Crafting a Sapele Slab Table
Continued from page 46
The goal of the project was to create a very different table from others tables highlighting slab tops. An important design element of this table was the creation of a table base that was also a work of art while also integrating in Brian's trademark design element, a tree silhouette.
After working with Cormark to hand-select each piece of wood for creation of the table, the lumber was properly dried and equalized before heading to Brian's workshop. From there, the lumber was transformed using hand tools and traditional mortise and tenon joinery. After sketching the base tree silhouette, cutting, and using a variety of hand tools to smooth the pieces, the base was constructed.
The slab top needed a couple keys added to prevent any future splitting. Brace chose ebony wood butterfly keys for its color contrast and visual interest. After cutting and inserting the keys, the tabletop was sanded and then sanded some more. "To truly highlight the beauty of the wood grain, it takes hours of sanding, followed by a lot of hand rubbing the finish," he explains. On this piece he used a dye stain and lacquer.
Now that the table is completed, what does the person who first saw this log think? "The table is truly stunning," says Corte. "The table emphasizes the extraordinary features of this unique sapele wood." He continues, "I am really proud to know that the log I identified in Cameroon is now going to be a centerpiece for a homeowner in Montana."
Continued on page 50
Caption: Splits add visual interest to slab tables and are usually kept as part of the design. This ebony butterfly joint was important for the aesthetic design of the tabletop and also stabilized the top, limiting the tabletop's ability to split.
Frequently asked questions
What wood species was used for the slab table?+
The table was crafted from sapele wood, with the log originally identified in Cameroon and hand-selected in partnership with Cormark.
What is the signature design element in Brian Brace's tables?+
Brian's trademark design element is a tree silhouette, which was integrated into the base of this sapele slab table to make the base itself a work of art.
Why are butterfly keys used in slab tabletops?+
Butterfly keys are added to prevent future splitting and help stabilize the tabletop. On this table, ebony butterfly keys were chosen for their color contrast and visual interest.
What joinery method was used to build the table base?+
The base was constructed using traditional mortise and tenon joinery, with the pieces cut and smoothed using a variety of hand tools.
What finish was applied to the sapele slab table?+
Brian used a dye stain followed by lacquer, with hours of sanding and hand rubbing of the finish to highlight the beauty of the wood grain.
How was the sapele lumber prepared before crafting the table?+
After being hand-selected with Cormark, the lumber was properly dried and equalized before being delivered to Brian's workshop for construction.