Wood Slabs for Rustic Centerpieces

We are doing this too. If you choose to buy them be ready to pay the price. I've seen small ones at hobby lobby for like $10 each or more. My step dad is a contractor and knows how to work with wood so he's doing it.

Do you think you could find someone who can do it for you?

My dad can cut the wood slabs fine but as they dry they begin to crack. We are trying to figure out how to keep them from cracking.

I'll ask my step dad for you. I'm curious as well

You almost can't. You need the the wood to be really, really dry before you even cut it in the first place - think old dead fallen trees. The wetter it is when you cut it, the more likely it is that it will crack.

They do sell something on amazon that's sort of like a sealant that pushes the water out of the wood so it's "supposed" to stay intact, but I haven't used it. We just chose old trees and embraced the small cracks.

I don't know if this will help but googling gave me this result: https://www.reddit.com/r/DIY/comments/2hp200/need_advice_on_preventing_cracking_in_slabs_of/

Did you cut them very thick? Ours are about 2-3 inches thick each. We did ours ourselves and they're all dry now. We just have to stain them... How did you store them? We have them in one of the bedrooms at my parent's house on a wire shelving unit to dry out safely. We read that the bark would have fallen off if we kept them outside/ in the garage- even in plastic tubs.

Http://www.lightsforalloccasions.com. search for birch wood base. This is what I found 7.99 for medium size. Luckily I found something similar on Craigslist for $35 for 15 of these. They are wood base but for the price ill do something cute. Can't beat 2.66 a peice

Maybe check with a local carpenter to see if they can do it for you or have recommendations. My FFIL is a carpenter and helping with our log centerpieces which has been a blessing!

Also, check your local resale groups on Facebook. I see them all of the time in mine!

My dad selected old dead trees that just happened to be really pretty wood. Who knows how long they've been down, but he chainsawed sections and then used my grandpa's bandsaw (?I don't honestly know what kind of saw it is, but it's a big table saw) to slice. So far, they've stayed in tact. Im assuming it's because they were basically as dry as they'll ever be prior to cutting. Honestly though, if they do crack for some reason, I think it'll just add more character!

I am doing this for my centerpieces also and I actually found all mine at marshalls. They were 10-15 a piece but they are actually cutting boards also so we are giving each one to the wedding party as a favor after the wedding. They are pretty nice with the bark on the side and everything. I can post a photo of them.

They are probably 12 inches wide

This is what I an doing to. Some woods will just Crack no matter what and others will be hard as steal. This summer I need to go out to my parents woods and find a few trees. I am not going to put anything on then since they will later turn into fire wood.

I'm getting mine at AC Moore/Michaels! They range in price from $8-$14 by size but they're always having 50% and 55% off coupons so I've been picking them up at half off along the way.

I swear I saw some at target the other day. I was going to go look but I have a problem in target with buying things there (I swear they have crack running through the vents that make you buy more then what you wanted to) but I used my self control and kept walking.

My mom had an Amish man work on their cabin, so when the idea came up for wooden table runners on some of the tables, she went to him.

He actually asked for 4-5 months notice to ensure it could dry properly without cracking.