slabbers, beam machines, alaskan mills, etc.

[Striker]

I guess what really got my intrest in this post is selling table slabs for $200 a piece. Where is the market, and what woods are usable for table tops?

Jeff

[Tom]

While most woods will sell, ornamental grain has an edge.  Outdoor surfaces need a rot resistant quality, but that's the customer's worry.

You need to define a sawing direction that will minimize cracking as well as show off figure.

The hardest part is assigning a "value" to the slab and sticking with it.  It is you, the seller/marketeer who creates the market.   Just as in many other endeavors where a natural product is being sold,  it is as much your job to plant the seed for the use as it is the customer's looking for a solution to a problem.  A lot of figured woods are sold because the seller planted the "seed" .

This is why it behooves a sawyer to study the woods in his area and become an expert.  The customer must believe you.  Pass the customer a bunch of bull and you will be found out in a very short while and lose all of your credibility.

[Ianab]

what woods are usable for table tops?

Locally we have different trees to you guys of course, but the best for slab table tops is the more stable softwoods. Lower shrinkage means less likely to warp and check. I cut Monterrey (macrocarpa ) cypress and some smaller Port Orford Cedar which have both dried well. I've seen the local Kauri and Rimu used (selling for $500 per slab off the mill  ) , but not been lucky enough to stumble onto any of that yet  . Dont know what you have in your area, but Redwood, and the various cedars / cypress species or some of the larger pines may be good options?

Cheers

Ian 

[Frank_Pender]

Tom, I did your last sentence for 30 years in the classroom.  Retired, now for 5 years, I am trying to convert.