what kind of steel base can i have on my slab top table?

ok .. blast from the past, 2013 ... this was about the time we 

got rolling on the claro slab tables ... this post is originally

from 2013 and has been viewed about 35,000 times ...

so here it is again today ... enjoy! 

there is a slide show of these tables at this link ... 

invariably, after the question 'how much does a slab top table cost?', the next question is, 'are there other kinds of table bases i should consider?'  there are.  the legs shown above are our most popular style.  based on a shaker design, below, they are cut (wastefully, i admit), from a slab of 1.5" thick steel on a waterjet, at a local steel fabricators shop.  the process is extremely accurate, but slow going through the thick, solid steel, so the individual cut pieces are expensive even before we grind, polish, drill, tap and assemble them.  they are beautiful though, and extremely rigid, and give the heavy slabs a lighter, sort of 'floating', familiar, yet contemporary look.  click the photos to enlarge them. 

each section consists of the main vertical, a 10" 'wing' for stability and a 2.375 x .375 bar  to tie the whole thing together.  we offer 'natural', top and below, rainbow, a dark browny, bronzy, patina, and black.  these finishes are then top coated to stabilize them.

we can also easily alter their shape as our cnc uses the same programming as the waterjet.  if you can draw it, they can probably cut it.

a flattened version for a smaller table

we also offer fabricated metal bases in a variety of styles.  above and below are our 'trapezoid' bases.  also offered in various finishes, they can be fabricated in any size and can accommodate a design change to allow for a drawer.

more information on this piece at this link.

with the square or rectangular tubing, we can offer a variety of shapes, including squares and xs, shown below.  these bases can be polished and patinated, or left more or less 'as is', like above, for a sort of industrial look.

the restaurant tables below we re fun.  randomly space 5/8ths rebar was welded between two steel plates, randomly painted and randomly rusted.  given that these were 42" high, tghey were bolted to the wood floor, but shortened to traditional dining table height, i'm sure they would make for an interesting look.

wood and rebar combination

we also use plasma cut tapered legs on some of our dining and console tables.

or, our 'bridges' base could also be adapted somehow to a larger, taller scale table.

then we have the 'wood and steel' combinations ...

the 'nakashima inspired' welded steel bases ...

coffee tables ...

and your imagination .. we're open and happy to discuss your designs, either for a slab top you already own, or for a whole table we can design and build for you.  in general, prices for custom steel bases start around $1500. for the welded tubing designs and go up to $5500. to $6000. for the waterjet cut, thick, 'shaker style' patinated steel bases.

 

to see a slide show of  our live edge work over the last 30 years

try this link

new claro walnut slab tables

we finished the claro walnut slab table above just in time for the next rough cut slab to come into the shop.  even though the slabs are from different logs, they are remarkably similar in width, grain, and appearance.  fortunately, the new one is two and a half feet shorter than the last one, which was over 12' long and 4' wide when it got here.  3" thick too .. no picnic to move that one around for sure.

before trimming, on our supplier's website

click the photos to enlarge them ...

trimmed in photoshop for the client's approval

after the first coat of finish

while the first coat was wet

second coat on the top of the slab

the 1.5" thick legs drilled, tapped, and assembled by jim with their polish and clear coat ... ready to install

 all we had to do was move it out to the finish room .. it took all six of us .. we stood it on edge on the little cart, wheeled it to the front door, slid it into the back of the truck, drove it the 60 feet or so to the finish room and then mounted it on the legs below.

so we don't have to flip it with the legs on it, we use a pair of mdf 'vs' slightly taller than the legs ...

then we wedge and jack them up into the pockets routed into the bottom of the slab, bolt on the legs, and then pick up one end at a time to removed the mdf.  the whole table probably goes 500 to 600 pounds assembled.  we have no way to weigh it, so that's just a guess. kind of like a pool table ...

 last coat of finish after the leg install .. good to go.  to ship it, we'll reverse the process and lend our mdf vs to the delivery guy .. it's a good system that we have been using for a couple years now.

 and the next slab arrived at my friend's factory last friday ..

 we drew on it out down there, and rough cut it to width and length

this drawing shows width between the legs

and brought it into the shop for acclimating on monday .. makes a good worktable in the meantime

more on this table as we progress.

 gonna be a nice one!

see more of our claro walnut tables, visit this slide show