Making A Live Edge Floating Mantle (Woodworking)

In this video I take a Beech slab that Mack and I milled last year and turn it into a floating fireplace mantle for a client. Making items like this out of material that was sourced, milled, and processed in house is a really rewarding experience!
Below are some links to tools I used in this project.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Tack Life Heat Gun
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Thank you to Pferd abrasives for supporting my shop and my channel. For links to some of the grinding discs I use most see below:
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Flap disc:
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Inside corner disc (AMAZING):
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Wire Wheel:
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Thanks for watching! Be careful, know the limits of your skills and your tools! Don't try this stuff at home!
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We teach classes in woodworking and welding here at the shop, if your interested see the current schedule here.
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For PDFs of some of our project check out our profile on Instructables:
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Below are some links to tools I use in the shop on a daily basis.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Bosch Miter Saw ( My Favorite miter saw)
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Sawstop Table Saw:
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Wen Tabletop Metalcutting Bandsaw
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Articulated Vise:
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Bosch Portable Bandsaw ( 18V)
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Porter Cable Restorer:
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Lincoln 120V Welder ( good for a home shop)
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The Camera I use:
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The Tripod I use:
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[@ahorseman4ever1]

I really enjoy watching your videos because I feel I can watch them and then go create something of my own. Even though I don't have all the tools you have I can modify what I have to work. Basically the most important thing you convey is your thought process. Thank you!

[@tomsommer54]

That was really cool. I have a sawmill myself. I’m going to make some black walnut floating shelve for my house to surprise my wife. Thank you.

[@okstes]

This is a valuable addition to my woodwork collection kzbin.infoUgkxkNYRBJuiJ6EwD-tQSAlxg0eFKsnR2cgz I still will rate this woodwork plan as the best in my reference library. It always seem to stand out from the rest whenever you go through the library. This is a masterpiece.

[@galuziel4643]

Who is this stranger walking around the shop, talking to you and interrupting the video with no shame ? I love your videos. They’re filmed and edited very well. It feels like you are a very hard worker and aim for perfection. Thank you very much for these !!!

[@pointedspider]

A million dollar shop!

[@jayonez137]

I have been a finish carpenter for 35 years and I will tell you right now that jig is genius. Great job man

[@MakeEverything]

I appreciate that compliment!

[@jayonez137]

@@MakeEverything I am in the middle of making a 8 foot long Chery live edge slab mantle that is 3” thick and 14” deep for my house. That’s how I found your Channel. Subscribed!

[@dirkrichards6022]

The shelf is soooooooooooooooooooo much better than fireplace!!!!!

[@markmywords519]

Extremely sophisticated work. Too good to just be in a pokey alcove next to the stairs man that deserves to be in a big lounge room. Superb work.

[@dennisbeasley298]

Can I say professional. That was incredible to watch.

[@skifreak5096]

I used your techniques to make a fireplace mantle for my wife for a Christmas present. The jig for welding the pins and drilling into the back of the mantle worked like magic. When I went to mount the mantle on the wall, it slid in good and tight like a perfect fit. Thank you for publishing your ideas and techniques and making my project a success.

[@victorcharlap1756]

Really enjoyed watching this video. Best part is there are no gimmicks during the video. Straight talk and explanation of the process. You don't spend time trying to be funny or be goofy. Well rounded craftsman. Helps to know different ways to make something.

[@gleinerteruel2488]

Man, you really got a gift! Super thanks to share your knowledge the way you use to do, even the invisible parts of the work.

[@MakeEverything]

Thank you for that!!

[@miketerribullock2560]

I just made a built-in dresser with European Beech from a huge tree we had to cut down at work. I let the wood dry for two years after it was rough-cut in our garage. Came out pretty nice.

