Posted: 4/15/2012 4:06:00 PM EDT
|
I have an old trestle table that my wife wants to use as a craft table. The top is a piece of crap, but the stand it decent. Any ideas for a quick and inexpensive, but nice tabletop?
HD had laminate pine boards for $20, but I'd rather use hardwood. It needs to be 30"X48"X1.25". I don't want to spend too much time or money on this; just round off the corners, sand it, and finish it; maybe some gluing if necessary. Thanks. |
Went to Menards. The solid core doors were too thin. Thought I was going to get lucky with an unmarked red oak benchtop, but they wanted $85 for it. Maybe this is a case of wanting my cake and eating it too. 
Although I prefer a one piece top, the trim and routing idea is a good one. I will look some more into it. Thanks for your suggestions. |
|
Another thought along the trim/routing option...
get a sheet of 1/2 plywood, cut two 30x48 pieces out, and a sheet of 1/8 hardboard (masonite). Glue the two sheets of ply together, put a piece of trim around the edge about 1/8" proud so there's a lip, and cut the hardboard to fit in the space. Smooth clean surface and easy to replace. Shameless stolen from the thread we had in here about workbench tops. |
Might be more than you are looking to spend but
Maple Top I used one of their slabs to make this 
|
|
Quoted: Might be more than you are looking to spend but http://cdn0.grizzly.com/pics/jpeg500/g/g9913_det1.jpg Maple Top I used one of their slabs to make this http://i1096.photobucket.com/albums/g326/Covertness/WorkbenchFinal2.jpg +1 for maple butcher block |
|
Quoted:
Quoted:
Might be more than you are looking to spend but http://cdn0.grizzly.com/pics/jpeg500/g/g9913_det1.jpg Maple Top I used one of their slabs to make this http://i1096.photobucket.com/albums/g326/Covertness/WorkbenchFinal2.jpg +1 for maple butcher block I remember that one from the first time Covertness posted it last year, but if I spend the money on it, I might as well go all in and make a new table. |
|
Quoted:
Well, I do have the plans for the above scanned into a .pdf document  Very tempting. 
I will keep that in mind. I recently started a graduate program and my spare time is almost non-existent. I definitely want to build a dining room table and sliding door bookshelves this summer though.
|
|
Got to worry about filling in the pores in oak. Too much trouble.
Maple is too boring for a dining room table I've not worked in hickory. Cherry if you take the time to pick your wood and match grain patterns looks better and better with age as it naturally darkens. Nice hard wood that machines well. |
|
Thanks. I will not get the chance to match wood to my liking since I will special order the top from them. Cherry sounds nice though.
Good point on the porosity of oak. I don't think I'd have trouble filling the pores, but if cherry looks more refined, it sounds like the better choice. |
|
Got to be careful or the wood will not age evenly.
note the bottom right panel on my armoire 
What I like about cherry though is what it looks like when it gets old. This was about 10 years old when this pic was taken 
and this was about 6 months old when this pic was taken 
|
|
Quoted:
If you choose cherry, just make sure your bits and blades are sharp while shaping and you don't pause too often.. Cherry loves to burn for the same reason it likes to tan, the humic (spelling?) acid in the wood. Good to know. I appreciate it. My router has five speeds so I will adjust accordingly if cherry will be it. |
|
Quoted:
Did you ask them for a quote on shorter pieces? That might be what is driving your cost up so high. Do you have access to cherry boards? You've done one glue up already. You should be able to glue up your own slabs. Shorter pieces are only 30" wide, but I will ask them how much they cost. I am looking for boards right now. A fellow Indiana gun owner has some cherry boards that might be enough for the top. I could always buy the legs. Thanks. |