Wood Slab Flattening

We provide professional wood slab flattening for live edge slabs, round wood slabs, coffee table tops, and custom wood pieces. Our service is designed to create a flat, workable surface for table building, fabrication, or further finishing.

We offer both standard turnaround and expedited same-day service, depending on shop schedule and slab condition.

Service Rates

Standard flattening: $60/hour

Expedited / same-day flattening: $80/hour

Round slabs 3–4 ft diameter: $80/hour

Epoxy slabs: +$20/hour


Accepted Slab Sizes

Live Edge Slabs
Up to 8 ft long × 3 ft wide
Thickness: from 1″ to 4″

Round Wood Slabs
Up to 4 ft diameter
Up to 4″ thick for slabs up to 3 ft diameter
Up to 3″ thick for slabs from 3 ft to 4 ft diameter


How the Service Works

Flattening is a machining process, not sanding or polishing. We remove material in controlled passes to create a flat surface. In most cases, the slab is flattened from one side, then flipped and flattened from the opposite side, and then adjusted again as needed to reduce stress and improve balance.

This service prepares the slab for further fabrication, finishing, or installation. Sanding, polishing, and final finish work are not included in flattening service unless quoted separately.


Important Notes

Wood Movement Notice

Wood is a natural material and may continue to move before, during, or after flattening. We do not guarantee that a slab will remain flat after service, especially if the wood is not fully dry or has internal stress.

We strongly recommend picking up the slab the same day the work is completed. The longer a freshly flattened slab sits, the higher the chance of movement, twist, or re-warping.

Slabs with moisture content above 7% are more likely to move after flattening. Slabs above 15% moisture have a high risk of continued movement. Customer assumes responsibility for wood movement after service.


Pricing Factors

Final time and cost depend on several factors, including:

  • slab size and thickness
  • degree of twist, cup, bow, or warp
  • wood moisture content
  • wood condition and internal stress
  • presence of epoxy, cracks, voids, or repairs

Heavily warped slabs may require more material removal, which can reduce final thickness. This is reviewed with the customer before or during service whenever possible.


Turnaround

Standard service: based on shop workload and scheduling.

Expedited service: same-day or priority turnaround may be available by appointment.

We recommend scheduling drop-off and pickup in advance so the slab can be processed and collected on the same day whenever possible.


Request a Quote

Send photos, dimensions, thickness, wood species, and moisture information if available. We will review the slab and provide an estimate based on size, condition, and urgency.