How to finish live edge slab

The table looks awesome!

For question 1 – you’ll have to sand down to the paper residue to remove it. It won’t be very fun and could wind up causing other issues if the finish you have to reapply doesn’t take very well. I would try to see what sanding down to it on a chunk of scrap does and then make up your mind. It might just be where you store magazines. I would not use mineral spirits because that will cause lots of other problems.

For question 2 – some of what you’re fighting is the difference in the actual structure of the wood. Knots absorb finishes differently than the “normal” grain of the wood. It’s tough to say if sanding will fix that because you’re still applying a finish to two different types of wood. You might be best off continuing to apply light coats and build up several layers of finish to get it leveled out how you want it.

For question 3 – if someone comes into your house and criticizes that construction technique throw them out and tell them to make their own! Realistically it’s all about what you want to do. If you don’t want to use bow ties, epoxy fillers or any of that stuff then what else can you do?

my 2 cents….

-- The only thing not measured in my shop is time

Mineral spirits won’t cause problems. It’s a good cleaner that won’t otherwise affect the finish. It will remove wax though. I’m using it right now to clean off rub cut oil from some lacquered surfaces that I’m rubbing out with pumice. It cuts right through the oil and leaves a surface ready for waxing.

It’s hard to say what to do about the bits of paper towel. You should have cleaned that off before the poly dried. That’s a good application for mineral spirits and naphtha since it is a solvent for uncured poly. Now that the poly has cured, it won’t do anything.

There might be some benefit to sanding it down though, since the poly will remain in the looser grained areas and a few more coats will tend to smooth out the overall finish.

-- Half of what we read or hear about finishing is right. We just don’t know which half! — Bob Flexner

Q1 Sand it down.
Q2 Apply a sanding sealer like Sealcoat, rough spots are usually areas that are more porous, a sanding sealer evens things up. Sand the whole top, apply Sealcoat sand again and apply poly. No mineral spirits won’t dissolve cured poly.
Q3 Yes, it is okay.

-- Bondo Gaposis

The long and the short of it???

The Long…..Plenty of available posts, youtube vids books and readings on the advanced techniques.

The Short…...The slab looks awesome!

If you want more input show us a few more pics including what you did underneath.

-- Andy - Seattle USA

Thanks for all of your replies! Very helpful!

-- Matt