I Have a Surprising Confession..

Would you believe me if I told you this gorgeous Waterfall Live Edge coffee table was created to look like the real thing?

When I accepted this challenge I knew I was going to loose sleep and stress out if I was in over my head. I was given a rough sketch of the design plan and knew how difficult the planning would be to make this a reality. The dimensions had to be just right to fit over an ottoman and designed to cover it in a slant! The design had my mind blown!

How could I possibly find the perfect slab for this job?? I had my work cutout for me, literally!

I dwelled on this long enough to realize that being an artist does have its perks in this trade. I put my creative mind to work and knew I had to create this coffee table without using the real thing and make a faux slab!

I am a firm believer in having the right tools to make this happen but believe me when I say, I haven’t always had them! Heck, I still don’t! Don’t be afraid to try new or different techniques, thinking outside of the box is a must!

Must Have’s for this Project

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• Stanley Bailey Chisel Set
• Japanese Water Stones
• Nicholson Wood File
• Festool Domino Joiner
• Porter Cable Restorer
• Attachment Wheel for Restorer
• MinWax Stain
• Sealer
• Wagner Paint Sprayer

Having a good chisel set was an absolute must! I used the Stanley Bailey Chisel Set and since I use my chisels often, it’s important to keep them sharp. I’ve learned to use Sharpening Stones which is also handy in the kitchen! Using a Wood File is perfect for those hard to reach areas when creating the live edge look.

My Domino Joiner was used to to get the precise joinery. It was practically seamless, but I can’t say it was easy!

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Keeping the grains lined up was the most difficult part, talk about precision! So with that said, take care of your machinery! Keep your blades sharp and always double check measurements. I had to stay 5 steps ahead of myself at all times during this build.

I lightly exposed the grains using the Restorer with the Stainless Steel Wheel attachment, doing this offered a premium look and feel. The finish work was what really gave this piece the appearance of the real deal slab! I darkened the edges using a darker shade of stain and used a blend of stains to achieve a caramel color, then finished it with a nice sheen using my sprayer.

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There you have it, the cat’s out of the bag! A woodworker can be an artist and this is the proof! I am beyond proud and patting myself on the back as we speak. If I’ve learned anything in this business, you truly do have to get yourself into uncomfortable situations in order to LEVEL UP your game! Are you surprised this was a faux slab?

I hope you enjoyed my big secret!! If you did please do me a favor and follow my other social channels, its the easiest way to help support my journey. You Tube, Pinterest, Instagram & Facebook!