what would you pay for this?

[myxpykalix]

These slabs are 22" wide X 4' long by 2" thick and the other one is 6" thick. What do you think they are worth? One problem is that it has a piece of metal in them, which doesn't bother me.

[myxpykalix]

FYI... I paid $50.00 for all those slabs. Now i just need to figure out what to make with them! I'm thinking maybe nice coffee tables?

[steve_g]

Jack…
$50.00 is an Ok gamble that the pieces will be usable. How long have they been air drying? Any Idea about the MC?
Here’s another idea for the slabs…
SG

[dmidkiff]

Yes coffee table is a good idea. Slabs make great looking tables. I like Steve's benches too. Steve did you make the legs yourself?

[myxpykalix]

The slabs were just recently cut, but frankly by the time i get around to using them they will be plenty dry! Steve i love the benches. How did you preserve the color in the slabs? I had some beautifully streaked oak that had red streaks in a beautiful pattern but when they were kiln dried all the color went away.

[Davo]

How did you make the Alamo?

Is that a v carve or laser?

Also how do you guys get the letter dark after cutting?

Is it taped off and then cut and sprayed?

[steve_g]

These benches are my designs executed by another ShopBoter for the guy who has the sawmill where I get my castoffs from… This 3rd party has his employees weld up the brackets. I’m working on a bracket design made with cast concrete.
The benches are Pecan barely dried at all… The V-carved text and images really stand out well when treated with Tung oil. My friend and I are building a solar kiln to start drying the slabs… our hope is to not only improve the quality of the benches, but to be able to market the slabs as well! I hope we don’t lose the wonderful coloring when we dry them…
Here’s some more designs.
SG

[scottp55]

Off topic;
Steve,
Currently using Earthpaint Polymerized Linseed on buttons(less "gelling"), but might swap to Tung. Only ever used small batches of Sutherland Welles and Hopes for last 2yrs and looks like you're getting good build up and go through a lot of it. Whose Tung are you using? 50/50 first coat? 80/20 subsequent? Are you adding any wax to last coat? How does bark like it?
How many coats on the one on the right with all the names on it?
Compressed to get excess out of VCarve?
Yeah, Too many questions:) , But looks like you have it Nailed:)
scott

[Bernie]

Scott - I'm using Tung oil from Woodcraft - their label claims that it's pure and no V.O.C.'s I don't add anything other than rubbing by hand and sufficient time to soak in and dry - The "class of 2015" bench has 4-5 coats, it works well on the bark - had to use some epoxy/screws to ensure bark was well fixed to the slab. The end grain really picks up a nice color from the oil. All of the slabs on the rack in the first picture are Tung Oil (by the way, a tip o' the hat to SG- the slab racks are his idea & design.) The first two pics SG posted have a 2-3 coats of spar urethane finish after sanding. My friend with the sawmill also has a nursery/landscape business and prefers the benches that he sells to have a more rustic appearance. If I'm doing custom slabs or benches that will have our name on it, I really try to give them more of a quality "furniture" finish.

[steve_g]

I asked Bernie to step in so you’d get the answer from the man doing the finish… Thanks Bernie!
SG

[scottp55]

Thanks Bernie,
50/50 for first coat here because I like the penetration.
Only tried 100% my very first time and had a minor disaster 20 yrs ago:) May revisit 100% now----certainly would build faster.
Usually go 60/40 second coat and then to 80/20, but right on the cold coast and I imagine drying times are way different.
Hand rub here also, but just started applying Linseed to 150F heat soaked wood and amazed that as wood cools it sucks right in, and virtually NO bleed:)
Seems to cure enough to coat again in 24.
Going to try it with my Tung next.
Also made a Linseed/Beeswax "wood butter" at 75/25 and after 3 double boiler soaking coats I can wash our hardwood buttons in Woolite 3 times and you can't tell :)
Been slapping the excess from my wax brush onto a Quilted slab and it's beginning to look Nice!
Keep Steve out of trouble will you? :)
Great work!!!
Welcome.
scott