Skip to content
Sawdust & Coffee Woodworking

Slab flattening on a CNC, not a router sled

Bring us a rough slab and leave with two flat, parallel faces. We surface on a large-format CNC that takes slabs up to 70 inches wide and 20 feet long, so even a full-width live edge slab comes out flat from end to end with no ridges, no snipe, and a lot less sanding than a hand-held router sled.

What we flatten

  • Live edge slabs for tables, desks, counters, mantels and shelves
  • End-grain and edge-grain cutting boards and butcher blocks
  • Glue-ups, panels and old tabletops that have cupped or twisted
  • Epoxy river pours (we flatten after the pour, when the epoxy has fully cured)

How it works

  1. Bring the slab in, or send photos with the length, width and thickness for a quote.
  2. We find the high spots, set a target thickness, and take light passes on both faces.
  3. Most slabs are ready within a few days; large or very twisted pieces take longer. We will give you a date when you drop it off.

Good to know

  • Flattening removes material. A slab that is cupped 3/8" will lose at least that much thickness.
  • Kiln-dried or well air-dried wood holds its shape. Wet wood moves again after flattening.
  • No slab yet? We stock black walnut, maple and cherry in random sizes and can quote a flattened slab from stock.
  • We can also square the ends or cut to length while it is here. Slabs leave flat and ready for your own sanding and finish; we do not finish sand.

Questions people ask

How big a slab can you take?
Up to 70 inches wide and 20 feet long in one setup, which covers almost any slab, bar top or conference table.
Do I need to book?
Yes, call or send the quote form with the slab size and a photo so we can plan the machine time.
Can you flatten an epoxy table?
Yes, once the epoxy has fully cured, usually a week after the pour.