[@DuaneTheOakHirst]

The Best Video ever for this project. Thanks

[@bryce7285]

It's funny. I totally love the sanding lol

[@jeremiahbrown4344]

Just a quick tip... Put your steel pins in your mantle first, using a layout guide stick to keep your pin holes parallel with each other. Leave them sticking out with enough room to weld on your wall mount. Shim your wall mount to the height you need on your work bench and tack weld it to your pins. It's easier to adjust the wall mount to the pins than trying to locate pins in a slab edge. Awesome mantle btw-J. :)

[@jonnybegood4848]

You've kindly shared a good deal of accumulated experience and wisdom in this video. I suspect years of trials and anticipations made or not lie within this apparently seamless translation to the finished product. I also appreciate how you've taken the time to incorporate the welding into your skillset such that the project could be moved to completion under your extraordinary care and integrity. This was such a pleasure to watch. I wish my dad could have seen this. He was a fine carpenter with an industrial arts degree and decades of work as carpenter or junior high woodshop instructor. I bought him a subscription to Fine Homebuilding towards his latter years. Videos like this, unavailable during his time, he so would have enjoyed. I spent many years as a carpenter myself, sometimes agonizing and self-scolding. A good night's rest most often resulted in fresh a perspective. Thank you.

[@MakeEverything]

Thank you very much!

[@arthurboddie5261]

Nice job. I think you are one of the best videos available. You scared me a couple times with hands near the table saw. I again loved your work.

[@zachbancroft9824]

This is a great video dude. You’re sharing so many little nuggets of truth that take years to figure out! Preach on brother!

[@jamesnasmith984]

The flow of the video and the spoken presentation merge very well into a smooth and enjoyable demonstration. Very informative job. Thanks.

[@MakeEverything]

James Nasmith thank you!!!

[@cynthiacappellina4958]

Wow, not only did the shelf look beautiful, it was great to watch someone who takes great pride in what he does, and the fact that you clean up as you go and vacuum while drilling is awesome. Wish more people thought to do that while they work. Great job and excellent work ethics.

[@emmacarina73]

Excellent video, clear and concise descriptions, great craftsmanship.... perfect. Thanks

[@pcappabianca83]

Great vid on live edge mantel build. I hope to build my own from a red oak log milled from a tree on my property. Your video will be most helpful.

[@emanueltutuc7441]

Amazing craftmanship! The hidden bracket design is very clever.

[@ZenofNow1]

Cool mantel! Remember to use a push stick on your table saw!

[@dcmsr5141]

I have no expertise whatsoever in these types of endeavors, However, I have a basement which needs finishing a fireplace that I just got finished doing a level 2 inspection and will receive a stainless steel liner. The Fireplace needs a mantle. Long story short, I found a guy locally who does exactly what you do. Of course I have contracted him for the basement. All of this to say I appreciate the detail and effort to make such a fine piece. And of course to buy local.

[@rogerharris8081]

Very well done. Especially, well thought out and executed….maybe a little over kill, but better strong and sturdy. Who knows, they may want a family Christmas photo sitting on the mantle lol.

[@mandolinsmith3875]

Now I see why wood pieces can be so expensive... so much work!

[@tomstclair961]

Nice job! Looks awesome!! Here's a little trick that i used in my similar projects. Even on floating shelves for books and such. After you've installed your metal or wood pin bracket into your finished piece. Mark a center line on the furthest outer pins where they fit into piece. Then measure up from back edge 2 inches and drill a 1/8 inch hole into the piece up to the pin. Then take a long style Allen head set screw and coat it with wax and thread it into hole till it hits pins to lock in place to assure it wont work its way out through heat and cold and vibration. Then just loosen the 2 set screws enough to pull piece back off guide pin bracket. The only thing you will see is 2 tiny hole under bottom edge. Very hard to see if your not looking for it.. Its just a guarantee that piece will never relax and wiggle out away from wall down the road.. You can also just use one on the cent. Pin as well. Anyway great job. Looks beautiful bro! Make America great again by building it with your hands.. 🇺🇸🇺🇸✌😎 Thanks for sharing.

[@MrMJB]

Fantastic end result 👌🏻👏🏻

[@robhaskell4043]

Again, as per all of your instructional videos, just excellent. I really like the way you articulate what you are doing while omiting what you don't need us to watch (sanding). Your expertise with the numerous tools you have is also very impressive. Well done. Cheers from Canada.

[@jadesumsion]

Well worth my time to watch that video. Again.

[@Scratchthejeepguy]

Great job explaining the mounting system!

[@LetsGoHelio]

This is amazing. Both the project and your explanation. Thank you friend; I learned a lot.

[@garyeisele6522]

Sweet shelf! I really enjoyed how you put all the detail into making sure everything was going to fit and look incredible. Awesome job!

