the store without pre-ordering.
Selecting a slab that is suitable in size is not always profitable, and it is not always advisable. If shapeless cuts of various dimensions are available, then they can be laid out on the base so that there is space between the layers of the array. The effect of a mosaic or puzzle evokes various associations: from paintings with a mountain landscape to abstract ornate patterns.
Composition Wood with flaws Several small pieces
A variation of this type of countertops are compositions of parallel laid unedged boards. The space between them is also filled with resin. The tabletop can be of any shape. If the resin used is transparent, then the table stands are made of a metal corner or profile. It is necessary to ensure that the rest of the structure is minimized.
Table-river
In principle, such tables could be considered in the previous section, since the river is simulated by two slabs (one large piece is sawn in half and turned with the uneven side inward), laid at a certain distance from each other. However, in all galleries, tabletops with “ponds” are highlighted in a separate category.
There are more complex solutions that require careful selection of material. We are talking about layer-by-layer filling. The main thing is to choose the right solid wood. Each subsequent top layer should be somewhat smaller in its boundaries than the previous one. The result will be a picture reminiscent of the depths of the sea, where the slab plays the role of rocks.
What types of wood are used for slab?
Typically, the production of flat panels is carried out using a special movable sawmill, equipped with a lifting mechanism for moving trees of large diameter and weight.
The basis for obtaining exclusive countertops, racks, shelves, and window sills are trees with increased density. These include walnut, maple, oak, larch and elm.
More expensive and luxurious interior items are created on the basis of beech, teak or boxwood.
Features of wood processing technology
Proper cutting is carried out using a special method that ensures the preservation of the natural texture, including all roughness.
Large-scale procurement of blanks involves the following activities:
- An expert selects suitable tree trunks. The choice is made taking into account the terrain and growth parameters of plant materials.
- Special equipment delivers selected options to the processing site, to programs equipped with a variety of plumbing equipment.
- The trunks are sawn into a certain number of blades.
- Drying of materials is carried out artificially or naturally.
- Processing of wooden sheets with a special composition, their delivery to the assembly site.
Loading and transporting logs
Heavy trucks and loading machines are used in the production of wood slabs. Especially when transporting a cut of a whole section of a trunk. In the case of producing small-sized specimens with your own hands, loading, unloading and transportation of wood can be done without the use of large-capacity equipment. All you need is a cable and a reinforced trailer.
In these options, reinforced ramps are attached to the trailer. It is important to monitor the stability of the log and the even distribution of the weight of the wood in the trailer. The technique consists of rolling a log into a trailer: the cable from the 1st end is attached to the farthest side of the trailer, and the 2nd is placed under the cut and fixed in the winch.
During loading, the slab must be placed parallel to the trailer. Special tightening belts are used for fixation.
Making a slab with your own hands
It is advisable to start creating wooden slabs by selecting the optimal wood. In spring and summer, trunks with a large number of branches are searched for.
Additional originality is added by various growths and branches. After selection, you need to decide on the sawing technology.
The following methods are distinguished:
- Contact professional woodworkers. This allows you to get even panels sawn with the same thickness along the entire length. It should be taken into account that independent transportation of round timber is very labor-intensive, as it involves moving heavy trees.
- If you do the sawing yourself, you will need to purchase a wide range of equipment. Mandatory elements for processing a tree trunk include: rigging devices, a manual sawmill. A powerful chainsaw with an increased length and width of the saw module is used as a working tool.
Slabs from exotic and rare wood species
Elite material for the most expensive and refined furniture. In any interior, an exotic slab will immediately become the center of the composition. The dominant element that attracts the gaze of everyone who enters the room for a long time.
It’s hard to even imagine how many different combinations of colors and textures there are among rare wood species! Here you can find not only the classic shades of brown, yellow, red and even black. There are species with bright red, orange and even purple wood. They fascinate at first sight.
The most expensive and hard rocks are harder than some types of stone. They are not afraid of insects, mold, or water. Slabs do not require a protective paint coating. Furniture made from them will last at least 500 years from the date of purchase. Even using a sharp knife it is difficult to damage them. Almost all antique furniture that has survived from the Renaissance to the present day is made from such species.
- Will serve as decoration for the richest office or luxurious mansion
- A true work of art, the price of which increases every year
- Suitable for tables and wall panels. In the offices of the government of the European Union it is used as a self-sufficient decoration. The slab is installed in the center of the interior, like a marble statue
Slabs from ordinary wood species
A solid slab with “live edges” can be made from any wood. Even soft species such as pine are suitable. The only question is quality and durability. Of course, slabs made of oak and beech are much cheaper than similar products made of mahogany, rosewood or rengas. But they can also decorate the interior of a home, office or public institution.
Oak slabs
Suitable for the kitchen - as a basis for work surfaces and a bar counter. Of course, you only need to take a slab with a special protective coating that can withstand prolonged exposure to moisture.
Maximum chic - objects made of petrified wood. You can do anything from this material. Starting from the cutting board or work surface, and ending with the sink.
Walnut slabs
A good addition to the hallway. Walnut is a small tree; you cannot make a large slab from it. But a small table for keys, a wall panel near a hanger or a stand covering for a bedside table will turn out great.
Walnut stands out among other species growing in our latitudes due to its rich texture. Therefore, it is better to place things from it in places with good lighting. You can do it right under the lamp.
Beech slabs
With proper processing, they can be used to make a cute set of furniture for the barbecue area. Medium-sized dining table, two or three benches. Perhaps another surface, like a work surface, right next to the grill. The slabs are inexpensive, so you can order a large set of many items at once.
Elm slabs
Wide blanks are made from this tree. Especially from those places where the crown diverges into two parts. Previously, they were almost turned into sawdust, but now excellent slabs are made. The texture is very interesting, it has a lot of small elements, just like some tropical rocks.
