Tom Hamilton
01-20-2007, 9:07 PM
Greetings Fellow Creekers:
The old Southern Yellow Pine bench top was looking pretty shabby after cleaning some old tools. I planed a fresh surface on about half of it and thought a new top would be a nice way to start 2007.
What do ya know, but Lumber Liquidators ran an ad for 89 cent per foot solid oak flooring. Gee, they are only 10 minutes away...so an hour later I've got three 7 foot long bundles in my shop. Each bundle is about 9 sq ft.
Here's what I learned about the 89 cent stuff. It is rejects and the only the top layer is full length. So I've got some sorting to do.
Finally I found enough good pieces to cover the 44x71 top with only two joints per row.
55603
I attached the first row with screws from underneath so insure a solid edge the rest with a nail gun. A homemade mallet and a block of scrap snugged the pieces against each other.
It's been through the planer at the factory so I moved right to sanding with 150. The Onieda mini cyclone caught all the dust before the filter in the vac.
55604
A little touch with a plane to smooth a couple of joints and I was ready for coat of BLO.
55605
After the BLO dryed an application of Golden Oak stain evened out the color. The center strip is cherry also with a BLO and Cherry stain treatment.
55606
The new top was a fun project and I like the look. If you try this be sure to buy plenty of the oak, you will have alot of waste. There are some knots that need to be filled. I'm considering a sawdust and glue mix or cutting out the knot and making a plug. I'm pleased with the results and think it is a good way to get an oak bench top. Obviously is it much harder and more durable than the SYP.
I'm not sure how to finish the edges but I leaning toward a skirt out of the oak, with a slight softening of the top edge with a roundover bit. Another option is a cherry or contrasting wood skirt. We'll see.
Best regards,
Tom, in Houston, liking his new oak bench top
The old Southern Yellow Pine bench top was looking pretty shabby after cleaning some old tools. I planed a fresh surface on about half of it and thought a new top would be a nice way to start 2007.
What do ya know, but Lumber Liquidators ran an ad for 89 cent per foot solid oak flooring. Gee, they are only 10 minutes away...so an hour later I've got three 7 foot long bundles in my shop. Each bundle is about 9 sq ft.
Here's what I learned about the 89 cent stuff. It is rejects and the only the top layer is full length. So I've got some sorting to do.
Finally I found enough good pieces to cover the 44x71 top with only two joints per row.
55603
I attached the first row with screws from underneath so insure a solid edge the rest with a nail gun. A homemade mallet and a block of scrap snugged the pieces against each other.
It's been through the planer at the factory so I moved right to sanding with 150. The Onieda mini cyclone caught all the dust before the filter in the vac.
55604
A little touch with a plane to smooth a couple of joints and I was ready for coat of BLO.
55605
After the BLO dryed an application of Golden Oak stain evened out the color. The center strip is cherry also with a BLO and Cherry stain treatment.
55606
The new top was a fun project and I like the look. If you try this be sure to buy plenty of the oak, you will have alot of waste. There are some knots that need to be filled. I'm considering a sawdust and glue mix or cutting out the knot and making a plug. I'm pleased with the results and think it is a good way to get an oak bench top. Obviously is it much harder and more durable than the SYP.
I'm not sure how to finish the edges but I leaning toward a skirt out of the oak, with a slight softening of the top edge with a roundover bit. Another option is a cherry or contrasting wood skirt. We'll see.
Best regards,
Tom, in Houston, liking his new oak bench top