Conference noted::woodworking_and_tools

Well, now that I know how much the 32"x22" hunk of oak weighs, I'd like some
advice making tables out of it.

Yesterday I sliced off a 4" thick piece and still have enough for 3-4 more
tables.  My plan is to make 3 legs out of the same wood from the tree, about
24" long or so.  I made the slice 4" thick so I could sink the legs in about
2" without worrying about coming through the top of the table.

I was also thinking of covering the bottom of the table top with a sheet of
metal to keep it together in case it cracks or something.  Is that a needless
worry or does it make sense?

What type of clear finish should we apply?  I'd like to avoid a plexiglas
top so we'll need lots of layers I presume.

What about the bark?  Will the polyurethane (sp?) keep it on or will it
flake off over time?  Should we remove it before finishing the top?

Any other ideas for projects besides tables with the remaining wood?

Thanks
Dave

    Dave
    
    Before anyone can answer that, you need to tell us about the Oak
    itself.  How was this big piece you bought surfaced?  It sounds like a
    tree trunk you bought.  Is this correct?  Was it surfaced at all or
    simply a complete section of an oak tree?  How green is this wood, has
    it been sitting outside for any length of time or just cut?
    
    Brian

  The wood was free, we just had to haul it away.  The tree fell during
  hurricane Opal which was in 94?  It has been laying down, suspended above
  the ground since then.  Just last month it was sliced up so I guess you'd
  say it was surfaced by a chain saw...  I do have access to a 2 man cross
  cut saw if that helps anything.
  
  I don't know how dry/wet this stuff is.  What I was sawing it, the chips
  had a reddish tint to them.
  
  There are 2-3 more 32" diameter sections with a rotten center about 5-10"
  wide I can get if I can find a use for them.  We might just get them for
  firewood anyway.
  
  Dave

    Dave
    
    How did you slice off that 4" piece with a chain saw?
    
    I would say this wood is not sufficiently dried out to use yet.  You
    need to get a moisture meter and see what the moisture content of this
    wood.  My suggestion is that you resaw the wood into boards you can
    easily work with then stack them under a tarp and let the air dry them
    out for awhile  If I understood you correctly the wood sat whole with
    the bark on for 3 years.  With the bark on and a 32" diameter, I doubt
    the heart is dry at all.  If you use this wood without letting it dry
    out, you can bet on splittage as the moisture drops out of it.
    
    Brian

Yes, I did cut it with a chain saw.  I can slice up the remaining chunk and
let it air dry.  Are we talking weeks, months, years??  Can I stack it up in
our garage instead of outdoors?  How much does a moisture meter cost?

I appreciate all this information - it's my first venture into this sort of 
project.

Dave

    Some notes on drying are in 21.*
    
    It is generally thought to take about One Year for every inch of
    thickness of the wood.  So you are looking at some time.  You 
    could build a kiln (I just did!) or simply put the chunks in a 
    nice dry enviornment like under a bed.  Paint the endgrain to 
    limit cracking and splitting.
    
    Moisture meters are around $100+ and can be purchased at any 
    woodworking store (see 1634.5 for where to rent one ;-)
    
    Steve

    Dave
    
    Steve is right, based on your response, If your planning on using this
    table in your home and not in a hunting log cabin in the wild, then you
    really need to let this wood dry out for at least a year.  In your
    garage is better than outside or your basement is even better if its
    dry down there.  I have seen moisture meters as low as $35.00 in
    woodcraft, I'll bet they are not as accurate as the $100+ but what the
    heck right the wood was free.  
    
    The other thing is how were you planning on building the table, just
    one huge solid top?  What are the dimensions of the table?
    
    Brian

Letting it sit for a year is easy, one of my car projects has been sitting
for 4 years now...

It will have to reside in the garage since we don't have a basement.

My plan for the table is just use the whole slice, 32" diameter, drill, chip,
or chisel out 3 holes (about 2" deep) for legs and stick it in the living
room.

Dave

    Ohhhh the light just came on, your cutting a circular piece off end and
    putting tripod legs on it.
    
    If thats the case, slice the end off it and store the one piece in your
    house under your bed etc.  It will dry out much faster there than in
    your garage.  Put a series of small dowels under the wood every 12
    inches to let air circulate under the wood.  Since the bark is on, I would
    not worry about painting the ends.  I would not be surprised though to
    see the bark break off as the wood dries. You may want to cut a bunch
    of slices off and stack them on top of each other, this type of cut
    will be prone to warpage so if you have a couple, one might make it
    through flat.
    
    brian

Ok, I'll try the under-the-bed-thing, but I think I'll take the bark off so the
cats won't break it off and eat it...

Thanks for the help!

Dave

"this type of cut will be prone to warpage"

	Since its an end slice it's only 4 inches "long".  I would think that
checking would be a much greater problem than warping.  Am I mistaken?

George