Smooth Belly for the Live Edge Slab

Finally making some stides in finishing the maple live edge slab for the dining table. I've had the slab for several years. Sanded it the first year. Poured epoxy last Fall. Broke off the epoxy molds and rough sanded the epoxy last month.

I bought a new orbital sander and a course of sanding disks ranging from 40 grit to 600 grit. To make finishing tolerable, I elected to use a UV-cured finish - Clean Armor 710 and 700.  A bit of an investment for both the finish and the handheld UV light, but it's SO CONVENIENT.

The Clean Armor 710 is a sealer, and since the maple slab has some rot on it AND I want a satin finish, I used the 710 first to seal the underside, per the manufacturer's recommendations.

Starting point with the underside sanded to 400 grit.

After sanding the underside with 400 grit, I applied the 710 sealer. Then cured the finish with a handheld UV light. Works pretty slick! No fumes and fully curred after running the light over the surface for 10 minutes.

710 sealer applied and cured, with the UV light shown.

The sealed slab sanded with 400 grit prior to applying the 700 satin finish.

Then I sanded again using 400 grit paper to clear off small imperfections before applying the 700 satin finish and curing it with the light. 

 

Underside of slab with cured finish.

Then attached the metal braces to prevent the slab from warping over time. 

Finished underside of slab with cross-grain steel braces attached.

Very pleased with the result.  And really looking forward to getting this slab on the crank table base that's been squatting on the main floor taking space. 

Remaining are (a) finishing the live edge sides, and (b) sanding and finishing the top. I'll be a little more OCD on the top, making sure it's smooth and has several coats of finish. 

Stay tuned.