You walk into BFA, and a few giant slabs sit patiently on the walls. It's exciting... what now?

Fortunately, we've been at this for a while, and there are no secrets, just step-by-step processes designed to narrow the focus and arrive at the most useful, beautiful piece possible.

The Slab Selection Process

1. Talk to a BFA expert about your preferences: size, species/color, contour irregularity, grain pattern and more.

   
   

2. Check out what's in stock. Your tabletop or headboard may be there by serendipity, or it may not.

   
   

3. If the winner isn't here yet, we'll send you 3-5 available offsite slab options for your consideration. Come back once it arrives to meet it!

The Slab Meet-and-Greet Visit

1. Choose which side of the slab becomes the surface. Sometimes, the slab makes it obvious.

   
   

2. Choose which section of the slab will be used. Again, sometimes, this is obvious. Sometimes it's not! The unused portion(s) of the slab can be repurposed.

   
   

3. Confirm whether you'd like clear resin epoxy (standard) or something different in naturally occurring imperfections.

BFA Magic

1. Bark Removal: We use a Japanese draw knife to remove external layers of bark material, being careful never to touch the wood beneath.

   
   

1. Flattening: Slabs in our shop are surfaced, so they're a step ahead of freshly milled lumber. They still need to be flattened, though - so we're ready for the shuffleboard champion.

   
   

2. Paralleling: We trim the ends of the slab so the ends are parallel and the spine of the surface aligns with the direction of growth.

   
   

3. Resin Fill: Trees come with all kinds of imperfections (that's what makes them perfect). We blend and pour epoxy resin in every nook and cranny, from bark inclusions to insect trails, often using syringes and toothpicks.

   
   

4. Sanding + Finishing: If your hands are falling asleep, keep going. Proper sanding is truly an art and science, and in this shop a perfect oil finish is competitive.

Delivery day is a celebration: of nature, of conscious craftsmanship, and as importantly, of your family, your home, and your future.