Replies

1. 
   roc | May 03, 2011 12:22am | #1

   Wood counter top ? What ? Are yah crazy ?

   Just kidding around.

   :     )

   I think this stuff makes a good kitchen counter material

   http://www.greenstrides.com/2009/06/15/recycled-glass-makes-beautiful-and-durable-countertops/

   Way, way, way, back in the day, before I knew a damned thing about wood working I made, for my mentor, a butcher block like counter and built in dining table that came through the wall of the kitchen into the dining room.

   Long story.  Artsy house.  I just power planed a ton of 2 x 4s, turned them up on edge and glued them together. Probably yellow pine. I don't recall. Thirty years later still there. No problems. No finish at all. They just used them and wiped them off with the dish rag. Nearly four inches thick SOLID !

   Did I say a ton of 2x4s? That is about how much each counter weighed ! ! !  Would make it half as thick now, so is manageable to make and to install, then put a wide boarder around it . I think I mentioned I didn't know sheet from shineola.

   They just cut a hole in one of 'em and dropped in a stainless sink.

   Anyway . . . there . . . you have two suggestions . . . bada  boom bada bing

2. 
   jfsksa | May 03, 2011 03:13am | #2

   Good article

   There is a good article on this subject in Fine Homebuilding magazine - see link below.

   http://www.finehomebuilding.com/item/5546/curious-about-wood-counters-heres-your-chance-to-ask-an-expert

3. 
   jfsksa | May 03, 2011 03:54am | #3

   wrong link

   The link above is the wrong one.  I tried several times to provide a better link, but I keep getting a message that my post is refused because of some filter.

   Go to Fine Homebuilding and search using 'wood counter tops'.  There is a good article that comes up, but a subscription is required to view it.  Good info, probably worth it to subscribe if you are going to trouble and expense to do wood counters.

4. 
   hammer1 | May 04, 2011 09:27am | #4

   I just started milling some hard maple for a project that sounds just like yours, an island that will be more of a desk. I paid almost as much for the rough lumber as it would cost for a ready made maple top but this one has an odd shape. Maple was requested by the customer. You could use any wood you wanted to but harder more dense species are a better choice than soft woods. Ball point pens are the enemy if a pad isn't used and Jr. does some heavy scribling. With all the species available to us these days, I would look for color that compliments the kitchen and/or furniture and design parameters. Personally, I prefer domestic species.