Thread: Building a bar

Dingo,

Have a look at some of these plans. You may not want to buy 'em but might give you some ideas.

http://www.barplan.com/

http://www.precision-images.com/?gcl...FTOrLAodGW-aNA

http://www.bar-gear.com/

Hope when you begin you'll share pics as I'd like to build one myself someday (when all the other Do List items are done ).

So have you made a bar?
Yep... and currently makin another one... MkII

If so how did you do it?
With wood and tools aye
Basically a L shaped frame work(2 piece) made with 1/2 lap joints, raised panels and pillars for the uprights to hold the top up the tenders deck just sits on the frame work.(all crapiarta)

What probs did you incur?
Making each of the pillars on the 45deg corner... mitre joins 1000mm long combined with 22.5deg to match flush against the panels!
One hell of a big job to sand.

What would you avoid if you were to do it again?
Under quoting my price... checked out a price on a similar pro job... I charged 75% less for my Mk1 bar!(aussie leaning post, in the pic thread). This current bar being made Im still charging about 25% of what I should be... but Im not dependent on this for a living, trying to make a good reputation for myself so I can maybe turn full time pro one day!

What timbers would you recommend for the top peice and the front sections?
Thats a personal choice and depends on the room its going in.
If I was building one for myself Id build it like a modern kitchen(built in...), use WR melamine for the carcass with face frame, install a sink(wet bar)with tap add some proper beer taps.
All shelfs be pullout draws on full extension runners will raised panel fronts(like the bar Im doing now)
The outer would be raised panels and pillars.
I personly dont like bars with a overhead cabinet seems to feel/look top heavy and from the 1970's, instead I would gyprock the bar's shape hanging down from the ceiling say 200mm and install dimable downlights(show off that nice wood/stone top).
Allow for a full size fridge inbuilt of course with a false/cover door and a mirrored spirits dispenser rack that proudly displays "Harrys Bar", inbuilt audio system with all room controls!(lights TV etc)
And the obvious matching... swivel top bar stools.
All that sounds pretty fancy aye!

Would you build it in sections or in one peice?
Depends on size and shape

Were would you find plans for a bar?... other than a straight forward one that is
Plans what are they... Make what fits!


1 thing to remember like chairs and tables
A bar is a personal thing, while at a bar you continually touch it!

Thanks for the links Bob

Harry very thourough ol son thank you!

I was sorta wondering about that overhead bit... sorta bothered me a tad... aaahhh so looking at those links I see the errors of me ways! gotta make a flamin great sideboard thingy!! dduuuuhhh I shoulda known that!

So now Ive had a real close look at this Jarrah Ive got Im thinking making the face with that as the grains spectacular... boards upright or long ways? doesnt matter much I guess as theyre about 15 or so foot long... next Im thinking of cutting a length of Tuart I turned awhile back in half longways and using that on the front corners (will have to turn another peice for the other corners but thats okay cause I love my lathe! ) then a nice large plank of Banksia for the server bar (tenders deck or wet bar? anyway where the barman (me) stands and preps the drunks eerr drinks ) cut out for sink is a good idea was plannin on just handin the dirty glasses to her bloody highness to whack in the dishwasher thingy... mmm may make for happier highness eh? okay I can go with that!

Im not sure if Id want to go with sliding drawers and doors on the tenders side of things... this is intended for the shed with occasional forays out to the barbie area... mmm so it better be on hidden wheels eh... else how the blazes will I get it back inside when Im clissed as a plicket eh? so yep hidden wheels with brakes!

So Im thinking a good one but not overly flash... not rough as guts but not knobsville either

So timbers Im pretty certain I'll go with are
Jarrah... front and sides
Tuart... corner features
Banksia... tenders bar
Sheoak... drunks eerr drinks bar edging and footrail
Im presently thinking a peice of something different for the actual drinks bar iteself as this should be around 8in wide but nothing spectacular has struck me yet
The carcass itself Im thinking Jarrah as well since Ive got shyteloads of the stuff or I could just use some of the Kapur thats rather boring timber and just taking up space at present is hard as hell and heavy as buggary so would take the weight of the Jarrah and Banksia boards

Additionals
Sink (want a wet bar now to stay in the good books! Im fed up with the dog house as I dont even have a friggin dog!)
Keg storage and taps
Spirits dispenser
Fridge area

What else? power points? lights? music? obligatory dart board which I dont play??

I will be doing this with a mining theme so Ive got about a dozen miners hardhats (both above ground and underground) to choose from and have my tags from various mines Ive worked on.. Im planning on getting hold of a buggared self rescuer and cap lamp and will frame a pair of overalls (grotty of course!) trying to figure out how to make the hardhats stay put on the front has got me thinkin... but plenty of time for that when its done...

But back to the bar!!

thanks for the suggestions and contributions fellas!

"Im not sure if Id want to go with sliding drawers and doors on the tenders side of things"

There is reasoning behind this, my bar carcass are 500mm deep to reach the back of a shelf your going be on your knees and then if theres bottles stored grabing a bottle from the back is a PITA, on a slide out shelf its presented to you no bending needed. On full extension runners ensures its nice and smooth, normal kitchen runners are too jerky... not good for tall glass bottles/glasses standing up.

Okay!!!!!!!!!! whahoooooooooo with my bung knees that would be bloody brilliant! Okay so now Ive got slide out draw shelves what else can you pursuade me I must have?

Hey Shane, hows about from the top of the glass racks to the ceiling you make some glazed frames with lights behind and "Shanes Bar" or "No Free Beer" or "No Poms Allowed" in lead light? I mean, I can get you all the glass and ####
Stewie

Sorry, and stuff.

"pursuade me I must have?"

Keep'er stocked up... the Perthites might pop around one day!

Originally Posted by Harry72

"pursuade me I must have?"

Keep'er stocked up... the Perthites might pop around one day!

Yep I live in hope eh!

Stewie Im okay as far as woodbutcherin goes and soso with fixin things but comes to leadlight glass and shyte mate I dont its sorta like lectrisity roses bouganvillia to me magnitizes me blood to leave me body!! :eek:

But then again... one with router and pentograph can always route the sign then veneer it eh?!