Live edge wood is a great option if you want to give your next project a rustic look. Live edge wood has grown significantly in popularity over the past couple of years, as many people find themselves impressed with its natural appearance.
You are in the right place if you want to know more about live edge wood and how it can be used in an antique or rustic design. Today, were here to provide you with everything you need to know about live edge wood slabs. We hope that after reading this guide, youll feel more comfortable opting to use them during your next project.
What Are Live Edge Wood Slabs And How Do They Work?
Live edge wood slabs are cuts of wood that do not have finished edges. Traditional lumber has straight sides. For instance, a two by four is 5 cm high and 10 cm wide. You can then cut the wood so that it meets the appropriate length.
Live edge wood does not have finished edges. The edge of live edge wood is almost the same as the one that was cut from the tree.
Typically, craftsman do not use traditional types of lumber when creating live edge wood slabs. Instead, theyll use lumber that would otherwise be considered useless during conventional woodworking. When creating live edge wood slabs, manufacturers typically use:
Live edge wood has been around for decades. It made its first appearance when George Nakashima left it on a series of pieces in the mid-1940s. Nakashima stated that he used organic timber when creating his pieces and that he looked for pieces that had figured grain, burrs and knots.
Live edge wood did not catch on immediately. However, around the turn of the 21st century, the popularity of the slabs skyrocketed. Now, many manufacturers use them in homes of both Western and rustic styles. The wood slabs can be used as furniture but they can also be used as countertops.
Are Live Edge Wood Slabs Expensive?
The cost of a live edge wood slab varies considerably on things such as the type of wood used and the size of the piece. However, as a rule of thumb, you should know that live edge wood tends to be more expensive than traditional lumber.
There are a few reasons why live edge wood is so costly. The pieces are unique. It is easy to produce traditional lumber in large quantities, but it’s more difficult to make live edges.
Second, the demand for live edge pieces is quite high. Manufacturers use rare wood when creating these pieces, and this wood may not be as readily available as other types. When there are a high supply and low demand, prices of a piece skyrocket. Some live edge slabs sell for twice as much on Etsy, as we have seen.
Lastly, there are a few challenges that go into creating live edge wood, as well detail below. It is not as simple to make the pieces as traditional lumber because of these difficulties. Youre not only paying a premium for the beauty of the piece but for the craftsmans time as well.
The Challenges Of Working With Live Edge Wood Slabs
You’ll be faced with many problems when working with live edge slabs of wood.
The fact that many of these pieces have holes is one of the biggest challenges. Manufacturers may leave the holes open to preserve the natural appearance of the piece. Some manufacturers fill the gaps with resin. This could prove to be time-consuming.
If you buy a slab of live wood with holes, it may be necessary to fill them in depending on the project. If you want to use a live edge piece to a natural wood countertop you will need one solid piece. Although its not always possible, you can avoid this by purchasing live edge wood slabs that best suit your needs.
It is not always the holes that are a problem. Because live edges are 100 percent natural, youll also likely find that they have things such as:
- Checks or cracks
- Voids
- Bark inclusions
Another problem with live edge wood is that the end grain cuts can prove to be quite challenging to work with. Because the edge of the wooden slab may not be straight, these end grain cuts can prove to be very inconsistent. It can be difficult to work with the different grains if you are not an experienced woodworker.
Furthermore, live edge wood is prone to curling and twisting. Traditional lumber is often pretreated before being cut. This prevents it from curling or twisting. The wood they use to make traditional lumber is less likely to curl, while live edge wood is more susceptible to twisting and curling.
Finally, epoxy finishes on live edge wood can cause a chemical reaction that is very unpleasant for many. You may need to epoxy work if you don’t find the right piece of wood.
Make sure to practice on a small section of the live edge slab. You could also practice on a scrap of wood. You won’t ruin an expensive wood slab.
How To Finish A Live Edge Slab
You will need to learn how to use live edgewood for your next project. Below, youll find a few of the most critical steps to help you complete your live edge wood slab.
Sand The Wood
Upon receiving your live edge wood slab, the first thing that youre going to want to do is to sand it. Most people believe that they should first fill in the holes in the wood and then begin sanding, but this is not the case. Sanding is the first thing that you should do when working with live edge wood.
Because youre going for a natural look, you may be tempted to leave the wood a bit rough. You’ll be able to keep the wood natural looking while making it smooth. We recommend 120-grit sandpaper.
Check The Finish
You will want to test the finish after you have completed the sanding. You should apply the finish only to the sides of the piece that you are not going to display. Once the finish dries, youll have a sound understanding of the final color of your piece. Feel free to try various finishes until you find one with which youre satisfied.
Fill In Holes And Voids
Once youve confirmed which type of finish youre going to use, its time to begin filling in holes and voids on the slab. We recommend using a two-part epoxy system to do so. Be sure to test the epoxy on an inconspicuous site to see if there is any sort of chemical reaction that occurs.
You will want to match the color of any stain you may use when you apply the epoxy. You may need to add a color additive to the epoxy to ensure that it matches the rest of the wood.
