Ikea bench tops

[My Old Tools]

Ok, they call them countertops, but they are bench tops to me. I bought 3 of the 96"x25" beech butcher block tops. They are 1 1/8" thick. They come oiled, but a bit dry. I oiled them with Tried and True varnish oil and waxed them with Johnson's. I'm sure they won't stay pretty, but they can start out that way. They appear to be heavy and solid. The wood is beech, finger jointed, one side a bit better than the other.

The Ikea shopping experience is the most frustrating I have ever seen. There is one way in and one way out. In between is a marked trail past every item in the store across two warehouse sized floors. I got so pissed trying to find the exit that I made an employee walk me out. I don't know what would happen in a fire, but in my opinion people would die. If you want something, order it online for store pickup and head directly to the returns and pickup area. Don't enter the mousetrap maze.

 

[rodsnratfinks]

Pics/price?

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[Vegaman_Dan]

Ikea is very good at managing the traffic flow of customers to get you to see every part of the store and its offerings. There are shortcuts if you know where to look for them that will get you between some of the interior walls. Even then, it's always a long walk to get anywhere.

The butcher block tops are pretty darn nice. They should do you well in your shop.

 

[My Old Tools]

They are $169 each. Birch is $139. Pics soon.

 

[Hammer1963]

I have them on all my tool cabs. Great price vs Snap-on.

 

[srmofo]

You can just walk to the warehouse portion and avoid all the BS. My complaint is that if I'm going for a coffee table, they don't have a coffee table aisle. I have to walk the whole store to see what they offer.

 

[gerryw]

Length was perfect fit for a top on my classic 96( 73"??), just had to cut for proper depth.
Very pleased
And yes ikea can be a pia

Gerry

 

[PT Doc]

There are places where you can deviate from the path and take a short cut.

 

[404]

The Ikea shopping experience is the most frustrating I have ever seen. There is one way in and one way out. In between is a marked trail past every item in the store across two warehouse sized floors. I got so pissed trying to find the exit that I made an employee walk me out. I don't know what would happen in a fire, but in my opinion people would die. If you want something, order it online for store pickup and head directly to the returns and pickup area. Don't enter the mousetrap maze.

Fantastic post. . Did you try the Swedish meatballs in the cafeteria?

 

[lotsoftools]

I hate IKEA. I'm going to try this

the next time I go with the wife, maybe it will make it go faster.

 

[User_Name]

My local Ikea has a separate warehouse location for oversize items. Pay at the store but drive a quarter mile to pick the countertops up. It works out a lot better since the secondary warehouse has a much smaller lot with no more than 2 or 3 people there at any time.

The last time I was in Ikea was a Saturday morning when it wasn't yet packed. Overheard a guy, late 20's, ragging his wife for dragging his *** out there for a 2 hour spree that was supposed to take 20 minutes. Credit to the guy for giving voice to almost every man in there.

 

[LS6 Tommy]

IKEA cutting mats make great low-buck rally car mud flaps...

Tommy

 

[Regnar]

They also have the best door mats for a wood/metal working workshop. These things will clean the bottom of your shoes and hold in the dust and metal shavings so you dont track it through the house.

http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/10292263/

 

[Jack Olsen]

Ikea is hell to walk through. But I've got two of my benches covered with their butcher block and they've worked out great. I stained and varnished mine. They've got plenty of patina now, but still look as good as anything else in the shop.

This was a big enough piece to use as a kind of 'center island.'

I rounded the corners on this one and cut a little inset for where I sit:

 

[joel63]

Ikea is hell to walk through. But I've got two of my benches covered with their butcher block and they've worked out great. I stained and varnished mine. They've got plenty of patina now, but still look as good as anything else in the shop.

This was a big enough piece to use as a kind of 'center island.'

I rounded the corners on this one and cut a little inset for where I sit:

Very nice set up.

 

[Mgnu]

Any thoughts on how to join two of these together? I'm thinking they would make a great tabletop for our pool table (which is never used for pool and is a catchall for **** ALL the time).

 

[Showkey]

^^^^^^^^^^^^^

You could just glue the factory edges. Using wood glue, dowels or biscuits would optional.

Remove the finish for both edges. You will have judge the condtions of the edges. If there square it's possible just glue them. You could rip the edges on a table saw. Depending on the blade, saw and operator skill the sawn edges could be glued as is. You could hand finsh the edges before glueing or prepare the edge on a jointer but that could be very awkward.

If your careful in glueing and alignment very little or no surfacing or sanding fo the joined top would be needed.

If you do not have large clamps for the job. Glue and pockets screws could be used.

If you want to be able to remove the top on pieces. Pegs or dowels dry with no glue would be another option.

 

[Trey T]

...

The Ikea shopping experience is the most frustrating I have ever seen. There is one way in and one way out. In between is a marked trail past every item in the store across two warehouse sized floors. I got so pissed trying to find the exit that I made an employee walk me out. I don't know what would happen in a fire, but in my opinion people would die. If you want something, order it online for store pickup and head directly to the returns and pickup area. Don't enter the mousetrap maze.

Lol... you are too old to understand today's generation people, my generation that is.

Next time, enter from their EXIT and start your shopping from there to avoid the maze.

 

[kelpaso1]

I hate IKEA. I'm going to try this

the next time I go with the wife, maybe it will make it go faster.

 

[Krash Kadillak]

I bought the 60x30 size to use as desk / hobby bench top. With their adjustable legs, I have it at standing height right now. Still haven't oiled it yet.....

I'm used to Ikea by now. I do get a bit frustrated having to walk through the whole store to find a restroom, though.

 

[404]

I bought the 60x30 size to use as desk / hobby bench top. With their adjustable legs, I have it at standing height right now. Still haven't oiled it yet.....

I'm used to Ikea by now. I do get a bit frustrated having to walk through the whole store to find a restroom, though.

Ikea has tried to seal the lids on the toilets in the display area, but I am pleased to report that these seals can be overcome, so you may relive your self as needed.

 

[Mgnu]

^^^^^^^^^^^^^

You could just glue the factory edges. Using wood glue, dowels or biscuits would optional.

.......


If you want to be able to remove the top on pieces. Pegs or dowels dry with no glue would be another option.

Thank you for the thoughts! I hadn't considered the dowels and leaving them dry. Being able to take the table top off in sections to store under the bed is a plus.

I shall attempt this project and post pics when it isn't so damn hot here (PHX).

Any thoughts on padding on the bottom of the butcher block sections so as not to mat the felt top of the pool table?



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[capww8]

For those of you that can't stand IKEA (as I can't), Lumber Liquidators and Floor & Decor outlet also have similar factory butcher block chunks available in 8' x 24", 12' x 24", and 3' x 6', in a number of species.

I just did walnut butcher block in our kitchen, and it turned out pretty great.

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I had to make three joints in the large L shaped counter. Because it would look like **** if it moved, I joined and aligned them using a Festool Domino, and screwed them to a common piece of 3/4 BB Ply. I also applied a 2" piece of walnut to the leading edge of the countertop to make them look a little beefier, and to disguise the joints further.

Please excuse the clutter, and the unfinished wall / cabinet ends... we're still wrapping things up in here.

I think it's worth noting that these things have only one finished side... if you scribe it with the wrong side up, you're going to be unhappy. Ask me how I know.