How do I miter 3" and 4" thick table top slabs?

[Lumberman]

Hello!
I'd like to make some live edge tables where the legs are mitered and a continuous part of the top. I imagine a festool track saw would handle up to 2" thick miters but how would I do this with 3" or 4" thick slabs? What if the slab is 40" wide and 10' long...is there a trick to doing this or is it only something massive sliding table saws can do?

cheers,
Tyler

[Rusty]

Not sure of the question you're asking but assuming the side edges are live then perhaps you mean the ends of the table will be mitered to make a 45 degree joint with a leg running down at 90 degrees to the top. Is that the case?

[stevem]

that would be my assumption rusty

it would be a tough joint to make successfully even in thinner material!!

a massive tablesaw with a sliding table would be the best way or an equally large radialarm saw thats very accurately setup. such equipment ofcourse, is not available to most of us

first of all, the material would have to be planed/jointed perfectly flat and equal in thickness everywhere, a big task in itself.

no circular saw except maybe the big makita will cut such a large bevel at 45 degrees but a circsaw and sraight edge will cut partway from both sides(tricky to line up the two cuts) then finish the cut with a handsaw

then the cut could be cleaned up by handplane or a router with a long straight bit from both surfaces with the router sliding on a jig to hold it at 45 degrees to the surface

if a countertop type saw could be tilted to 45 degrees(most cant) that would work

[Mark in Burlington]

A panel saw with a sliding table and a 16" blade will do the thick top on a 45. I would go at it by finding a centre and working outwards to generate a square line from it. Then clamp it down (you may need to add blocking) to make your right angle cut. It's very common way to work building boats. Anyway the other thing to consider because the wood will shrink and expand in thickness your mitres are going to open up with the 16/4 thickness.
Cheers, Mark

[matt.mackinnon]

Why miter.. go with a big ass dove tail.

[Lumberman]

Thanks for the responses. I really like that modern look with the continuous live edge from the legs and onto the top. The more I read your responses the more I realize how difficult this would be. I think I'll try a small bench first and go from there!
cheers