Wooden counter suggestions?

[GreenGA]

JR asked me, again, to consider making her a wooden countertop as an eat-at bar.

Would you folks out there in FOG land have any suggestions/advice for the type of wood to use?  I stopped by Mr. Roberts Lumber (their sale is still on) to check out what they have available and even for their most expensive species, raw materials will be no more than $500.00, so, technically, cost is no object...  [cool]

 

[Peter_C]

JR asked me, again, to consider making her a wooden countertop as an eat-at bar.

Would you folks out there in FOG land have any suggestions/advice for the type of wood to use?  I stopped by Mr. Roberts Lumber (their sale is still on) to check out what they have available and even for their most expensive species, raw materials will be no more than $500.00, so, technically, cost is no object...  [cool]

One consideration might be to grab a table off of Craigslist and re-purpose it, depending on how big of a bar this is going to be. I got a thick oak table top and used it to build a bench.

 

[RussellS]

I believe hard maple is commonly used for countertops.  You want a hard, dense, non-porous wood.  Light or dark, your choice.  Best suggestion is to make it the same wood as the kitchen cupboards.  Matches and blends.  If your cabinets are oak, use oak.  If cherry, use cherry.  Etc.  Since its a countertop it won't see any usage really.  Its not a cutting board.  It is to sit at and eat your cereal and pancakes.  And it will have a coat of poly or lacquer on it to keep water out.  Your once a day wipe with a moist dishcloth for cleaning will not harm it.

 

[mike_aa]

Here's a lumbermill that makes them up.  I haven't priced their custom countertops, but the prices for the workbench tops seem reasonable.

 

[rmwarren]

[member=2153]GreenGA[/member] - John, I used several Ikea beech tops in our utility area and they are really pretty nice. I think 25"+ by 96"+ by 1-1/8" is around $130. Used Surfix on it and it is holding up great:

[attachimg=1]

[attachimg=2]

In my use the strips run E/W and there are walls on the N/S sides, installed in the summer and right now there is ~ 1/2" N-S shrinkage in 9'.

Lumber Liquidators also sells several species and different thicknesses, theirs had a bit of filler, the Ikea tops had about zero filler that I could see.

Have fun.

RMW

 

[GreenGA]

One consideration might be to grab a table off of Craigslist and re-purpose it, depending on how big of a bar this is going to be. I got a thick oak table top and used it to build a bench.

I never considered that... I'll run it by her, ya never know.  [blink]

Thanks.

 

[GreenGA]

[member=2153]GreenGA[/member] - John, I used several Ikea beech tops in our utility area and they are really pretty nice. I think 25"+ by 96"+ by 1-1/8" is around $130. Used Surfix on it and it is holding up great:

[attachimg=1]

[attachimg=2]

In my use the strips run E/W and there are walls on the N/S sides, installed in the summer and right now there is ~ 1/2" N-S shrinkage in 9'.

Lumber Liquidators also sells several species and different thicknesses, theirs had a bit of filler, the Ikea tops had about zero filler that I could see.

Have fun.

RMW

That's NOT bad pricing...  We have that Ikea off on the NJTP near Exit 13, or the one just off the PATP near KofP.

Like Peter_C's idea of repurposing a table top, I''ll run this by her.

Thanks.  [cool]

 

[GreenGA]

Here's a lumbermill that makes them up.  I haven't priced their custom countertops, but the prices for the workbench tops seem reasonable.

Thanks, I'll check'm out.

 

[rmwarren]

[member=2153]GreenGA[/member] - John, I used several Ikea beech tops in our utility area and they are really pretty nice. I think 25"+ by 96"+ by 1-1/8" is around $130. Used Surfix on it and it is holding up great:

[attachimg=1]

[attachimg=2]

In my use the strips run E/W and there are walls on the N/S sides, installed in the summer and right now there is ~ 1/2" N-S shrinkage in 9'.

Lumber Liquidators also sells several species and different thicknesses, theirs had a bit of filler, the Ikea tops had about zero filler that I could see.

Have fun.

RMW

That's NOT bad pricing...  We have that Ikea off on the NJTP near Exit 13, or the one just off the PATP near KofP.

Like Peter_C's idea of repurposing a table top, I''ll run this by her.

Thanks.  [cool]

For you the Ikea in Philly off Columbus Ave. may be closest.

RMW

 

[GreenGA]

For you the Ikea in Philly off Columbus Ave. may be closest.

RMW

[doh] D'oh!  I completely forgot about that location.

Thanks!

 

[rmwarren]

For you the Ikea in Philly off Columbus Ave. may be closest.

RMW

[doh] D'oh!  I completely forgot about that location.

Thanks!

I often forget about Philly.

And it's worse @ Ikea, somehow as soon as I walk in my brain gets numbed and I just wander around mumbling until I leave more confused than I started... part of that ADD thing I have going.

RMW

 

[GreenGA]

For you the Ikea in Philly off Columbus Ave. may be closest.

[doh] D'oh!  I completely forgot about that location.

I often forget about Philly.

And it's worse @ Ikea, somehow as soon as I walk in my brain gets numbed and I just wander around mumbling until I leave more confused than I started... part of that ADD thing I have going.

RMW

Yeaaaaahhhhh..., I suffer from the ADD thing too...  I think it's because most of my "attention" escaped my body once the hair on my head started thinning and was no longer a barrier to its escape.  [huh]

 

[chris s]

There is a place on 206 at Indian mills ( I believe its name is Full Circle Wodworx) . He has many large slabs which might make a counter. They also are on Facebook

 

[rmwarren]

There is a place on 206 at Indian mills ( I believe its name is Full Circle Wodworx) . He has many large slabs which might make a counter. They also are on Facebook

Thanks for that heads up Chris, they have some really nice looking stuff and as as close as anyone to the shore. I have to take a ride out there.

Great tip!

RMW

 

[Peter_C]

Although you are across the country, which makes it less feasible, people here in Northern California commonly use live edge redwood for bars. It is beautiful wood. I might be biased though as my house is all redwood, plus I was given a couple of slabs to build shelves with...someday.

 

[Cheese]

I used a pre-fabricated chunk of birch and would NOT recommend that option. It's placed between the range and the fridge and is used for meal prep only. I'm very careful when I cook but water rings, dents and some discoloration is quite obvious.

It's been coated with 5 coats of Varathane clear water based poly and yet provides minimal protection. It's only been in service for about 1 year. 

I'm thinking about replacing it with QSWO to get some toughness back and then find a suitable finish to fully protect, yet retain the whiteness of the oak.

 

[tjbnwi]

Walnut is very pretty once finished. A couple of coats of HD Surfix.

Tom

 

[GreenGA]

Walnut is very pretty once finished. A couple of coats of HD Surfix.

Tom

Walnut is in the running...

Currently I am thinking of:

Bubinga
Mahogany (differing flavors)
Walnut
Wenge
Bloodwood
Iroka (teak substitute)

 

[Jbmccombe]

Have you thought about bamboo?  Tough as nails, comes in lots of colours and fibre styles.

 

[Df1k1]

Bought a coupLe of slabs from lumber liquidators. Although they came out very nice the cost and time to make them serviceable (they were pretty rough) made it not cost effective.