Table One Gets Dated

Table one is claimed and the customer had some special requests. Each of our tables is unique in that each white oak slab comes from a different location of the tree trunk. This means that each slab has unique characteristics in structure, appearance, and dating. One of the major product details is that each table will be made of wood dating back 300 years, a feature that is emphasized by a date display that comes with each specific slab. What makes table one special is that the customer would also like specific personal dates included in the display. Our challenge is to design a date display that will be customizable with each slab and customer. We came up with two ideas. One included a permanent display of all the dates on the tabletop, the other idea include a separate display with more information on the dates.

The permanent options are divided into displaying a timeline of many dates and displaying simply Virginia Techs opening in 1872. The timeline would be made using a slice of one end of the slab so that

any of the growth rings could be counted and marked. This slice would be laser engraved and then inlayed on the tabletop. The Virginia Tech inlay would also use the laser engraver to print the VT shield on to a piece of a complementary species of wood. The location of the 1872 growth ring will be marked then on the slab tabletop. Both of these would require the laser engraver. This machine works like a printer but burns the design into materials instead of using ink. This is just one element that shows our attention to detail while making these tables. A separate display would include the laser engraved slice of slab, but it would also include information for each date. This would be a wall hanging or similar.

The results might end up being a combination of all the ideas and the design might change a little from one slab to the next. Whatever the plan, it is sure to be a great addition to the tables. Each will truly show the History of the Oak and of Virginia Tech.