[@r.mercado9737]

Absolutely wonderful! The video was spectacular! Thank you for sharing this work with us.

[@CarrieSmithOriginal]

I learned so much from this. Thank you so much! I wish you lived in Texas. I would love to have you do this for our home. God bless.

[@dabprod]

Excellent video. Very interesting and informative. Love you're shop too. I love working with wood, am a retired art and framing business owner for many years.

[@gatordiddy]

Fascinating process - those 24 minutes flew by. It might just be me, but you have a great command of the English language to go along with your mad "make everything" skills. Well done.

[@drickard67]

Love the hot glue to create A dam for the epoxy...

[@daleshort7242]

you have a very good way of communicating so us non carpenters can understand. keep up the good work. thanks

[@jeffforbes3772]

Great project! Well explained and I learned a lot. Thanks for posing.

[@justinhc123]

Good job! Love your workshop.

[@alekwithak5853]

Loved all the fixtures you've used throughout the build.

[@donniegaskill1836]

My first time watching your video. Very impressive on how precise you work. Thanks for addressing each component of the build. Your working tips helps a great deal and will hopefully make me a better maker.

[@ManCrafting]

Nice job. Love the way you did the hidden bracket. Should be solid. That fireplace seems to just be stuck in a left over space. Kind of odd having it so close to the stairs.

[@Cahangon80]

Masyaallah, Good Job boy 👍 Nice to meet you boy, From Indonesia

[@williamfindspeople4341]

Outstanding video I really enjoyed watching you work thing I like the most was that laser leveler it's amazing what technology has done today for the carpenter

[@Tito1984]

Really nice production video. Your video is as good as your woodworking. Kept my interest all the way through. I'm building a floating shelf now. I don't weld. I did take a 2x3x 1/4" angle iron and bolted it to the wall then cut a slot in the shelf to fit it together. I'll need to put a screw or bolt from top or bottom to lock it in place. I was gong to route a slot, but I recessed the track in the tile in the wall with a grinder instead. Vacant house. Thanks again for taking the time to make the video.

[@Clandestino21]

I was very intrigued and amazed by the process and extremely in love with the end result. Unfortunately I’m not a builder, but I would definitely buy those wood Floating shelves.

[@veepsgarage]

that template to weld the mounting bracket tubes and drill the holes is genius!

[@MakeEverything]

Thanks!!

[@billybastar4022]

Great job. You are a great problem solver with mad skills!

[@johnjude2685]

Love the way you did your floating shelve better than my way,So if I do another I will try to copy you Thanks for teaching Sir

[@spencerbass7142]

Great video. Your project turned out very nice.

[@speedviper47]

Very nice job! Enjoyed watching this and learned some things that I will be using when I make mine. Thanks!

[@celiakennedy1019]

This is exactly what I’m building and you shared some important techniques. Thanks!

[@soukie123]

Your finished mantle was super..you are like an artist..I would of liked to see it end up on a better looking fireplace...like mine.. I guess you just light the fire and sit back on the stairway and enjoy the crackling flames

[@kimlongley3300]

That was cool, kept me watching the whole way thru!

[@kwon99]

Beautiful piece of work. Thanks so much.

[@davemrak]

Ive recently made 2 floating shelves, a floating mantel and a supported mantel all out of a beechtree i dropped and milled my self. I really like your mounting idea i may have to use it on another!

[@AdrianBellVoiceovers]

Superb work! Very smart ideas here. And detail...routing that ring to allow for the weld build up, is very clever!

[@toddwolfe7453]

I recently did a live edge mantle. It was 32 inches wide and the customer wanted live edge on the end as well. So I cut the two ends on an angle and then took the grinder and made it uneven. Love the bracket and the template for it!

[@n40tom]

Nice, I did the same exact thing on a 22 inch double Live Edge coffee table

[@christinestewart6768]

Fantastic job! Quality workmanship 😎👍

[@kathleenquinlan9564]

A true craftsman!

[@mikethewoodworker6194]

I learned an awful lot with this video thank you so much for the share and for taking the time from start to finish most videos people cut it down to five or 10 minutes and you don’t actually see the whole process were you allowed us to see the whole process and for a new woodworker this was perfect thank you

[@peggyhiggins6923]

Beautiful project! I subscribed immediately! Looking forward to seeing all your projects...

