How I dry Live Edge Slabs.

My process for drying the slabs that I cut.
Follow me on IG-Second Life Design

[@MrMikeyPayne]

Excellent content! Authentic. Thank you for sharing the details of your experience. Keep working hard, I think you will succeed.

[@brianjohnson9105]

Thanks for the instruction. Wood slab prices are a lot for a small time person like me. I am looking for a 25” x 50” rectangle to sand down for a coffee table. Really tough. Most are huge and cost thousands.

[@duelette]

and thank you for the time to make the video. I just had some black walnut slabs cut thinking I was going to use them for my cabinet tops. Talked to a professional kiln operation and they said they would not take it for one year of air-drying. Plan b for me.

[@professionalhfvacuumwooddr2261]

We are of the china leading manufacturer of High Frequency（RF） Vacuum Wood Dryer Machine Main Product: High frequency vacuum wood dry kiln It can finsih the dry process within 10 days. Any need just contact me：[phone](whatsapp) [e-mail]

[@xpower30]

wow and no thank! wood slabs dry in 10 days! Just letting nature be

[@LindyLooo99]

WE got a 36" slab from a fallen OAK tree.... vertical drying caused BOWING... and so I laid them out on an open IRON table FLAT and tied them down FLAT, with 4x4 between them, they are 3" slabs. Our AC is running outside and putting out some incredible heat... I placed them in front of it.

[@alexjordan3970]

Great video for first timer over here , i plan on cutting my first logs this summer or next . This was my Biggest concern curing the wood Properly . Thank you it was really helpful.

[@atteljas]

Hello! This was great find! Thank you for sharing this !

[@DHSNewsTeam]

Glad I ran across you. I’m just starting out with a couple of slabs not to long ago. Researching the “next step”. Any advice would be appreciated

[@jewfishhammer]

I've had good luck using ratchet straps on my European stacked slabs to prevent warping. You have to re tighten the straps as the stack dries & shrinks.

[@MrThenry1988]

I do something similar. Mine go in a shed to dry. Then to a room in my shop with a dehumidifier and a fan. Takes a couple years for sure. I also use cheap ratchet straps and they help. I find I have to tighten them as it goes along. It won't help with splitting. I also have 3 different cheap testers. They have done me good enough. Good show.

[@42011KID6]

Which moisture meter do you use seeing as I am looking into get one since my boss now has a saw mill and I will be running some lumber of my own

[@auvis1]

Thanks for the lessons. Can you use dried western red cedar for stickers on 8/4 burr oak planks?

[@jeremywestra6601]

Great summary, thanks for sharing!

[@joenic4303]

I like this video and am surprised by the negative responses. I live in phoenix and wood cures in one summer no two ways about it. My garage reads 125F and feels like an oven. The side of my house read 157F in direct sun on a regular 107F day. It's like a kiln without the humidity.

[@Spellbook4SurvivalCultivation]

very useful info!, I'm making my first slab purchase this weekend. thank you for the facts!

[@SlabGuy]

I have many more videos, check out my Milling Monday Series! Congrats on entering the Slab Life!

[@dwainetyncompany]

How would you go about dealing with a log that has sat for years? I cut a slab out of a rotten log and the thickness is about two and a half inches, five feet long, and about a foot wide at one end, the crotch end, and about nine inches at the opposite side. Probably weighs about 50 pounds. Good character in the heart wood and the rot only dips in about an inch. I really don’t want it to get “checked” and I put polyurethane on all the end… it was the only thing that I had. How do I prevent cracking and checking in this log?

[@ericcullen1597]

Thanks brother. Enjoyed your explanation on this subject, I think you have covered everything I am about to ensure on, Have some large blood woods to slab. Thanks again.

[@SlabGuy]

Glad it helped! Thanks!

[@Oldwhiteguy]

Why would someone dislike? Lol great talk, I’m just starting.

[@absw6129]

Great content. For me, even when I use a kiln, I still like to air dry the lumber at first.

[@thesesh5629]

What about dealing with mould ? Because the white pine I have is having a tone of mould

[@jul4275]

I just got some 2 inch thick live edge pine and it's been sitting outside for a year how long do I have to keep it to dry. Can't you help me on something else should I get get it sand planer or sand it by hand.i do want a somewhat nice top finish before I do the Rubio finish.

[@ryananthony4840]

Now here's some useful information to me, I'm in NW Indiana... Should be pretty much the same here, Thanks!

[@SlabGuy]

Very similar regions for sure. Hope it helps!

