Earlier in the year I got my hands on a 90mm thick 2.4 x 0.5m slab of chestnut ….a long return journey to Whitlsea.
Took it to my contact with a portable milling saw to get it split
![IMG_1239.jpeg IMG_1239.jpeg](https://cdn.imagearchive.com/ukworkshop/data/attachments/162/162466-a0f83d2f0dd64600fc43c42f952c4f75.jpg)
Here it is after splitting and a quick run over with the belt sander
After levelling on my milling table the basic idea of a dining table appeared by reversing each slab to place the flame like grain at either end
![IMG_1395.jpeg IMG_1395.jpeg](https://cdn.imagearchive.com/ukworkshop/data/attachments/162/162467-eaa90ccc7736d0cc2c747a709f54f5b0.jpg)
After a trip to a mates factory with a ££££ sliding carriage table saw the slabs are down to 2400 x 1110mm with a sweeping centre ‘joint’ that lends itself to using numerous bow ties as a ‘zipper table’ .
My wife had the good idea of using different woods for the zippers …so into my offcut pile and out with the bandsaw to cut 15 3” bow ties.
Today I set up the slabs on my table to work out the spacing of the bow ties and location of the 4 40mm x 20mm x800 steel channels that will stabilise the slabs and be the joining strips.
![IMG_1447.jpeg IMG_1447.jpeg](https://cdn.imagearchive.com/ukworkshop/data/attachments/162/162452-c54393ce2e53afa97a73e1f1329ea495.jpg)
Here are the bow ties …..spalted sycamore, sequoia, beech, walnut & yellow balau
And with the slabs turned over the position of the channels
![IMG_1448.jpeg IMG_1448.jpeg](https://cdn.imagearchive.com/ukworkshop/data/attachments/162/162451-6a68b589383aa23f205bd4093ac5833b.jpg)
Tomorrow it’s out with the router to cut the slots and channels for the steelwork
Took it to my contact with a portable milling saw to get it split
![IMG_1239.jpeg IMG_1239.jpeg](https://cdn.imagearchive.com/ukworkshop/data/attachments/162/162466-a0f83d2f0dd64600fc43c42f952c4f75.jpg)
Here it is after splitting and a quick run over with the belt sander
After levelling on my milling table the basic idea of a dining table appeared by reversing each slab to place the flame like grain at either end
![IMG_1395.jpeg IMG_1395.jpeg](https://cdn.imagearchive.com/ukworkshop/data/attachments/162/162467-eaa90ccc7736d0cc2c747a709f54f5b0.jpg)
After a trip to a mates factory with a ££££ sliding carriage table saw the slabs are down to 2400 x 1110mm with a sweeping centre ‘joint’ that lends itself to using numerous bow ties as a ‘zipper table’ .
My wife had the good idea of using different woods for the zippers …so into my offcut pile and out with the bandsaw to cut 15 3” bow ties.
Today I set up the slabs on my table to work out the spacing of the bow ties and location of the 4 40mm x 20mm x800 steel channels that will stabilise the slabs and be the joining strips.
![IMG_1447.jpeg IMG_1447.jpeg](https://cdn.imagearchive.com/ukworkshop/data/attachments/162/162452-c54393ce2e53afa97a73e1f1329ea495.jpg)
Here are the bow ties …..spalted sycamore, sequoia, beech, walnut & yellow balau
And with the slabs turned over the position of the channels
![IMG_1448.jpeg IMG_1448.jpeg](https://cdn.imagearchive.com/ukworkshop/data/attachments/162/162451-6a68b589383aa23f205bd4093ac5833b.jpg)
Tomorrow it’s out with the router to cut the slots and channels for the steelwork