Snap On Butcher Block Top

[zx9rgreen]

Has anyone made their on tops for their boxes? Something similar to the butcher block tops the makers sell. I was tossing around the idea with my neighbor about doing a top for my new box.......

I was thinking along the lines of like 1.5" maple top, stained with a blue tint, then varnished to match the box. The neighbor suggested using a varity of hardwoods to give it that WOW factor.

If any of you guys have made you own tops and have pictures, post them up please. Also, anyone with any ideas, suggestions, and input on dying (staining) wood with a blue tint would be great.


Steve

 

[kyleholmes]

Tons of stuff on the interwebs about doing this. not as easy as one may think!

http://www.extremehowto.com/xh/article.asp?article_id=60470

 

[jride200]

Prices here, http://www.toolboxtop.com/toolbox_top.html, are actually quite reasonable. Of course, the best way to find a butcher block would be to find an industrial surplus item and cut it to fit.

 

[blue dog]

I have never made my own, yet i have purchased a lot of stuff from this place
http://perfectplank.com/
there prices are very fair and delivery is quick. 10 purchases or so and never a bad experience.

 

[Keep]

I haven't made a box top, but I have made cutting boards. If you have a table saw, and a TON of clamps, make your own. You will need a lot of glue as well. But they will last forever.

 

[Stephenw]

An IKEA hardwood countertop will give you the most for your money...

http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/categories/departments/kitchen/10472/

 

[Jack Olsen]

Strange that this came up six months ago in a thread with exactly the same name. In any case, there's some good information in the old thread.

 

[Stick Figure]

I've done a cheapy MDF top for my HF combo's at home. I just used a couple coats of black stain and let is soak so that scratches wouldn't reveal raw wood unless the were really deep. Worked great. I haven't finished a top for my 722 yet, but i was thinking of just going with one of the IKEA table tops cut to size. Then again i have enough MDF left to make the top and it wouldn't cost me a thing.

 

[zx9rgreen]

Dang, you guys post quick....

I have a few advantages here, I'm about 200 yrds from a wood shop that builds high end doors and trim. My neighbor works their and can glue and piece the top together with scraps (i'm hoping). The Ikea setup seems really cheap and the way to go if they were only closer.

So maybe a little help with my original later question. Does any have any experience with dying wood? Looking for a how to and maybe some pictures. I think a top would look killer with a color match toned stain (not painted, but a color tone).

What do you guys think, Gaudy or good idea?

 

[TheGrooveking]

I know that Kennedy's butcher block tops are made with food grade finish on them, so you can use them as cutting boards in the kitchen. One of mine made its way to be in my wetbar in the basement for cutting lemons and such.

I had a custom end grain maple top made to cover one of the islands in my kitchen by Michigan Maple and their price was very reasonable. John Boos will also make custom sized, you just need to contact them.

TheGrooveking

 

[jake00]

What do you guys think, Gaudy or good idea?

I've made lots of BB counter tops at my work.

Maple generally stains like ****, but

def try it on some scrap pieces 1st. Make sure you're trying it on the edge grain as that is what will be the top of the block.

http://www.monocoat.us/products/interior/samples/?view=default
this company makes a 0 voc 1 coat floor finish in multiple colors, try the saphire

next best bet is getting a qt of stain mixed up, but that might run ya 20 bucks

 

[stevejh82]

Here's another thread on the subject: http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=68188

 

[csp]

So maybe a little help with my original later question. Does any have any experience with dying wood? Looking for a how to and maybe some pictures. I think a top would look killer with a color match toned stain (not painted, but a color tone).

Sounds like you're looking for an opaque stain instead of a dye.

I found some bowling alley pieces to use on top of a tool chest. Haven't done anything with them yet, though.