Introduction: Live Edge Dining Table (MAPLE)

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About: HI My name is Adnan Medic, I am originally from Bosnia, I currently live in Michigan. I like to Sail, Ski, Bike and build random things. Cheers...

Maple slab live edge dining room table. 90"x38" It took me about 3 weeks to finish this table and 1 bench, of course we weren't working on it all tje time but it did take a lot of time I must say, very happy with the outcome.
Maple slab I got from a lumber dealer in Michigan, about 2 hours away from me, he was nice enough to deliver it to me at a reasonable fee. It was rough cut so I rented a floor sander from Home Depot and got to work. l started with 20 grit and worked my way up to 120 grit to get the table flat and somwhat smooth, that took the entire day to do. Table was hand sanded all the way up to 480 grit and finished with Sam Maloof oil and wax. it looks and feel awesome. It took just as long to build the base as it did the table which was constructed out of 4x4s, galvanized pipe, 5/8s threaded rod, bolts and washers. You could literally land a chopper on this thing and it wouldn't break.

Step 1: Find a Local Lumber Dealer.

Find a local lumber dealer and call him to see what je has, maple, walnut, etc... Walnut is better but coats much more and finishes darker. It all depends what you are looking for.

Step 2: SANDING - Hardest Part

Getting the table flat and smooth was the hardest part. Rent a floor sander from home depot and get to work, plan to spend a whole day doing this. Start with 20 grit and work up, buy 2 of each. 20 grit, 40 grit, 60 grit, 80 geit, 120 grit. The rest of tje sanding you can do with palm sander and hand sander. I did mine up to 480 grit, but 220 might just be enough for some.

Step 3: Oil-Wax

I went with Sam Maloof oil and wax because it is just awesome product, easy to work with and great results. Simply use a cotton rag and rub the whole table with oil, let it sit for about 10-15 minutes and then rub it off, make sure to rub it all out. Wait 24 hours and do it again 3 more times, sand with 400 grit sand paper between coats. After that apply 2-3 coats of Sam Maloof wax same way.
Can be purchased on Amazon. I warmed my oil up a bit so it penetrates better, make sure

Step 4: Building a Base.

Building the base for the table and bench took a lonh time. I was debating to go with this idea which was my original idea or with black pipe Base I seen on Pintrest, Glad I went with my own idea. Home depot cut the 4x4s for me but they were way off, I had to resize all of them again, drilled holes through all the legs using my new drill press, cut the galvanized pipe down to 3.5 inch pieces, used 5/8s washers, bolts and 3 feet threaded rod. (1 foot for the bench), used water pipe insulator to center my spacers (galevenized pipe). Base was also sanded multiple times and finished with Sam Maloof oil finish.

Step 5: Finishing Touches.

Put it all together, align it, and put the table top on your base. You will need a friend or two as these slabs can weigh 150-200lbs... Happy Building ;)