How can i get this custom piece for cheap?

[doduong11]

[owler]

An image of your design would be helpful. I can't imagine why you would want it to be 3" thick.

You might have luck going to a local saw mill to cut something that size and 30" wide. You did not specify wood species so for this suggestion to work it would have to be something that grows locally.

[workin for wood]

We need more and better information on what you are trying to do. Sounds like you may need an overhead crane to move that slab, have you considered that too? Your talking about a piece of wood that could weigh 200 pounds.

[Rivari]

That does seem to be a hefty bit of wood for a table top. I'm sure there are great reasons why you want to go with something like that...but my first thought is great protection during a standoff with the police.

[PuzzledMoose]

my first thought is great protection during a standoff with the police.

LOL my first thought was that it would take a hell of a scrollsaw to cut it ....

[chrispuzzle]

How about starting with old railroad ties? I don't know how much they cost in the US but they are about $40 each in the UK, retail. You could end up with a very characterful piece. Three or four ties should do it with plenty to spare for legs and bracing? I am thinking of a UK tie (sleeper) which is about 102" x 10" x 5" thick.

Chris

[workin for wood]

I don't know what they use in the UK, but here in the USA our railroad ties are soaked in creosote. That would make a big mess everytime you touch it, and I can't imagine any finish could possibly stick to it other than cold tar.
but you are on the right path, because there's no way a slab that big will hold up as a coffee table, it would be too unstable. It would have to be glued up as a panel and even then would have to free float on top of a frame. The best you could do to permanently attach it would be one screw in the center of the board. I understand the want for a huge slab, but there is a very good reason why you never see this done.

[chrispuzzle]

You can find untreated ones here although looking at my post I guess the word "old" is wrong. The untreated ones are mostly new.

http://www.justsleepers.com/price.htm is a UK site showing the sort of thing you can get over here, I would think quite a respectable price for a huge hunk of wood. Of course you need to do some work to turn that into a table but easier than having to start with a tree and a lot less expensive than more conventional timber products.

I have a cousin in Australia with an enormous dining table - must seat 20 with ease - made out of timbers salvaged from a dock that was taken out by a storm. Huge thing, studded with iron bolts. Great fun.

Chris

[BirdOasis]

Althought I don't think this is a scroller's question, All you need to do is use some less expensive wood and plane the edges and the top. Glue them together to form your larger piece. Then find a vaneer with a fabulous pattern to cover the top and sides.

This is an excellant excuse to purchase a large planer for future projects. Oh, and large clamps too. Check out Grizzly.com for more info on the larger planers, and vaneering. I'm sure I'm spelling that wrong.

[SharonW0111]

I hope you post a picture of that table when you get it made-- that would be one heck of a booger to move--
Sharon

[Neal Moore]

Why not build an oak frame, with mitred corners, that will provide the thickness you desire and mount a piece of 3/4 inch oak plywood inside and flush with the top edge of the frame. It would give the illusion of being "thick" but would still be light in weight. You would need some stringers inside the frame to provide stability and a means of attaching the legs or use another piece of construction grade ply as a bottom of the "box".

[workin for wood]

I couldnt agree more with what Neal is saying. Also, if you use veneer, remember that veneer of the same thickness and wood (but not necessarily the same figure, just same species), must be applied to the bottom side too. Not veneering both sides will make the panel unstable.

[Marcel in Longueuil]

You could get 3 sheets of Baltic Birch plywood 1/2" (13mm) thick and since they come in 60"x60" size, cut in half and glue the 6 panels together with some good wood glue (apply with a roller), resulting in a 30" x 60" x 3" panel as you desire ( well... maybe 30" minus a sawkerf)

I would suggest doing it in steps, adding one or two panel at a time and clamping with cauls.

That way you'll end up with the desired thickness, and will not have to worry about warping due to the cross sectional nature of Ply. Using BB ply instead of regular ply will also give you full edges (no gaps) and a nice grain surface should you not wish to veneer.

Regards,
Marcel

Good luck to you