Every once in a while a project comes through the shop that reminds us why we started building furniture in the first place. This past spring, a family from Marshall County asked for a live edge dining table big enough to hold three generations at once. They...
Every once in a while a project comes through the shop that reminds us why we started building furniture in the first place. This past spring, a family from Marshall County asked for a live edge dining table big enough to hold three generations at once. They didn’t want fancy. They wanted strong, honest wood that would last longer than any of us.
We walked through slab options together, talked about grain patterns, and settled on a wide piece of kiln-dried hardwood with just enough natural curve to keep its character. The base was simple steel, finished dark so the wood stayed the star of the show. Nothing flashy, just solid craftsmanship.
When they came to pick it up, the kids ran their hands across the surface like it was already part of their home. That’s the moment that sticks with you. Furniture isn’t just wood and metal. It’s where birthdays happen, homework gets finished, and prayers get said.
That table is probably covered in plates and fingerprints by now, and that’s exactly how it should be. Built to be used. Built to last. Built for real life.
Posted: 05/02/2025
Walk through any big box store and you’ll see rows of identical furniture. Same shape. Same color. Same lifespan. It works, but it doesn’t mean much. Live edge wood is different. Every slab carries its own history, growth rings, weather marks, and natural...
Walk through any big box store and you’ll see rows of identical furniture. Same shape. Same color. Same lifespan. It works, but it doesn’t mean much.
Live edge wood is different. Every slab carries its own history, growth rings, weather marks, and natural lines that can’t be copied. That’s what makes each finished piece one of a kind. No templates. No shortcuts.
Over the past year we’ve seen more people choosing handcrafted furniture instead of disposable pieces. Some want quality. Others want something that feels personal. Most want both.
We think that shift is a good sign. It means people still care about things made by hand, built slowly, and meant to stay in the family longer than a warranty card.
Posted: 07/18/2025
A lot of folks see the finished desk and never think about the weeks behind it. Truth is, the process is slow on purpose. First comes drying and stabilization. Then flattening, sanding, and careful inspection of every crack or knot. Some pieces need resin...
A lot of folks see the finished desk and never think about the weeks behind it. Truth is, the process is slow on purpose.
First comes drying and stabilization. Then flattening, sanding, and careful inspection of every crack or knot. Some pieces need resin work. Others just need patience. After that, finish coats go on one layer at a time until the surface feels like glass but still looks natural.
The final step is fitting the base and making sure everything sits level and strong. No wobble. No shortcuts. If it wouldn’t hold up in our own homes, it doesn’t leave the shop.
That quiet, steady process is what turns a rough slab into something someone will use every day for years.
Posted: 09/05/2025
More people are working from home than ever, and that has changed what they expect from a desk. It’s not just a place to set a laptop anymore. It’s where business happens, ideas start, and long days get finished. This year we built several adjustable...
More people are working from home than ever, and that has changed what they expect from a desk. It’s not just a place to set a laptop anymore. It’s where business happens, ideas start, and long days get finished.
This year we built several adjustable desks and wide slab workstations designed for real daily use. Cable space, comfortable height, and enough room to spread out without feeling cramped. Practical details matter more than decoration.
The biggest thing we hear from customers is simple. They want something sturdy and honest that helps them focus. No shaking, no peeling laminate, no feeling temporary.
A well-built workspace doesn’t just hold your computer. It supports the work you’re trying to do.
Posted: 11/14/2025
Furniture built for homes and furniture built for businesses are not the same thing. Offices, break rooms, and public spaces see constant use, which means the construction has to be stronger from the start. Over the past year we’ve worked with several local...
Furniture built for homes and furniture built for businesses are not the same thing. Offices, break rooms, and public spaces see constant use, which means the construction has to be stronger from the start.
Over the past year we’ve worked with several local businesses needing tables and work surfaces that could handle daily wear without looking worn out after six months. Thicker slabs, reinforced bases, and durable finishes make the difference.
Good contract furniture doesn’t draw attention to itself. It just keeps working year after year. That reliability is what business owners really want.
And honestly, that same durability is something homeowners appreciate too.
Posted: 01/08/2026
As the year turns, we usually take a little time to look back at what came through the shop. Dining tables for growing families. Desks for new businesses. Small pieces built as gifts that will probably outlast all of us. What stands out most isn’t the...
