Custom countertop - Woodworking Talk

JP Sinclair · 03-30-2009, 04:27 PM

Daren started a neat thread a while back titled "I needed a coffee table so I made one". Well I got sick and tired of my crappy particle board laminated countertop so I ripped it out. Then of course my wife was tapping her foot asking "what now smart guy?". Well, I needed a countertop so I made one. This was wide runs of cherry, figured maple (tiger and birdseye) and butternut. I wouldn't have thought I would like the look in combination but it turned out pretty nice. The butternut and cherry kind of had a nice uniform look while the maple pieces have the figure. Even the wife liked it!

Big Dave · 03-30-2009, 04:52 PM

Looks nice. What's the finish?

Julian the woodnut · 03-30-2009, 04:52 PM

How did you attach the top to the cabinets?

I hope you allowed for lots of movement.

firehawkmph · 03-30-2009, 05:41 PM

JP,
pretty nice looking wood. I too am curious about the finish and method of attachment.
Mike Hawkins

AZ Termite · 03-31-2009, 10:43 AM

That is a real nice counter top, more details please.

JP Sinclair · 03-31-2009, 11:49 AM

The finish was suggested by a buddy that is a painter. After sanding to about 250, the first coating was a hand rubbed combination 50-50 mix of varnish and turnpentine. I had never heard of it. He uses this often on flame birch and tiger maple and it really makes the figure stand up. He had a beautiful butler table that he had just finished the wings with this combination and it was stunning. Then more light sanding and final coats of full varnish. The clips underneath are aligned perpendicular to the direction of the wood. They have space to allow movement side to side (in the same manner as hardwood flooring). I tried sticking my head into the cabinet to get a pic but it didn't come out. I'm going to see how it behaves and if everthing is ok, start working my way around the rest of the kitchen. It's been in there for about a month and the weather around here has been real crazy, from cold to heavy humidity and rain.

PTownSubbie · 03-31-2009, 02:21 PM

Very nice and unique!! It will bring about many conversations as you have friends over, I am sure.

Fred

bzbatl · 03-31-2009, 03:16 PM

What are you going to do for the backsplash?

I really like the design, quite unique.

GeorgeC · 03-31-2009, 03:37 PM

VERY pretty.

Was there a particular reason to continue the board direction around the 90 degree corner? vs using a meter at the corner and having all side edges instead of some side and some end grain? Do you intend to use any type of edge molding? If so what type?

Have you ever seen any other tops like this? If so how do they hold up to wear and tear of long time use?

I would like to do something in our kitchen. We now have 1993 Formica. BLAH!!! My wife swears she does not like granite and will not have it in the kitchen. I do not know if I could sell her on something like this or not. I want to do SOMETHING!!!

If anything I guess our kitchen style of country. Dark blue walls with white crown and base board. White cabinets. Total floor area of about 360 sq. ft.

G

JP Sinclair · 03-31-2009, 04:32 PM

P town subbie - Thanks, I'm really into making stuff for our house that you couldn't find at Lowes/HD/Ikea. Below is a pic of the spalted yellow birch top I made for a kitchen island in the house, it gets some cool comments from friends that come over.

b2bat - Not sure yet on a backsplash. I was thinking of spalted birch but I'm not sure if it will be a little too loud. Maybe just a nice 1/2 round on 6 inch cherry or butternut.

George - I had to bring the corner piece out because there is a lazy susan underneath that part. I've not seen countertop strips this wide before so I'm not sure about how it will do. I can't imagine it will be any worse for wear than 1 inch glued up strips, maybe more movement but as long as it isn't too crazy I'll deal with it. It's kind of the same taste as the hardwood flooring I made for the same room, it was 3 to 5 inch face with lots of character.

Big Dave · 03-31-2009, 05:16 PM

Movement is relative to the humidity in the home. I preach this to my customers and tell them to watch the humidity and keep it between 40 and 45%. If you do that and don't let it swing 10% either way the wood will never move. It's not hard to keep the humidity constant as the Air conditioner will take care of it in the summer and a small humidifier will be ample in the winter. It's better on your skin and sinuses too.