solid maple bar top
#1
09-19-13, 09:10 AM
Join Date: Feb 2010
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solid maple bar top
I want to put a solid maple bar top on a new bar I'm building but not sure of the best way to construct it. It will measure 3/4" X 16" by 12' long. I thougt I could use one solid piece, but was told this would warp. Would the solution be buying three solid 3/4" X 5.5" X 12' solid maple boards and glueing them together? Would this warp also? If so, what width of boars would be best to glue together?
Also - the maple top will be on top of 3/4" plywood. What is the best way to attach the top to the plywood? Screws, glue, or screws and glue?
Thanks for your help.
Also - the maple top will be on top of 3/4" plywood. What is the best way to attach the top to the plywood? Screws, glue, or screws and glue?
Thanks for your help.
#2
09-19-13, 12:31 PM
Weather it warps or not is dependent on how the board was cut from the log. Hardwoods are usually very well seasoned by the time it gets to the consumer so if it is straight when you buy it, it will probably remain stable if not exposed to a lot of moisture. I don't know where you could even find a 16" maple board these days. A 12' three piece glue up is a challenge to keep flat. Takes a lot of clamps. A biscuit joiner would be helpful too. No matter how close you get it to flat, it's gonna take some sanding or planing to true up the show side. Do you have any woodworking experience?
#3
09-19-13, 01:52 PM
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Thanks Toolman,
I'm not a pro, but have a good amount of woodworking experience. I've glued smaller boards together but nothing near this long. I also have a biscuit joiner which I used on my outside deck. I don't have a planer though, and really don't want to be puting in hours of sanding this. Would using two 8" boards instead help significantly? I guess I was thinking 3 boards would look better than two boards, and that's why I came up with this plan. Your thoughts? I can borrow enough clamps - thinking one every 10"?
I did visit this wharehouse here in WI, kettle morraine hardwoods, inc. They had many rough pieces this size, many species, were rough sawed though and only one edge. They had discouraged me using it for a bar top due to possible warping though. Either way, I don't have the equipment to cut and plane it to what I need.
I'm not a pro, but have a good amount of woodworking experience. I've glued smaller boards together but nothing near this long. I also have a biscuit joiner which I used on my outside deck. I don't have a planer though, and really don't want to be puting in hours of sanding this. Would using two 8" boards instead help significantly? I guess I was thinking 3 boards would look better than two boards, and that's why I came up with this plan. Your thoughts? I can borrow enough clamps - thinking one every 10"?
I did visit this wharehouse here in WI, kettle morraine hardwoods, inc. They had many rough pieces this size, many species, were rough sawed though and only one edge. They had discouraged me using it for a bar top due to possible warping though. Either way, I don't have the equipment to cut and plane it to what I need.
#4
09-19-13, 02:21 PM
Tell you the truth, I've never joined boards that long. If these guys are hardwood specialists, I would heed any advice they give you regarding warpage. If you glue up 3 boards, I would do two first then add the other. The trick to edge gluing though is to get the mating edges perfectly square and straight but with a very slight inward curve in the middle. If your supplier does any millwork, see if they can edge them for you on the jointer (a big jointer) and mark the mating edges.
#5
09-19-13, 02:30 PM
Forum Topic Moderator
Try to find a cabinet shop with a sander that will take you final size. May cost 20 to 50 dollars to get sanded but will be will worth it. Be sure to get boards as close to level when gluing.
#6
09-19-13, 05:54 PM
Banned. Rule And/Or Policy Violation
You can by a maple laminated butcher block counter top cheaper then it would cost to build one.
There's dozens of sites on line.
Maple Butcher Block, Any Size, Quote and Order Online
There's dozens of sites on line.
Maple Butcher Block, Any Size, Quote and Order Online
#7
09-19-13, 06:33 PM
Super Moderator
Well, Joe...that site you linked would be almost $500 and it uses 1" wide strips to get to the total width. I don't believe the OP wants a butcher block look and I think a decent woodworker could do what he is proposing for a lot less than $500. Heck...Norm could do it in 1/2 an hour right? Lol
