At Excelsior Wood Products, we love transforming raw materials into unique, custom furniture that’s beautiful and built to last. In our latest video, Craftsman Chris 'Wally' Wambach, gives an inside look at the custom fabrication process behind creating a stunning live edge desk, coffee table, and side table. This project showcases how attention to detail and craftsmanship combine to turn a simple slab of wood into a functional work of art.

Selecting and Stabilizing the Wood

Wally begins by selecting raw slabs with natural live edges, which retain the wood's organic, natural shape. These edges are a key feature adding character and a uniqueness that cannot be replicated. One of the challenges in working with live edge slabs is stabilizing natural splits or imperfections in the wood. Wally addresses this by using a combination of epoxy and bow tie joints. The bow tie joints are glued and tapped into place serving both a decorative and functional purpose, reinforcing the wood and preventing further splitting.

Sanding for a Smooth Finish

The next step in the process involves prepping the slabs for finishing. Wally meticulously sands each piece to achieve a smooth, even surface. This process takes about a day and a half to two days, to get the slabs flat and ready for final detailing. Throughout this phase, care is taken to preserve the wood's natural grain and features, ensuring the final pieces are as close to perfect as possible.

Choosing the Perfect Stain and Finish

Once the surfaces are prepared, Wally begins testing different stains and finishes on an offcut of the slab so the client can see exactly what each finish looks like before choosing. This final finish will bring the wood's natural beauty with yet another custom touch while providing lasting protection.

Bring Your Vision to Life with Excelsior

At Excelsior, custom projects like this live edge furniture are our specialty. We work with each customer to understand their vision and bring it to life with quality craftsmanship and unique design. Whether you're looking for a live edge desk or coffee table, or have a unique idea you want to bring to life, Excelsior is excited to create it. Contact us today to start your custom furniture project and experience the Excelsior difference!