![]() ![]() It expands and contracts in different environments. However, it can happen once a table is mounted to a base.Ī fact with all wood is that it moves. This typically happens at the kiln or while the slab is air drying. This can also usually be attributed to changes in humidity and temperature. The second most common issue is a slab cracking. If it doesn’t, you may need to flatten it again. When this happens, you can flip the slab over and often it will take back it’s original shape within a few days. If the slab already warped, there is a good chance it’s still a chance it’s not ruined. Don’t just sit it on one – actually mount it. Don’t use live edge in areas such as cabins unless they are temperature controlled year-round.Keep your table away from areas of high heat such as floor vents and other heaters such as wood burners.Cover them with moving blankets and support the entire slab evenly when transporting them.If they are not, store them in your house as recommended above before finishing. If you’re in PA or Maryland, we recommend slabs that are dried to 12% or less throughout. Check the moisture content before buying.Changes in moisture content are what cause the slabs to warp the first place. ![]() The slab will adjust to the moisture content of the location it’s going. Store the slab wherever it’s going to be used as a table for 1-2 weeks before finishing it.Store it upright after it’s flattened, not laying down.The best things you can do to keep your slab from warping are: The slab was left outside and it rained or was exposed to high temperatures and sunlight.For example, if you transport a 12′ slab on a truck with a 6′ bed, good chance it can warp by the time you get it home. The slab was transported with stress on the wood.Garages or storage units are also not ideal unless they’re heated and have dehumidifiers. Locations such as bathrooms or basements that have high moisture levels in the air are not ideal. The slab wasn’t stored in a good location.To avoid this, cover the one side you didn’t finish with blankets and finish the project as quickly as you can. If you’re working in a garage or woodshop, and you only finish one side, slabs can warp as quickly as overnight. If one side traps moisture and one side absorbs it, expect warping to occur. Applying a finish on one side only or unevenly.This change in moisture unevenly on the slab would cause the wood to warp. If a slab, for example, is sitting flat on a floor, then moisture can absorb or escape from the top. The slab wasn’t finished and it was stored laying flat or with uneven exposure to each side.If a slab isn’t dried enough it will warp as it dries out more once it’s in a home. Though not super common, it is worth mentioning. The slab wasn’t dried right in the first place.This is by far the most common issue we hear with live edge slabs. In this blog, we’re going to breakdown the most common issues we see with live edge slabs. ![]() Woodworking with large live edge slabs can result in beautiful furniture pieces, assuming nothing goes wrong. ![]()
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