Long live edge Walnut slab at the City Bench mill

Service · Slabs, lumber & milling

Live edge slabs, lumber and custom milling

Milled from the urban forests of the Northeast, City Bench’s slabs and lumber tell the stories of the trees and the people who live among them.

How to buy a slab 203-733-8363

Spec sheet

What we mill

A tremendous variety of local hardwood species, sequenced and numbered so you can compare slabs and find the best match for your job.

Live edge

Slabs

Length: 4′–20′
Width: 12″–60″
Typical thickness: 2.5″ (≈2″ finished)
Drying: Included
Flatten & sand: Extra fee

Boards

Lumber

Thickness: 4/4 – 12/4
Width: 6″ minimum
Cuts: Quarter · rift · flat
Moisture: Kiln dried 6–8%

Your log

Custom milling

Rate: Hourly · call for rate
Max log: 63″ diameter
Output: Slabs or lumber
Transport: Help available

How we mill

Flitch sawn for book-matched beauty

We flitch saw most of our logs: we cut the log into slabs keeping both natural edges, then reform the log with stickers between the slabs to ensure healthy air flow as the wood cures.

Flitch sawing makes use of the most wood from each log and offers eye-catching book-matched possibilities. All our slabs are in sequence and numbered.

Our slabs air dry until they are below 28% moisture content, when they are safe for the kiln. We kiln dry them to 6–8% after an order is placed. We have found 2.5″ thick enough to account for the warping slabs tend to experience while drying.

Moisture content · air dried below 28% → kiln dried to 6–8%

Our mills

Two sawmills, every size of log

BANDSAW MILL

Wood-Mizer LT-40 Wide

A bandsaw mill for smaller logs and dimensional lumber.

CHAINSAW MILL

Peterson DWS

A chainsaw mill that cuts logs up to 63″ in diameter, handling most of the big logs we salvage.

KILN

Dried to order

Most slabs have been air drying for years. We kiln dry to 6–8% after you order; air-dried and green slabs are available too.

Buying a slab

Find your slab in three steps

Browse the inventory
Search available slabs by species, salvage location, length and width.
Note the slab ID
Every slab is numbered, for example 251225_01_01. Click an ID to see slabs from the same log.
Call or email us
Call 203-733-8363 or email info@city-bench.com with the ID.

Browse live slab inventory

Full name

Email address

Phone

Inquiry type

Tree species (if known)

Trunk diameter at chest height

Where is the tree or log?

Slab ID (e.g. 251225_01_01)

What would you like built?

Timeline

Tell us about your project

I agree to the privacy policy and to be contacted about my inquiry.

203-733-8363

Questions

Slabs & lumber FAQ

What sizes are your slabs?

Lengths from 4 to 20 feet and widths from 12 to 60 inches, most commonly 2.5 inches thick, which generally allows a finished thickness of around 2 inches.

Are the slabs dry?

Most slabs have been air drying for several years and are below 28% moisture. We kiln dry them to 6–8% after an order is placed, and drying is included in every slab sale. Air-dried and green slabs are available if you prefer.

How do I buy a slab?

Note the slab ID, for example 251225_01_01, then call 203-733-8363 or email info@city-bench.com.

Do you flatten and sand slabs?

Yes. Flattening and sanding are available for an additional fee.

Can you mill my log?

Yes. Call us for our current hourly rate. We mill to your specifications and can help transport logs and boules. Our Peterson DWS mill handles logs up to 63 inches in diameter.

What lumber do you produce?

Boards from 4/4 (1 inch) to 12/4, at least 6 inches wide, in quarter, rift or flat sawn depending on the species and the log.

Google reviews

Makers on our slabs

Real words from homeowners, designers, schools and businesses who have worked with us, grouped by the service they used.

Start the conversation

Have a tree with a story? Let’s build its next chapter.

Tell us about your tree, your space or the piece you imagine. We’ll help you figure out what it can become.

Start Your Piece Call 203-733-8363