Curly Burl Redwood Slab Headboard Part 1

In February of this year we were asked to create a headboard out or burled redwood. To start the process we were given the dimensions that our client would like for their headboard and then we started searching our suppliers inventory for just the right piece. Sometimes this process can take several days, and several phone calls. We need to know what kind of shape the wood slab is in, is it warped, is it dry, are there any defects, what is the thickness and so on.

We found a beautiful piece of redwood from Redwood Burl it has a very heavy curly grain. It measures 102" x 54". When this piece was purchased, it was still very wet, so it was shipped from California to Georgia to be place in a Kiln Dryer for about 3 1/2 months. Then it was shipped from Georgia to our shop here in Colorado. It was delivered on a freight truck to the local cafe (we only have 1 cafe) from there we brought it home. This piece did warp slightly but with the size of this piece, it is in great shape.

This set of pictures are of it before we started working on it. You can see how rough the wood and edges are:

Our kids are very much a part of the business, we work from home in our shop, it is a blessing being able to share this with our family.

Curly Redwood Burl Slab Coffee Table

Today we are starting on a new project, it is a smaller curly grained redwood burl slab coffee table. Curly grain is also known and fiddleback, wavy, and quilted. The base will be made from a burled pine stump. Since we live in Colorado, redwood is not in abundance around here. We do have a a few redwood suppliers, this particular piece of redwood we purchased from Dias Artistries. All of the redwood that we have received from Adam has been in excellent shape, of great quality and packaged nicely.

This table top measure 36" x 22"

This redwood is in perfect condition, absolutely flat and of great quality. You can already see the curly grain and it hasn't even been sanded yet.

Tim is lightly sanding the bottom of this piece, when we sand and polish the edges everything will blend together. 

Here is is shaping up the edges so that they have a natural wavy edge.

 The edges are shaped in and ready to be polished

Sanding the top before I can begin polishing the edges, wow look at the curly grain

Here is the burl pine base that it will set on... 

 

 Getting ready to oil the top, this piece of wood was very porous, it took several coats of oil to get the look that we wanted....