As the year turns, we usually take a little time to look back at what came through the shop. Dining tables for growing families. Desks for new businesses. Small pieces built as gifts that will probably outlast all of us.
What stands out most isn’t the number of projects. It’s the stories behind them. People marking milestones, starting over, or simply wanting something meaningful in their home.
Next year won’t be about doing more. It’ll be about doing the same work the right way. Careful selection. Honest materials. Strong construction. No rushing the process.
That approach has carried us this far, and we’re grateful for every customer who trusts us to build something that matters.
Adjustable Desk Frames
We Stand Behind Our Amazing Desks. We sit behind them sometimes too. Our desks components are designed by expert furniture makers, where the craft of furniture making has been built into our culture. Our frames are sourced in the highest tolerance steel. We sourced unequaled materials and built these desks by hand in Alabama - a place that defines manufacturing excellence.
The Wooden Nickel
Our goal is to create your visions, such as Dining Tables, Stools, Sofa Tables, etc, . All Live Edge Furniture is made from kiln dried wood. Each piece we make has a buffalo nickel embedded in some location. Wooden Nickel offers a wide variety of different species of wood, and custom designed
bases of metal or wood for an industrial look. We welcome any custom design and size.
We make wood and metal bases. The slab is sized and finished first. We then make a base that matches the size and shape of the slab. Special orders with special sizes can be made to fit the slab. All of our stock furniture is made to standard sizes. We offer several finishes from natural metal to color paints.
We use Rust-Oleum on all the metal. To protect the floor we put metal pads, felt pads, or Plastic caps on the feet. No raw metal is ever in contact with the floor.
Special bases with wood, casters and other options can be ordered. KD bases are available. We can do bases only for your project.
Once the finish sanding is done, we are ready to put our top coat on.
We use a hard water resistant clear finish and the number of coats depends on the table.
The table is then re-sanded for the second coat which most tables typically get 3 to 6 coats of finish. This gives the table years of use with a very rugged durability.
We normally use "Flat" but "Semi-Gloss" and "Gloss" are available.
If the table is marked with a ___ we have it in stock. If a table has a marking of ___ then it has been sold, but we can make one similar. If we are making a new table then you can request a custom size. If it is a table that will require a lot of change, we will get you to approve the work.
We have a good stock of slabs but we don’t always have all the woods in all sizes, please check with us before you need.
Most of our logs come from tree services and loggers.
Our logs are sawed 2 1/2" for tables, 1 1/2" for shelves, this may vary depending on the log. We air stack the wood for drying, and then place into a kiln for drying to the appropriate moisture level. After kiln drying the go into stock for production.
The Wooden Nickel creates live edge custom furniture, including dining tables, desks, stools, sofa tables, wine racks, and entertainment centers. Each handcrafted piece is designed to match the customer’s vision and workspace or home needs.
The Wooden Nickel is located at 421 City Park Drive S.W., Arab, Alabama 35016, and serves customers seeking custom live edge furniture and woodwork solutions.
You can reach The Wooden Nickel by calling 256-759-2962, 256-738-8668, or the office at 256-586-2822, or by emailing orders@wood-n-nickel.com for inquiries and custom orders.
All live edge furniture is made from kiln-dried wood and handcrafted using high-quality materials. Each piece also features a buffalo nickel embedded somewhere in the design, making every item distinctive.
Yes. The Wooden Nickel welcomes custom designs, sizes, and base styles to fit specific spaces or project requirements for homes, offices, and commercial environments.
The Wooden Nickel creates both wood and metal bases in standard or custom sizes, with finish options ranging from natural metal to painted colors. Protective pads are added so no raw metal contacts the floor.
Yes. The Wooden Nickel offers adjustable desk frames built with precision steel components and handcrafted construction, designed to support ergonomic and adaptable workspaces.
Customers can select from a variety of wood species and finishing options. After sanding, each piece receives a protective top coat to ensure durability and long-lasting appearance.
Yes. The team builds contract-grade furniture suitable for offices, break rooms, and other commercial environments, tailoring each project to the user’s functional needs.
Yes. The Wooden Nickel can produce custom bases or components independently, including special sizes, casters, and knock-down base options for unique furniture builds.