[@thomascostello5780]

good info - great job... have downed trees from hurricane Florence 18 months ago -- haven't started on them yet. I'm in Swansboro NC will let u know about %'s these should be almost dry I'm hoping

[@SlabGuy]

If they are still in log form, they aren’t really losing a whole lot of moisture. They need to be milled, opened up to really lose moisture.

[@jasondaniels2970]

Thomas Costello I live in New Bern. Same story. I took mine too a mill out in Maysville. Stacked in my garage ready to go. Took about 7 solid months

[@robertallen4842]

Great information, thank you!

[@ElectricIguana]

how do you slot the holes?

[@conradanderson404]

What are you doing for the bugs, IE powder post beetles? Their larva can live in the slab for over a year and once they hatch out of the slab they're in your casa making babies and eating holes.

[@MysteryBiker123]

Hi I've literally just researched tonns of stuff on air drying live edge slabs as I bought two beech live edge slabs 2 weeks ago, ones very flat and the others slightly warped, no idea when tree was felled however they're damp just to the touch and the warped one has black mould on it on one side (not gone through yet) I've used white vinegar on it to kill it at the root. I've got a compact de humidifier for drying aiding with the drying out process as well as a fan I already had, keeping them both going overnight with my wood stacked properly with lots of weight on top to hopefully push the ends of the one slab down and push it back flat again, anyway I digress, should I keep fan and DH on as much as possible not just on a night? I'm mindful of electricity bills haha. any pointers / tips would be useful thanks? Also I've not sealed the ends as I didn't think it would dry out quick enough to cause any Halm. It's in my dining room out the way, radiator is at the other side of the room.

[@magua1368]

keep dhum on YES

[@russellgleixner]

Great Video! Thanks so much for your Knowledge and your time to share it. Don't listen to some of the ignorant comments. People are mad, hate their lives and want to make everyone around them miserable. Screw em.. Always some big mouth know it all in the comment section.

[@timbersavvy8454]

Could you share an example of how you slot the holes when attaching metal legs to a slab table?

[@dradawg07]

They extend the slot a little longer to allow for expansion. Hope this helps

[@tompaj1620]

fantastic information

[@larrybibbs2356]

Do you sell any of the slabs you've dried?

[@RobertJosefs]

Thanks for this video. I saw a really nice piece of a tree was being given away for free period I was thinking of making it into a table

[@doycowzintexas1672]

Love it no nonsense info thanks

[@miseript]

When you air dry do you cover completely or just the top of the slabs? Are you concerned about rain/moisture causing slabs to stain?

[@kenashton32]

Good question.. I'm assuming he does not cover it with plastic or anything like that as that would impede air flow.. He may have a roof to put it under which would help.

[@treggliebler6237]

The European method he refers to means the top slab is rounded on top so water runs down sides. This method mitigates the the amount of rain reaches most of the wood. Typically rain won't penetrate too deeply and therefore drys shortly after it gets on the wood. Typically air drying wood doesn't get the wood down to the 6-8% MC recommended for fine woodworking. Best to bring the wood inside after air drying until the MC reaches 6-8%.

[@douglasfick4817]

Yes in the beginning there is what they call free water, and that goes fast, then the bound water inside the cell walls, that is what takes time, it will only come out so fast and if you try to speed it up you will suffer more drying defects

[@razz4taz]

What if I were to put a livestock fan on the wood. Is that bad? Or would that cause warping?

[@SlabGuy]

More air flow isn’t going to hurt. It’s going to warp if it wants too.

[@jwwilly7850]

Thanks man. Great info. Certainly not buting expensive moisture reader

[@radinsyah1574]

Errr..... it would help if you put in some b-roll of some pictures or footage of how you aur dry them?

[@tomw1416]

East central Illinois?? Maybe not to far from me

[@briankelley6024]

do you sell your dry slabs?

[@hawk270leadflinger9]

Do cedar slabs need the ends painted for drying?

[@coltoncyr2283]

I got some drying now, in my attic!, never used slabs for projects so I'm very new to this, how do you deal with cedar? I'm aiming to make a wine rack.

[@garysimpson7787]

Hey I just had a tree cut that was down a year laying outside red oak I hade it cut into 1 1/4inch slabs How long should I air dry these before I use them for a counter top?

[@SlabGuy]

It’s all about moisture content. Search for “wood moisture meter” on Amazon. I shoot for less than 12% in my region. Check with other local woodworkers to find the relative humidity in your area.

