How to Make Natural Slab Tables

Sand your wood slab and stump with medium- then fine-grit sandpaper. If the stump still has the outer bark attached, you can choose to leave it on or take it off. If you leave it on, sanding the stump is not necessary.

Finish the slab and stump in the wood finish of your choice. A natural wax or oil finish will maintain a rustic feel to the table without much shine, while a high-shine varnish or lacquer will accentuate the brilliancy of the wood tone and add an elegant touch to the table.

Attach a 1-inch-thick drill bit to your drill and drill four evenly-spaced 2-inch-deep holes on the top of the wood stump.

Insert a 4-inch-long and 1-inch-thick dowel peg into each hole and apply a thin layer of paint on the end of the pegs.

Carefully lower the wood slab over the stump in the position you want it to sit as the tabletop. The paint on the dowel ends will mark the underside of the slab, showing you exactly where you need to drill on the underside of the slab to achieve a perfectly mated joint.

Lay the slab underside up on a work surface and drill four 2-inch-deep holes at the points marked by the paint.

Remove the dowel pegs and cover them in wood glue before returning to the holes in the stump. Paint a thin layer of glue over the top of the stump as well. Fit the slab over the pegs and press it down so the pegs are fully mated and the underside of the slab is flush with the top of the stump.

Weight the natural slab down with some heavy books while the glue dries.