Wood Statement’s tabletops are all pretty much constructed using the same, step-by-step process. The species may differ, the aesthetics may change, widths and lengths altered as needed, but, at its core, they are the same whether that table is going to a family friendly, fast-casual restaurant in middle America or at a fancy restaurant in the heart of Manhattan, it all begins with the wood.

Frank Sullivan, owner, said the company makes a variety of table types, but its primary business is in plank, and butcher block tables. Plank tables, which showcase the full grain of the wood, are available in 4 or 6 inch wide and 1.5 inch thick planks. Butcher block tables are comprised of ¾- in. x 1-½ in. wood blocks clamped together on the face grain to promote stability and prevent cupping and bowing. 

Decades of experience
Sullivan has been building for restaurants in some capacity for the last 35 years. Today, in a 15,000-square-foot factory, Wood Statements focuses on restaurant tabletops made from solid wood. They provide tables for the fast-growing Raising Canes chicken fingers chain that orders butcher block tables. Other customers include the Twin Peaks’ chain of American sports bars and restaurants, and the popular Caribou coffee stores. 

In 2024, the company was commissioned to build tables for the James Beard Foundation platform, which is a state-of-the-art show kitchen, event, and educational space dedicated to outstanding culinary arts programming. The James Beard Foundation is a non-profit organization committed to celebrating, nurturing, and honoring chefs and other leaders in the American food culture, aiming to make it more delicious, diverse, and sustainable.

“So, we do everything from Raising Cane’s to James Beard Foundation and everything in between,” he said.

While the restaurants are diverse, the similarity is the durability of the table and the scratch and mar resistance of the finish.

Processes
Much like a recipe in which each ingredient complements the other and ingredients are added in a specific order. 

Wood is a main ingredient, and at Wood Statements species cab range by the job. They can include Walnut, White Oak, Ambrosia Maple, White Wood Mix, Red/White Oak, Hickory, Poplar, Baltic Birch Plywood, and Cherry.  For instance, the table for the James Beard Foundation starts with hand selecting high-quality walnut because of its strength and rich color. Each board is handpicked to ensure it meets the company’s standards for beauty and durability before assembly. The wood is sanded to remove rough patches and prepare the surface for bonding. Smooth boards create a stronger, more seamless final product. Next, the boards are carefully glued and clamped together, forming the foundation of the table. The pressure ensures a tight, secure bond as the loop sets. 

Once the glue is dried, the tabletop goes through a planer-sander to even out the surface. The ends are trimmed to precise dimensions, giving the table its final shape with sharp, clean edges, natural knots and divots are filled with epoxy resin. This not only enhances the table’s appearance but also reinforces the wood strength and prevents further splitting. A finer sanding follows, removing any remaining imperfections for a smooth finish. 

The table then receives the final round of hand sanding which gives the table top a silky smooth surface ready for finishing. High quality polyurethane acrylic finish is then applied using a spray system. The company claims the finish is one of the most durable and heat resistant available on the market, enhancing the wood’s natural beauty, while protecting the surface from moisture and wear. 

Clamping
Wood Statements uses an 8-foot panel clamp from James L. Taylor Manufacturing. The tables are clamped for a minimum of 12 hours. “We always wait overnight before running them through the planer-sander,” said Sullivan. “We ‘Snug Up’ the clamps being careful not to overtighten them, to not cause bowing.”

All the tables are glued with a waterproof Titebond III wood glue that passes the ANSI/HPVA Type I water-resistance specification and offers superior bond strength, longer open assembly time and lower application temperature.

As with many of its processes, the company has developed a unique hack. In this case it is a mean to capture excess glue before it makes a mess and creates an uneven surface. “We came up with a system where we put a piece of melamine down. The glue does not stick to it. So, we repetitively reuse it.” 

Sander
Once the glued board is pulled out of the rack, all the glue on the bottom gets scraped off, and the board is run through a 53” Viet planer-sander. One pass does the boards’ top; one pass does the bottom. The boards are moved to the sander via carts. 
The boards will also get fine sanded, and the edges eased. “We do a 60, 80, 100, 120 150 [grit] on the fine sand after it comes out of the machine. Once it is fine sanded everything gets pulled into our finish room and gets sprayed finished.

Finish
The company uses an air-assisted airless spray gun. The bottom gets two coats of sealer, and the top gets two coats of sealer and one coat of product. “That’s what the manufacturer recommends and that’s where you get your most durability,” Sullivan said.  “If you mix it right and put the right amount of reducer in there, it is easy to spray out of there. There is not a lot of challenges of overlapping; it melts nicely with every pass.”

The company uses an Italian imported ICA acrylic catalyzed polyurethane. “It is the most heat-, chemical-, and scratch-resistant finish available,” said Sullivan. “Unlike conversion varnishes and lacquers, it won’t break down when exposed to harsh sanitizers. The ICA will help keep the table looking beautiful.” ✚