I have been commissioned to make and install a feature worktop in a newly fitted kitchen. The piece is going between the kitchen and dining area.
The customer had asked if I would have a piece of timber big enough to span the whole width and length of the top, it just so happens that I have some very large boards of oak in stock.
The boards are some I milled myself around 2 years ago. This is the first of the boards that I have sanded up and I am very very pleased with the results. Ok some of the boards have warped a little, but there is next to no splitting and I can fix slight warping a lot easier than big cracks.
I initially started to plane the board with the chainsaw, it had warped whilst drying. (I am still learning about seasoning timber) this works well on green timber but found that it is quite hard going when the timber is dry, along with the fact I was working inside and there's only so much 2 stroke fumes you can inhale in one night. Time for plan B
I switched to the router to level the board up, Because the boards are 2" thick you get quite a bit of allowance for them warping.
Once the board is levelled with the router its time to bring out the sanders. I start with the belt sander and then the orbital working through the grits to around 400's to get a really nice smooth finish.
Its difficult to get into pictures the size, grain and character of this board. The pictures below don't really do it justice but give you a good idea.
I am off to shape & fit this board on Monday so as always I will keep you upto date with progress.
The customer had asked if I would have a piece of timber big enough to span the whole width and length of the top, it just so happens that I have some very large boards of oak in stock.
The boards are some I milled myself around 2 years ago. This is the first of the boards that I have sanded up and I am very very pleased with the results. Ok some of the boards have warped a little, but there is next to no splitting and I can fix slight warping a lot easier than big cracks.
I initially started to plane the board with the chainsaw, it had warped whilst drying. (I am still learning about seasoning timber) this works well on green timber but found that it is quite hard going when the timber is dry, along with the fact I was working inside and there's only so much 2 stroke fumes you can inhale in one night. Time for plan B
I switched to the router to level the board up, Because the boards are 2" thick you get quite a bit of allowance for them warping.
Once the board is levelled with the router its time to bring out the sanders. I start with the belt sander and then the orbital working through the grits to around 400's to get a really nice smooth finish.
Its difficult to get into pictures the size, grain and character of this board. The pictures below don't really do it justice but give you a good idea.
I am off to shape & fit this board on Monday so as always I will keep you upto date with progress.