Working with Live-Edge Slabs

Learn the steps involved in working with live-edge slabs for furniture or countertops.

Meeting Times

Mon, 1/8/2024 6:00 PM - 8:30 PM
Wed, 1/10/2024 6:00 PM - 8:30 PM
Mon, 1/15/2024 6:00 PM - 8:30 PM
Wed, 1/17/2024 6:00 PM - 8:30 PM

Mon, 1/8/2024 - Wed, 1/17/2024

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About

Learn the basic considerations involved in working with a thick slab of wood that still has a bit of bark along one edge.

To keep this class to four sessions and still allow hands-on experience with a range of issues, you will work collaboratively with other students on a few slabs with different characteristics.

Depending on the pace of the class, you may need to work between class sessions during open studio times to complete the slabs before class ends.

You will learn:

Where to buy slabs and what to look for before you purchase.
How to make a slab flat, uniformly thick, and smooth.
How to fill small cracks or other gaps with epoxy.
How to make butterfly joints to stabilize larger cracks.
How to clean up and smooth a live edge, depending on the effect you want.
How to choose and apply an appropriate finish.

You also will learn design options for a base if you want to use a slab for a table or a bench, and how to attach the slab to a base or to cabinets, if you want it as a countertop.

Project

You will go home with a finished section of a slab big enough for a small project, such as a bench or small table. You will not construct a base or build other features in this class.

Materials

A materials fee of $180, included in the class fee, covers all materials, including wood, epoxy, and finish.

Prerequisites

Class Policies

Ages 14 and up are welcome.
You must wear safety glasses and closed-toe shoes, tie back long hair, and avoid loose-fitting clothing and jewelry.
We recommend bringing your own safety glasses.

BARN Policies

View BARN's Cancellation and Refund Policy
View BARN's current COVID-19 health and safety protocols.
BARN is committed to accessibility. Tuition Assistance is available. Fill out the application before registering.
Makerspaces like BARN can be noisy and cluttered, smell strongly, and have bright or flickering lights. We try to make accommodations when requested; the earlier you contact us, the more likely we can help. Please email accessibility@bainbridgebarn.org to find out more or request an accommodation.
For those who might need physical assistance, learn more about BARN's Companion Program.

Instructors or Guides

Carol Fiedler-Kawaguchi

Carol Fiedler Kawaguchi is a professional woodworker who specializes in restoration of antique furniture through her business, C-Saw, on Bainbridge Island. After earning a fine arts degree from Western Washington University, she worked in New Mexico as an apprentice ceramicist and then as an apprentice violin maker, developing her skills in fine woodworking and traditional finishes. She began designing and building custom furniture in the mid-1980s. Her interest in European, Early American and Asian antiques led her to focus on their restoration and repair.