beakie
Well-known member
This is a project I was asked to build for a girl I work with. She helped the wife and I when our 3rd boy arrived with some freebies that were rather valuable. I told her if she wanted any work done just name it. she paid for materials, labour and all else was on me.
Her request started with a picture of what she wanted, I advised a few modifications, and then it was all on me.
I chose Hard Maple for the counter top, and Poplar for the base. Maple would receive a few coats of Tung oil, Poplar would be painted a colour of her choosing (still waiting for that obviously)
Legs and top stretchers are all notched/slotted and jointed together, friction & glue, no screws and even without the shelving supports it is very solid.
Shelving supports are simply pocket hole screwed to the legs with glue also added.
Bottom shelf boards are not attached (correction center board is pocket hole screwed from below), so they can be slipped into place after bolting island to the floor.
The outer boards will have a visible gap from above like the shelf above it, however there is a strip of wood (like a reverse board & batton idea) which will tuck under the center board. This way nothing will "dissappear" into neverland, and they can be lifted to access underneith if ever the need arises.
The outlet is to replace the one her old mdf island had. The legs on the seating area side are both hollow. Mortised into the leg for the outlet box & romex will feed up the leg. I hollowed the 2nd leg in case she wanted an outlet on either side, but she's content with just the one.
Top is 1 1/4" thick, has 2 coats of Tung oil topside, waiting a week before a light sanding and addition of a 3rd and final coat. Bottom has 1 coat and will get a 2nd/final sometime this week. Breadboard ends are mortise & tenoned with 3 large tenons, dowels holding the ends on and holes elongated to allow seasonal expansion. Center tenon is cut into 3 with the center section glued, outer pieces doweled aswell. Top is held on with some figure 8's from LeeValley, simple effective and allow for seasonal movemeny without being overly intrusive (although they are the only easily visible screws)
Anyway, many pics, I'll add them in order of the build process, may take a few posts.
first rough look @ size & shape with top boards sitting in place.
Her request started with a picture of what she wanted, I advised a few modifications, and then it was all on me.
I chose Hard Maple for the counter top, and Poplar for the base. Maple would receive a few coats of Tung oil, Poplar would be painted a colour of her choosing (still waiting for that obviously)
Legs and top stretchers are all notched/slotted and jointed together, friction & glue, no screws and even without the shelving supports it is very solid.
Shelving supports are simply pocket hole screwed to the legs with glue also added.
Bottom shelf boards are not attached (correction center board is pocket hole screwed from below), so they can be slipped into place after bolting island to the floor.
The outer boards will have a visible gap from above like the shelf above it, however there is a strip of wood (like a reverse board & batton idea) which will tuck under the center board. This way nothing will "dissappear" into neverland, and they can be lifted to access underneith if ever the need arises.
The outlet is to replace the one her old mdf island had. The legs on the seating area side are both hollow. Mortised into the leg for the outlet box & romex will feed up the leg. I hollowed the 2nd leg in case she wanted an outlet on either side, but she's content with just the one.
Top is 1 1/4" thick, has 2 coats of Tung oil topside, waiting a week before a light sanding and addition of a 3rd and final coat. Bottom has 1 coat and will get a 2nd/final sometime this week. Breadboard ends are mortise & tenoned with 3 large tenons, dowels holding the ends on and holes elongated to allow seasonal expansion. Center tenon is cut into 3 with the center section glued, outer pieces doweled aswell. Top is held on with some figure 8's from LeeValley, simple effective and allow for seasonal movemeny without being overly intrusive (although they are the only easily visible screws)
Anyway, many pics, I'll add them in order of the build process, may take a few posts.
first rough look @ size & shape with top boards sitting in place.
