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Walnut is a great choice. Sometimes called black walnut, this wonderful wood is available in slab form in many parts of the United States and usually has gorgeous grain.

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Wood slabs are boards that are big, thick, and wide, suitable for a tabletop or bench seat all on their own (vs. gluing together narrower boards). They take a bit more work to find and flatten than normal boards, but I’ll show you how to overcome those obstacles and enter the woodworking promised land. Of all the things you’ll ever build, none will have the wow factor of your slab pieces. There is something about the scale, the curvy edges, and the beautiful grain and natural “defects” that makes you feel like you brought the soul of a living tree into your home. Check out the marvelous transformation our slab goes through and you’ll see just what I mean.