are you opposed to using a solid core door ?
with your limited tools, this may be your best option.
if you have some Thrift Stores around you, you may find one that is already stained and varnished.

 

Would prefer solid wood because I might decide to hand a sliding keyboard tray underneath that would be about 65" long and need to hold about 30 pounds.

 

People have accomplished a lot of things without tools, it isn't easy.

You could hand plane the boards to joint them, you could build a clamping jig, and you could hand sand all of it.

The reality is that it would behoove you to acquire some tools, or befriend someone with the right tools to get the job done easier.

BTW I think this is a cool idea, I have a Varidesk, you can bet I am looking under it right now to see how difficult it would be to replace the flat surface on it.

 

I’ve got some tools. Sliding compound miter saw, circular saw, Kreg Jig station & 72” cutting guide, Dewalt jig saw, impact driver, drill, biscuit joiner.
I used to have a lot more but sold most of it when we moved and I lost my pole barn.

I could pick up some clamps.

I would think I could accomplish a top like the video with a lift more experienced advice.

 

It's great to be ambitious, and please don't be offended, but you really can't produce a decent panel without a way to joint and surface the boards. Obviously, a stationary jointer, but also a jointer plane, and various types of router jigs. IME straightline rips with a circular saw and guide is not going to get it done unless you're satisfied with glue lines and gaps. I know I can't get them with a Festool track saw. If you want to do a breadboard end, that is a fairly advanced technique, again, requiring certain tools to get it done properly.

Priority #1 is lumber selection, proper drying/acclimating of lumber. Your best bet is to find a commercial hardwood supplier and by surfaced boards. You can get by without a planer but with a lot of sanding.

All that said, with the tool/experience limitation, IMO you're best bet is hardwood plywood. Again, commercial suppliers have oak, cherry ($$$) etc. A double thickness border around the underside will get the 1.5" thickness (similar to the way countertops are made). Then add a solid wood edge treatment.

 

interesting project - the first thing that struck me is: weight.
solid wood at those dimension is going to be quite heavy - do you have a lifting device that will float the weight?

regardless - doubled (nominal) 1x will get you the thickness.
a hand plane and careful fitting, biscuits if you like, will give you good joints.
if you have a large work surface (faux?) bench dogs and wedges will do for clamping.

 

The unit will lift 350#

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A couple of thoughts. You could make a 1-1/2" frame around a piece of plywood to make it look thicker.

As I recall, the big box stores sell already glued up panels of pine boards with a rustic appeal.

 

Another idea. The table in the picture looks like it was made of 2x material. I think this might turn out a bit too rustic, but you could -


Pick through the pile of 2x to get really straight flat 2x from a place that keeps it inside.

Cut the pieces to length leaving them a little long so you can trim to finished length later. Make it a little wider than the final dimension as well.

Line them all up edge to edge and fasten them all together with a few 1x 4's on what will become the underside. If the edges don't mate perfectly it won't matter.

Flip it over and follow each joint with your circular saw set to 1-1/2" depth.

Remove the 1x4's from the underside and push the edges back together. If you're satisfied with the joints, glue it up using biscuits. If the joints aren't to your satisfaction, fasten it together again from the underside and cut the joints again.

Once it's all glued, trim to the final dimensions.

 

unless the circular saw has a very good guiding edge, the cut may be parallel, but any wiggle will produce gouged out divots.

 

Vi5rtually all boards in UK are glued up pieces. These are a way of mills using offcuts. In UK wood is expensive as virtually all imported. We chopped down our trees thousands of years ago and our oaks to build a navy. Preference was for 500 year old trees and none likely for another 200 years! I had a Jamaican friend who visited for the first time expecting to see "mighty Oaks" There are none at moment except for the old one on old estates.
johnep

 

Starting to look like their "premium" price is really just paying for the craftmanship your getting.

 

Instructions on the forum for making circular saw guide. With it, I was able to make a cabinet for the kitchen.
johnep