[@garysimpson7787]

Second Life Design ok thanks

[@ExploringCabinsandMines]

about 15 years

[@matthewclement1792]

@@ExploringCabinsandMines hahahahaha your hilarious...15 yrs

[@Benwink2]

Just a heads up, showing the wood stack is a little more useful than just face cam 😂

[@patricktatten]

Thank you for the great video. Is "green" wood only considered freshly-felled trees? In other words, if I cut a log that has been on the ground for several years in an arid climate, will the boards still need to be air-dried, or will they be close to that 10% moisture content. Thank you!

[@SlabGuy]

Check out my Milling Monday videos, I talk more about slab drying.

[@georgealderson4424]

That is a really good question and very polite too. It was a pleasure to read it. I hope your project is successful Patrick. I tried to make a table at school in UK (a million years ago!) and I had a beautiful slab of trunk with a nice pattern in it and I worked on it for weeks. Then one day I was talking to a teacher who lived in a flat above the classroom. "Bad news" she said. "Your slab exploded during the night and frightened the bejabers out of me!" My beloved slab was indeed no more, lying there in three pieces. Clearly it was happier being a tree than a table! Blessings and peace.

[@patricktatten]

George Alderson oh no! Well, you experienced a lot of enjoyment during the process I’m sure! Thank you so much for your comments and support. I’m learning, so this will be a new and exciting journey!

[@patricktatten]

Second Life Design ok I will, thank you!

[@georgealderson4424]

@@patricktatten Well the enjoyment part was short lived though maybe I could have made three stools from what was left of my coffee table but if I had dobe that and then they had also exploded whilst people were sitting on the they might have been a bit uncomfortable haha. I had a look at your own channel and saw that you were handy with an axe so if things go a bit squeue wiff as we used to say here in UK you can always go and chop down another tree though, I suppose and keep fit at the same time! Blessings and peace

[@biniyammesfin6618]

Thanks

[@MrThenry1988]

You still at it?

[@JordanStambaugh1]

So you stack them vertically for weeks, but say let them dry level so they don’t warp…that part is confusing for me.

[@SlabGuy]

I use both methods with good success.

[@justinriley2206]

If you listen to the log. It will tell you where to cut it.

[@alexandersangster7137]

Did you say DEEP DEEP DEEP DISH PIZZA

[@SlabGuy]

Thanks for watching!

[@tracey38999]

He forgot you have to sterilize the wood for bug infestation's!!!

[@shantellamend8986]

Try to do it with Stodoys plans :)

[@reltub20001]

Uhm. Uhm. Uhm. Great content but uhm?

[@SlabGuy]

I’m working on it. Thanks for watching!

[@fernandocirna6555]

Hi, do you know If I can use 12% oak to resin? 12% is not gonna wear??

[@mathew96385296]

The first 1 minute 33 seconds are a waste of time. Why don't people just say hi and get directly into it‽

[@SlabGuy]

Thanks for watching!

[@austinkeenan3990]

This video contains a lot of misleading, incomplete and flat-out wrong information. If you “cannot intelligently speak about” a subject, don’t make a video about the subject. 1. No green logs are 30-40% MC when first milled. 2. Sticker spacing is 24” max, not every few feet. Stickers also need to be placed at the very beginning and very end of the slab face to prevent checking. Slab stacks should be strapped in line with the stickers to prevent twisting, cupping etc. 3. There is no way your red oak slabs shrank 4” across their width. Maybe your bark fell off. 4. You are not air drying 9/4 slabs to 20% in 1 year; and you are not air drying slabs to 9-11% in your garage. 5. A $30 pin style moisture meter that measures 1/4” into a slab is not giving an accurate core MC reading. All you are measuring is the shell MC. A meter with a 3/4” depth reading will measure the core MC of a slab if you place the meter on the top face then the bottom face of the slab, assuming the slab is 8/4. 6. Your $30 meter probably cannot be calibrated to the specific gravity of each wood species, whereas the Wagner, Delmhorst and Ligno meters can. This is extremely important when measuring the MC of a slab. A $30 meter beside a quality meter will yield vastly different MC readings.

[@SlabGuy]

Thanks for following!

[@CN-bg1fy]

Austin, you seem pretty irate. There is a polite way of offering information. Not sure you were aiming for that.

[@tlbfarm4473]

Clickbait tile: It was supposed to be about drying live edge slabs. An Honest tile would have been: "Here's my Face for 10 Minutes!". Yuck.

[@SlabGuy]

Thanks for watching! Have a great day!