Reclaimed Walnut Timber Table

       The idea for this build came to me when I was looking for some unique wood for a dining table. The table was to be 10' long and after combing through the local reclaimed lumber yard I came up with this 22' long beam. The size of it would be just big enough to pull off the design. Now all I had to do is convince my client that this gnarly thing would work. With big splits and rotten ends it was hard to know what we were going to find until we cut into it, and mapping out how to cut it to make it work... a bit stressful. When the milling started and I could see some of the color that was hidden inside I started to relax a bit, and then my work began.

      It is always fun for me to find ways to make this rustic material work. It makes the build more challenging and in turn, adds to the attractiveness and uniqueness of each piece. Good solid joinery used in a way to help hold it all together, even when there is checks (or cracks) running all over through the material, is the key.

     
       Fitting joinery together and wiping finish on is incredibly satisfying. It's always amazing to see what the oil does to the colors in the wood.

        Looking at that old beam it was impossible to know what we were going to end up with, but the color and rustic nature of this old beam make this a true one of a kind table. The discoloration in the middle comes from the rot that was spreading from the ends up through the heart of the tree and it is showcased in the book matched slabs that make up the table top. The butterfly inlays go across the checks like stitches and keep them from spreading. A fun project to build and to deliver.