2/17 OK ... were almost underchoice on a new Claro walnut slab top table ... This one is for a kitchen in Connecticut and as you can see from the 1/6th scale model above, its a long narrow one ... The slab will be about 32-34 " in width and about 10 long after its cut .... It left today or will leave soon from Good Hope Hardwoods in Kemblesville, PA, and it should arrive here early next week .... Over the last ten years I have gotten 5 or six claro slabs, several big bubinga boards and a couple really wide pieces of 8/4 cherry. They have a great new website too. Check it out .. Find a board and well build a table for you ... Click the pictures to enlarge them ...
After looking at 4 or 5 options, this is the one we chose ... Well have to doctor the flares a bit and trim it too length, but it looks like a beauty. 
We took the inspiration for our 1.5" thick steel base from this Shaker table from the 1800s
CAD drawing of the base parts ... We originally were going to cut pieces and weld them back together, but it occurred to us that steel was at least as cheap as welding and grinding and well probably get a smoother item.
To be sure we had it right, we cut a couple of plywood samples on the cnc and mocked up the look with a slab I have on hand that is looking for a home ... desk anyone? Its 30 to 42 wide and about 7 long .. (4/4 ...This slab has since been sold and will be a coffee table .. )
American black walnut ... Better picture of that slab here ...
Updated 2/23/2010 ... The wood arrived from Goodhope Hardwoods today. And, its a real beauty ... Ive only made a few passes to get a sense of how it is, and yessir .. it is really nice ... Below is a small puddle of alcohol we splashed on the curly end .... Lots of figure ...
Below I have chalked it to indicate where we plan to cut it to the clients size specs .. +/- 34-35 x 10
Updated 2 19 ... The metal for the table base is done ... well tie them together next week with some 3/8 x 2" steel across the top where the notch is and add the braces to that ...Base parts, last Friday ... Now that we have the slab, well work on that soon too ...
One end polished slightly