Elm slab is suitable for large but low tables. Where the length is almost equal to the width, but the tabletop has uneven edges. A good idea is a poker table. You can find a slab that almost exactly replicates the classic shape with a dealer notch.
Varieties of blade cutting technology
The classic version involves creating blanks of identical thickness. They are obtained by cutting the trunk with an additional thickening in the middle, since this area is then susceptible to cracking.
A less traditional cutting option is to form a single sheet from several blocks by gluing. This technology is used by some specialists.
Drying wood panels
The service life of the finished piece of furniture depends on how competently the drying of the raw materials is carried out.
There are 2 methods used to remove excess moisture from wood fibers:
- The natural one consists of arranging a special area under a canopy. The space should be enough to lay out the panels in several rows, leaving room for air circulation. This option takes a long time. With a sheet thickness of about 5 cm, they dry out at a rate of 2.5 per year. That is, it will take about 2 years to reduce moisture in the slab structure.
- The accelerated option involves the use of powerful drying equipment, and is therefore much more expensive.
Measurement of the actual dampness values of the workpiece is carried out with special tools.
How to choose the perfect cover for your table
The most remarkable property of wood slabs is their versatility. They are well suited for the kitchen, dining room and living room. From solid wood you can make huge tables for conference rooms, long bar counters and tiny coffee tables.
Slabs fit well into any interior. They look like an organic addition to loft, country or retro, and utilitarian modern varieties of high-tech. A wooden surface is like a good painting. So multifaceted that you can admire it for hours.
Nowadays, a minimalist approach to fittings in slab products is in fashion. The tree remains the center of the composition, everything else is almost invisible. This provides an opportunity for a dizzying flight of imagination and opens up space for the most creative designer. In general, it all depends on your imagination. Some rules still exist, and we will tell you about them.
Manual surface processing technology
The selection of decorative coating is determined by the conditions of subsequent use of the slab.
The main criterion is resistance to mechanical loads, abrasion, etc.
- To do this, the top fibers are painted with polyurethane-based paint and varnish enamel, as well as epoxy resin and oil compounds.
- This allows you to ensure that the wood material remains pristine for a long period of use.
Aesthetics are achieved by treating the surface with furniture wax and other natural materials.
Why are slabs popular?
The main reasons for the demand for the material is the trend for environmentally friendly furniture and other interior elements. In addition to fashion, most consumers tend to choose decorative and functional furnishings that are hypoallergenic.
Luxurious texture and original design make the slabs unique.
Production
Due to the fact that wood has an original pattern, tables made of slab and epoxy resin are not decorated with any other elements, so the basic materials you will need are the cut itself, as well as the required amount of resin.
- If the slab has the wrong geometry, then it cannot act as a base for the countertop. The end result is an epoxy slab with solid wood inside.
- If the slab is processed at its ends, and its shape allows the slab to be used as a base, then a layer of resin is poured over the cut.
Each master designer chooses for himself the most suitable method of making a tabletop, as the most significant part of any table.
Before pouring, it is necessary to carefully prepare the array. All the smallest particles of dust, sawdust, bark residues can penetrate the liquid resin, forming suspensions. Even a visual inspection is not enough, since the resin washes debris out of holes or wormholes only after pouring.
First, the slab is swept with a brush or blown with a stream of air. Then its outer surface is treated with furniture varnish. Thanks to its transparency, the wood does not lose its natural color, and the hardened layer prevents particles from getting into the thickness of the resin. In order to save money, treatment with an epoxy compound applied in small quantities beforehand is allowed.
Expert opinion
Oleg Vasiliev
Master of making furniture and interior items from epoxy resin. She creates unique items to order in her own production.
to the master
There are special epoxy primer resins on the market and used by craftsmen. Their curing time is only 3-6 hours, which saves a lot of time during the preliminary preparation of a slab or cut. This is especially true for wood with high absorbency, such as poplar.
There are a lot of different resins on the building materials market. It is necessary to understand that the compositions used in the manufacture of furniture differ significantly from the resins used for gluing parts or treating surfaces. Manufacturers are ready to provide a wide range of compositions, so in stores you should ask specifically for epoxy for furniture.
In order for the liquid resin to take the desired shape, it is necessary to make formwork. It is assembled from plastic, metal, glass or wood. It all depends on the capabilities of the master. It should be remembered that smoother surfaces of the formwork will simplify the procedure for further polishing the countertop.
The pouring process itself is not distinguished by the presence of certain specifics, since the method depends on the density of the composition, the maximum permissible layer thickness, as well as on the complexity of the slab geometry. It is advisable for novice craftsmen to use more liquid mixtures, since the resin will penetrate and fill different cavities. If this does not happen, the air accumulated in the cavities will penetrate into the resin in the form of bubbles.
Expert opinion
Oleg Vasiliev
Master of making furniture and interior items from epoxy resin. She creates unique items to order in her own production.
to the master
In table production, where significant volumes of resin are typically required, the use of thinner resins is essential. For example, I even heat the resin before pouring to 35-40°C degrees, so that it becomes as liquid as possible and air bubbles can quickly and completely escape from the pour.
There are two ways to fill: in one layer or in several layers. Various manuals advise beginners to select resin for pouring in one layer. Layer-by-layer filling is not considered more complex. On the contrary, decorative elements can be added to each layer, creating 3D paintings. The inconvenience is that you need to wait a certain time for each layer to harden.
The resulting epoxy countertop will most likely not have the visual effect that the master is counting on. The edges may be uneven, and the surface itself may be matte. It is necessary to grind and then polish the cured resin. Grinding begins with coarse abrasives and ends with a special paste. It smoothly turns into polishing. After this, the epoxy will become transparent.
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