Where do you get your wood slabs from, specifically live edge? Do you know of any place in the Houston area that is relatively inexpensive so that a noob can try stuff out on? I know I can always go to woodcraft but I just haven't been a huge fan of the store.

Most of mine I cut myself. I lived in Houston for 8 years, and despite the great lumberyards (houston hardwoods, clarks, masons and brazos forest products) for a good selection of wood, the selection of live edge pieces was abysmal, which is one of the main things that prompted me in to cutting them myself when I moved to Fort Worth (selection isn't much better up here). Clark's has them sometimes, but they are very proud of them from the few I saw.

I can actually get wood shipped in cheaper than I can find it locally. There are usually some sawmills around that will slab stuff up, but they often don't dry them. The only kilns I am aware of are M&G sawmill in Huntsville, Phillips Forest Products in NE Texas, and Harden Cabinets/Sawmill in Sander, TX.

What size/species are you looking for?

They have a bunch of big tree stumps they pulled out of the old 6 Flags Mall just sitting in the parking lot... if scavenging 5-6ft tree stumps is worth the effort.

What temp does the kiln keep the wood & how long?

Depending on the kiln type, usually around 140-190, and usually about a month per inch of thickness. These are all rules of thumb, running a kiln the right way per species is an art as much as a science in my opinion. Steam kilns can go higher in temp and vacuum kilns can be incredibly fast, doing a 2-3" thick board in 1-2 weeks and a 1" board in under a week. But I don't know of any vacuum kilns in Texas. Most all are dehumidification kilns that heat and dry the air with lots of circulation. The kiln I use is maybe the size of a 3-4 car garage, is kept around 150 and they pull probably 50+ gallons a day of water from it with fresh wood.

As far as the stumps, thanks for the info, but I am backlogged trying to use up what I have. Short of mesquite, walnut or a highly figured log, I don't think my wife wants more slabs stacked on the side of the house.

agrams said:

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What size/species are you looking for?

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Size something I can eventually attempt to make a river coffee table out of and that if I screw it up I won't be out $300+. Species it doesn't really bother me,

shoot me an email (in my profile). You may have some luck locally, but if you don't I have some mesquite and walnut shorts/cutoffs that may suit you well for a coffee table that would be in your price range. You will be hard pressed to get a slab (or a bookmatched/paired set) for under $200 shipped.