Once youve selected a color, you can begin filling in knots, holes, and voids. If you are working with a sizeable knot that goes through the entire piece of the wood, make sure you apply some sort of stopping agent to the underside of the hole. Both putty and masking tape should work fine. This prevents epoxy from leaking through the piece.
You will likely need to apply epoxy multiple times. However, you must wait for the first coat to dry entirely before you apply another coat. Youll likely find that air bubbles and slow-flowing seeps emerge when using epoxy, which can slow the process.
If you accidentally spill a bit of epoxy on the piece, theres no need to panic. You’ll have to sand the piece again before it is complete. The final sanding stage should take any unwanted epoxy off the wood slab.
Complete The Piece
After applying the epoxy, youre going to need to wait. The size of your hole will determine how long it takes epoxy to harden. Once the epoxy has hardened entirely, you can sand the slab once more.
You could potentially use a sander for this step. However, if you choose to use a sander, youll want to make sure that you are in complete control since there tend to be odd crevices. You should use at least 400 grit sandpaper if you don’t have a sander. Doing so will make your surface quite smooth and remove any epoxy that you spilled on the slab.
After sanding for the last time, its time to apply the stain. You should apply a clear coat to the piece even if you don’t want to stain it. This will protect the piece from water and spills.
Live edge wood slabs can be delicate so it is important to remember this when working with them. Its better to take your time with the project to ensure its completed accurately. Rushing the process could end up ruining the piece. It doesn’t matter how eager you are to finish the project, it is better to work hard.
Where To Buy Live Edge Wood
Buy the piece if you want to use live edged wood in your next project. You can likely either buy pieces as finished or unfinished.
Your local lumberyard is the best place to purchase live edge wood. If you cant find a live edge wood slab at your local lumberyard, youre going to have to find one online. You should exercise extreme caution while doing this.
Buying live edge wood slabs online can be challenging because theres no way to view the piece before purchasing. Sure, you can see pictures, but photos often do not do the piece justice.
Live edge wood slabs can be purchased by going to the actual piece and then looking for any problems.
If you much purchase the piece online, you may want to see if the seller will provide you with some sort of guarantee or return policy. If possible, we recommend that you only buy from trusted sellers. Look for independent sellers and those who aren’t forced to sell on eBay.
Furthermore, you should remember that when buying these slabs online, youre likely going to have to pay a premium for shipping. You may need to rent a large truck or trailer to transport these pieces. Additionally, the seller is going to have to be cautious when shipping, making sure that the piece is secure. These factors could increase shipping costs.
Cutting Your Own Live Edge Wood Slab
You could make your own live edge wood slab if you don’t want to purchase one. You could end up with something that is truly unique and proudly handmade by you. However, it could also take years to complete this piece. Buying a piece could be more convenient, especially if you are in a rush to complete your project.
You will need to find logs that were cut in the spring and summer before you can begin cutting your own slab of live edge wood. Logs that fall in this period tend to shed their bark more quickly than logs that fall later.
Also, be on the lookout for unusual colors as these indicate a higher moisture content. Similarly, youll want to look for pieces that have unique characteristics. Be sure to search for things such as burls, knots, and odd limbs.
It is a good idea to let the wood sit for at least a year if you aren’t in rushing to finish your piece. Wood can develop color variations and streaks when exposed to the elements.
If you do choose to leave the wood exposed, make sure that you research the type of wood youre using before doing so. Cherry, birch and soft maple woods are more likely to break down than other types. You wont want to leave these types of wood unexposed for more than a year.
Once youre ready to start your project, its time to cut the wood. Cutting the bark of a log could dull the blade on your saw. So, you should try to remove as much bark as possible before cutting the wood.
Feel free to cut the wood to meet project specifications. If there are no restrictions, and you are merely looking to cut a few small slabs, youll likely find that slabs that are 5 cm thick are least likely to warp.
After youve cut the wood, you can allow it to dry. This too is a process that you wont want to rush. The wood slab will retain its color by air drying it. Air-drying takes much longer than kiln-drying, but it could leave your piece looking much better.
When drying the wood, you should make sure that you dont sticker them. Stickering means that you leave the wood pieces touching one another. Adding spacers between the wood pieces improves air circulation, making for faster dry times.
One last tip when it comes to drying wood slabs be sure to put the thicker pieces at the bottom. You can then access the wood on top of the thinner pieces immediately after it dries. Once the wood has dried, you can repeat the steps listed above to finish your piece.
Live Edge Wood
Live edge wood slabs are a great option if you want to create a Western or rustic look in your next project. Doing so can provide natural character to any project. However, working with live edge wood can be challenging.
We recommend that you only use wood that you are comfortable with, as the pieces can be very expensive. At the very least, you should be sure to practice on an old piece of wood before working on your actual live edge wood slab.
However, mastering how to handle a live edge wood slab is a characteristic with which you should be proud. Knowing how to work with live edge wood slabs could allow you to create beautiful projects for years to come. This guide will help you learn everything you need about live edge wood slabs to make your next project a success.
