Materials
Macrocarpa slab - in this case with an uncut or ‘live’ edge to give the piece natural character once installed. 2.3m x 42mm x 600mm
180 grit sand paper
Jarrah stain and thinner
Bowmac Galvanised straps
Crafty Resin for filling holes in timber
Epoxy resin
Galvanised Steel support beam (made by a welder friend) - a strong and straight timber beam would also work.
External strength wood-glue
Tools
Ryobi finishing sander
Ryobi circular saw
Ryobi mitre saw
Ryobi jigsaw
Ryobi drill
Screwdriver
Paint roller and brushes
Rasp
Plane
Heat gun
Steps
Step 1
Select the location for your bar leaner and a timber slab that will fit in the space. In this case, the slab was to fit between 2 posts but that meant cutting the slab so the posts would be 'in' the timber - more on that later... Round the corners and sand with the finishing sander and 180 grit sandpaper
Step 2
Prepare the area where the leaner is to be installed and confirm all measurements. I had a welder friend make a galvanised steel support beam according to specs I provided but a solid timber beam would also work. The timber slab needs support to cover a 2 meter span and the steel or timber beam provides this...
Step 3
On the underside of the slab try different colors and finishes to ensure you'll be happy with the finished product and you're comfortable with the application. I chose Jarrah stain and high gloss epoxy resin.
Step 4
On the slab face side fill any holes with Crafty resin and apply the stain. The resin won't be applied until the slab is installed.
Step 5
Instal the slab by cutting slots for the posts to slide into. Keep the pieces removed as they both need to be glued back in once the slab is installed over and attached to the support beam. The galvanised straps are screwed in underneath to keep the slot pieces in place. Some timber strips are needed to fill the gaps left by the saw cuts.
Step 6
Apply the epoxy resin. This takes some practice. I needed to apply a sealer as an interface between the solvent-based stain and the epoxy resin. Touch-up any paint over-runs on the posts.
All done. Next steps; cabinet, bench and fridge on the wall side along with mood lighting over the leaner itself. And finally... some celebratory drinks with family and friends - we might sneak in some beforehand though:)
