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Child Item

Timber bar top and shelf replacement

AntonT

🖼️

The project:

Some of you may remember helping me take the warp out of the slab I previously used for this bar. Well mango wood is a soft wood and ended being a poor choice for outside. So time to change it for a hardwood - I chose melaleuca.

- Materials:

Sandpaper

Lindseed Oil

Tape measure

Ruler

Pencil

Baton screws 14g x 70mm (depending on the slab)

- Tools:

Circular saw

Belt sander

Detail sander

Router (optional)

Drill and driver

- Step 1:

Measure and cut the shelf and cut the slab so it's square to the eye.
Use a belt sander with 80 grit sandpaper to get the slab smoothish
Detail sander with 150 grit to get a smooth finish
Rout the edges if you want a rounded finish. I didn't do this.
Use linseed oil made for outdoor use as directed. 2 coats recommended but I did 3.
Pre-drill the holes
Screw the top and shelf in place.
Grab a coffee

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Comments

MitchellMc

Great to see the update @AntonT ,

Melaleuca is a solid choice for outdoor use, and should hold up much better than the mango over time. Nice, straightforward process as well, and good call on the extra coat of oil for added protection.

How are you finding the finish so far, and have you noticed much difference in durability compared to the previous slab?

Thanks for sharing, always great to see projects evolve like this.

Mitchell

AntonT

Hi Mitchell.

I love the finish and the extra coat also brought out the grain more. I love the live edge and the oil makes it pop.

I can't comment on the durability yet as it's only been a few days.

Next up I'm replacing the seat chairs. Cutting circles is going to be fun. Bought a ryobi router for that job from Bunnings as my router is a little old and overused. Just deciding if I'm going to freehand it with the included circle cutting jig or run it through my Triton router table. Will run a few tests on that first.

MitchellMc

I've tried a few times to route circles, @AntonT. I tried creating a circle template and routing around it, but that allowed some movement, and it was hard to keep the router against the template. I then had much more success by creating a mount for the router, which gets screwed in the centre of the circle as a pivot point. I've got some really nice circles doing it that way. It might be similar to the template you're referencing, but I created a rendering below to illustrate.

Mitchell

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AntonT

Yes I like those templates. The ryobi router has a pin you screw into the wood and a bar the router attaches to. It does seem to loosen a bit so I'd need to make the circle larger to allow for extra routing to smooth the edges. Which is why I'm thinking the Triton table might be better. That holds the router in place and you move the wood on a pin to make the circle. Which in theory should not allow any movement but I'll have to test it.

I'll post the method and results when it's done.

MitchellMc

Can't wait to see, @AntonT! Keep us updated.

Mitchell

AntonT

So I decided to purchase a circle jig and waiting for it to arrive.

In the meanwhile I built a couple of dining benches out of raintree. One coat of Tung Oil at present. Will use 3 coats and beeswax. With the offcut I'll make 2 stools for the ends of the table.

Thought you might like a look.

EricL

Hello @AntonT

Thank you for sharing that extra picture of the benches you've built. They look very solid and I'm sure those extra coats of Tung oil will give it a wonderful finish.

Eric

AntonT

50% Gillys Tung Oil and 50% Gillys Lo Thin. Both from Bunnings. Very easy to apply and 1ltr goes a long way. Maybe used 100ml so far for both benches, one coat. Great products.

MitchellMc

Raintree has such a nice grain @AntonT, and that tung oil has brought out a lot of depth in the colours. Finishing with beeswax sounds like a good idea, as it will give it a softer sheen and a nice feel.

Mitchell