back to the oak timber table we started last week

Here's a pic of the top and one leg of the timber table we started last week.  I'll try to do a better job of getting pics as it's making it on through the process.  consumer goods and services.

making progress on new website

Once I decided to go for it, it really wasn't as hard as I thought.  Made the decision to rebuild the site with a CMS instead of the bludomain flash based site I've been using.  Have lot's more work to do, but seem to have most of it worked out.  Stop over and take a look.  If you are seeing this from my "log blog" just look around above the header, and roam through the links and galleries.  I'd love to hear any thoughts.  - Just be aware, Several pages aren't enabled yet.  If you are reading this thru facebook, you can visit here:  blog.robinwadefurniture.com

modern organic low table in the works

I'm seeing a modern organic low table.  Yesterday we cut five small legs out of a wonderful oak slab.  The other side has a nice gray, weathered look.  Here Andrea is cleaning up the edges with a draw knife.

starting on oak timber table legs

This morning we applied (on and off)  a second coat of our tung/linseed oil on three tables in the finishing room.  That's all the finishing we can do until the order of tung oil arrives.  

Next we started on four oak timber table legs that recently arrived from the kiln.  Our big 42" bandsaw and 20" planer are taking care of the start of the process just fine.

Natchez Trace info center

Just before Tn hwy 64 exit near Ethridge Tn, is this little Natchez Trace info center.  Two wonderful trace drives in two weeks. 

an exception

I almost never eat fried food, but at this little market on hwy 64 just off the Natchez Trace Parkway exit, I seem to make a regular exception.  Fried chicken and potato wedges are my standard fare whenever I'm in the neighborhood at Self's Market.

another look at the plug going in the oak slab dining table

Another 15' long thick oak slab

This is the 15 foot long oak slab we planed yesterday.  If you have a big room, and need a big table, it's available.

thick oak slabs from 1840's plantation tree heading to kiln this morning

Much like life, it seems that there is much to learn about the drying process of all this unusually cut lumber.  My conservative rule of thumb in drying our very unique and valuable lumber has been to air dry it for almost one year per inch of thickness before it goes into the kiln.  We certainly aren't going to take chances with this historical lumber.  Actually, I think we might speed up the process a bit, but continue babying it through the process.  This morning I'll be delivering these 48" wide Barton Hall Plantation thick oak slabs to my friend that has a kiln operation in Tennessee, for our first pre-drying process.  We'll leave it in the pre-dryer for three or four months or so, and place it in the kiln when it's ready.  Oak is our biggest challenge to dry.  More about drying oak compared to other species in future posts

working on a thick oak slab dining table this morning

Here's a closeup of the dimensional joint in this thick oak slab dining table.  This will be just the second table to incorporate this joint.  If it doesn't interfere with "dining" (which is very important to me) I think we may be on to something.

Tennessee Tombigbee Waterway Crossing

Nice day for a drive to Tupelo for the furniture show.  The Natchez Trace Parkway is one of my favorite drives whenever we're not in a hurry.

What the heck is Mattie trying to tell me?

First youtube video - planing thick oak slab

It's not much, but here's my first youtube video of Andrea planing the 15' long thick oak slab last week.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TgUJ9-1VMSY

guests from Tennessee Valley Museum of Art examine two century old thick oak slab

We had visitors from the Tennessee Valley Museum of Art yesterday.  Mary Settle Cooney, Jim Berryman, and Steve Price are examining a couple thick slabs that came from a 220 year old oak who's wonderful previous life served as shade to the parishioners of the St. Luke Missionary Baptist Church in Athens, Al.  We usually keep the doors locked, but if you'd like to schedule a showing, just let us know!

how to get three 16 foot thick oak slabs out a 10' door and planed

Seems like this, just like much of our process, follow the "slow studio" theme.  Once we got these three thick oak slabs out of the building yesterday, it took all day (and then some) just to get two of them planed.  With rain forecast for last night, we got 'em back in the dry before we called it - a good day.

225 yr thick oak slab

It was great to get back outside again for a couple of days last week when the weather finally cleared and warmed up a bit.  This thick oak slab is 48" wide (at the widest point) and a bit over 8' long.  The first two slabs we planed have a wonderful hole on the side.  Not sure about a table, but I'm thinking a bed or bed headboard might be interesting.  I'll be back with more details of the provenance as well as the future life of this beauty.

favorite burger

Since I started juicing again a few months ago, I've been self deprived of a few of North Alabama's delicacies.  A couple of weeks ago, we enjoyed what has to be one of the best burgers I've ever tasted.  Dub's is right beside Goodwill in Historic Downtown Athens (Alabama).

cold creek

We've had a cold couple of weeks way down here in the deep south.  Good to see the sickle's thawing on the creek bank below the thick oak.

my fav huntsville restaurant

During the winter months, I just can't get enough of the pho tai here at our fav huntsville restaurant.  Not sure how long this restaurant has been in Huntsville, but we were nicely surprised to find it a few years ago.  In the past, we were only able to enjoy these wonderful delicacies when traveling in larger cities.  If they just had a nice comfortable cherry bench inside, it'd be perfect.

Low natural edge oak table in the works today

Oak is becoming my next walnut.  Have only made a few oak tables, but am becoming more and more intrigued with it, it's strength, beautiful grain patterns, even wondrous coloration as it begins to rot.  Three years ago I found some really large oak logs, cut them into big slabs, and allowed them to air dry.  Now, they are out of the kiln and beginning to become furniture.  I will probably continue to continue to build the bulk of my pieces in walnut and cherry, but for now, I'm really getting a kick out of oak.