[@flux6472]

You should have at least a million subs, this channel is awesome, great work Chris!

[@christopherperisho4819]

Highly recommend the Wood Owl bits for cutting the deep holes. They cut as clean as forstner bits but can cut a lot deeper. Great video!

[@0802turtleman]

Wow! Beautiful!

[@BrettsWoodshop]

Great job on the shelf and on the video! As someone else said, thanks for explaining your thought process. I have a double tree (that was joined at the bottom) from our yard that we had taken down and cut into slabs. I plan on making a bunch of stuff for our home and for clients. I learned a lot from this video that will help me with that. Just subbed.

[@VAXHeadroom]

I have a huge slab of black walnut I want to put above my fireplace, this is a great reference on how to get it done, thanks!!

[@tacosapo22]

Man that thing is beautiful, and done right. You are a great craftsman and no cutting corners. Great video.

[@MakeEverything]

Christopher Cheek thank you very much!!!!!

[@abedj1220]

Nice work. love the precision holes template idea. thanks for sharing

[@BillMacfarlane]

I did a similar bracket with a live edge shelf, although my process was a little different: first I drilled 5/8” holes in the flat bar, then laid that along the back edge of the shelf and traced out the location of the holes. From there I drilled 5/8” holes into the shelf using a block with a bushing (to keep the bit straight).Then I put 5/8 solid rod in each hole, laid the flat bar on with the holes lined up, and tack welded the rods to the flat bar. Finished with filet welds on the other side, and chamfered the holes to clear the welds. Came out pretty much perfect!

[@nedgots2165]

Very well done congratulations this is the technique I will be using mine👍

[@robertmarsh2656]

Well done

[@Badgerworkshop]

Looks great and a very well thought out process

[@edjohnson9494]

beautiful workmanship!

[@motor2of7]

Just found your channel. Really enjoying the content and I like that you narrate your thoughts and processes. Keep it up.

[@jackschultz3845]

Nice work. Always nice to watch quality in motion.

[@gaborprudnecio]

thanks mate, very valuable info. greetings from Bolivia!

[@steveminla]

Really enjoy your narrative presentation to your videos and the end result looks amazing. You do make me nervous not using push sticks when using your table saw though!!

[@stuartwelsh5905]

I winced at his hands so close to that unguarded blade too but it occurred to me he's using a Sawstop saw.

[@EquilibriaHealth]

Great video, lovely explanation. Thank you.

[@wabisabimaker1794]

Beautiful job!

[@jerrykopec9552]

nice shelf well done

[@glendalewis9126]

Great demo! Very informative.

[@jeremys.8607]

Nicely done!

[@stevevoelkel78]

Thanks for the video, I just wished I had watched it before I made my own bracket. Your Jig is an amazing idea, I'm having some fitment issues as not all the bars are lined up, but now I can go back out tomorrow and correct my mistakes.

[@MakeEverything]

Best of luck!!

[@shaun2049]

Great job dude

[@kathrynnewton8721]

Love it ! Really want to get into welding now! Thank you

[@WhatzPat]

Great video and explanation. I found it very inspiring

[@lyndelbeckwith1706]

Very nice. Super professional.

[@jasonmorrell253]

Beautiful job.

[@amberbludnick6402]

I would think if you were slightly off vertical the dogs either wouldn't fit or they also wouldn't be vertical either. Great video and channel

[@billwong7420]

Nice well equated shop

[@wm005]

Well thought out process. Very nice...

[@jlinkhart]

Awesome job! I’m in the middle of doing exactly the same thing!

[@rustyrichardson1242]

I can do all that but the welding. Sigh. Shop is just a shed. Lol. Beautiful work and explanation. Thanks

[@saracinosalvage6062]

very nice work! learned a lot. thank you

[@looeeloco]

I’m working on this project, following your video every step of the way. I decided to get cute and try 3/16” flat stock for the bracket. It was sturdy as hell but I could tell it was going to be impossible to get off when I performed the test fit. I went back to the local steel yard and picked up some 1/8” flat stock and re-welded the mount your way. Can’t blame me for trying, lol. I decided to make a video and will post it and link your awesome video. Thanks for all the useful tips! Louie

[@MakeEverything]

looeeloco awesome!! Thanks!