I’ll Take a Big Slab

Rob-Portrait351Something that I have really started to enjoy in the last couple of years is working with thick slabs of lumber: wide boards 3-1/2 to 4 inches thick, sometimes with live, waney edges, but sometimes not. For some reason, probably because I cut my woodworking teeth in a cabinet shop, when I design a project, I almost always start out with 3/4-inch-thick stock in mind. This works great for a lot of things, but I have found recently that the thick stuff can really add a visual bang to a project — and it is fun to work with.

So, I am wondering if I am alone in this regard. How about you? Is extra-thick lumber something that you are working with? If not, how come? Price, availability or just not interested? Let me know, and we will share the consensus.

Rob Johnstone, Woodworker’s Journal

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