Walnut & Glass Dining Table

[kaktus]

Guys

I am going in circles trying to figure out how to obtain a block of wood to use as a dining table base. So far, it has been unbelievably difficult to do this. I have spoken with carpenters, joiners, wood providers (like woodshopdirect) and I keep hitting dead ends - they either cannot provide or won't. I do not understand why it is so difficult to simply get a block of wood or veneered MDF in a walnut finish capable of supporting a glass table top for use as a dining table?

Ideally we wanted this but bigger or in square format and we couldn't find it anywhere and the closest matches were italian suppliers at 000's and not exactly what we were looking for

So instead we thought about doing something simple like the below where the base would be just a block of solid wood or solid core MDF veneered with walnut finish and nobody seems to be able to provide this? I can get the glass no problem I just can't find anyone that can supply a wood or MDF dining table base....it's infuriating

 

[Scrutinize]

@kaktus walnut isn't that cheap, I would imagine you would be looking at £400-£800 for sufficient suitable PAR wood planks. It's also not that easy to get in large blocks so there are limits of circa 50mm x 150mm x XXlength if I recall.

You could try guitar luthier wood suppliers.

You can buy veneer sheets to cover MDF but would want a substantive sheet say 5mm thick otherwise it's hard to work with and finish nicely outside of a workshop.

 

[rexehuk]

Take a look at this for an idea of cost.

http://www.robbins.co.uk/pdf/Retail_Pricelist.pdf

Mahogany isn't as expensive as some other woods. If you're around Bristol, pop down to this place they are incredibly helpful and you'll get to see all the wood!

 

[Mark A]

Have you tried to find any local cabinet makers? I don't think carpenters/joiners usually make any sort of furniture.

 

[PlacidCasual]

Yes you want a cabinet maker for that. Cheapest and maybe the best way to do it would be walnut veneers over an MDF core. It's the only way you'll get matching grain structure. If you want solid wood then you'll need to go to a lumber yard and get 2 or more planks from the same tree to ensure colour match. Then get them cut and planed and thicknessed to appropriate planks and then joined. But if you want something with planks inches thick in hardwood the cost is going to be nasty even from a lumber merchant and they will sell by the cubic foot including the sapwood you're throwing away when you cut it down.

Veneer over MDF is the better woodworking solution.

I don't know where you live but for example http://www.wentwoodtimbercentre.co.uk/ is a hardwood timber merchants that sell undressed hardwood it will give you an idea of the wood costs before any work is done.

 

[famas]

Where are you bases Kaktus?

A cabinet maker would do that for you easily but walnut is expensive, even more so if you don't want any sap wood.

You can buy pre veneered walnut MDF boards which would give the best colour and grain if you wanted to have a go at making it yourself.

Remember the best trees go for veneers.