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  1. #1
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    Jun 2010
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    Default Redgum kitchen benchtop

    Only took a year to finally get made! Just under 5-1/2 metres long.

    The timber was bought from Danielveld last year, I believe it was first purchased from Mapleman. All quarter sawn with some boards showing beautiful quilting.

    Initial plank sizing was done with normal power tools but the final jointing was performed by hand using a Stanley 7. The planks were joined in situ using biscuits & Titebond III then the whole lot was hand planed smooth and finished by scraping. Finish is a Hard Burnished Oil finish to 1200 grit.

    Next time I'm home I'll be fitting the splashbacks and kickboards, then I guess I'll have to think about making the benchtop for the other side of the kitchen!

    My apologies for two pics being on their side but I'm blowed if I can work out how to rotate them.

    DSCF0007.jpgDSCF0009.jpgDSCF0010.jpg

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  3. #2
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    Jan 2014
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    Sydney Upper North Shore
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    Default

    That is one beautiful bench top - totally jealous..I'm not going to show SHMBO because that will be my next task

  4. #3
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    Default

    It was a handy way to sneak in new toys; we were quoted >$8k for one to be made by a specialist firm and the love of my life asked the fatal question "you can make one cheaper than that; can't you?"

    The materials only cost me about $500. Then there was a couple of grand spent on a new spiral headed thicknesser, TC inserts for it, new blades for the jointer and a couple of planes that came up on E-bay...

  5. #4
    Join Date
    Aug 2008
    Location
    Melbourne
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    Default

    Nice job

    $8k?!?!? Clearly I'm working for the wrong people
    That has "go away, we can't be bothered" written all over it; it should be no more than a day's work for a properly equipped joinery shop, not including drying time.

  6. #5
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    Aug 2010
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    Default

    That looks fantastic!
    Would you set yourself a reminder to repeat the photos in 12 months from now, please?
    I have had (and described here) very bad experiences with redgum benchtops. I'd love to know if it was just my redgum or my joinery....
    Cheers,
    Joe
    9"thicknesser/planer, 12" bench saw, 2Hp Dusty, 5/8" Drill press, 10" Makita drop saw, 2Hp Makita outer, the usual power tools and carpentry hand tools...

  7. #6
    Join Date
    Aug 2007
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    Melbourne
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    Default

    Looks beautiful.

    Regards,

    Rob

  8. #7
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    Jun 2010
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    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by jhovel View Post
    I have had (and described here) very bad experiences with redgum benchtops. I'd love to know if it was just my redgum or my joinery....
    Hi Joe; when I put up my first post regarding suitable glues and finishes you related your experience with the 1/2" gaps opening up so I was somewhat concerned that I may have doomed myself to failure from the start with this project. However; I knew the timber was quarter sawn and had been drying for two years before I bought it so I took the risk.

    I have to make another section yet 2-1/2m long for the other side of the kitchen where the cooktop lives; with my usual rate of progress that probably won't be until November-ish so when those pics get put up I'll do a recap on the main section and let you know how it has coped so far.

  9. #8
    Join Date
    Apr 2016
    Location
    Mooroopna, Victoria, Australia
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    Default

    Great looking top. Well done. I am interested to see how the joints go as I make red gums tops and work and seldom see them installed, let alone hear how they are 12 months later. Once again, great job.

  10. #9
    Join Date
    Nov 2007
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    Dundowran Beach
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    Thumbs up

    Something to be really proud of!!

    What a grea way to start the day with a view of that!

  11. #10
    Join Date
    Aug 2012
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    central coast nsw.
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    Default

    Shirley you cant be serious? A days work?

  12. #11
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    Default

    I'd say Elan's probably right in his estimate as the professional ones were all made from finger jointed planks; once machined they could be glued up in one go using polyurethane. Once that lot was dry the whole slab would then be properly dimensioned, put through a wide belt sander and then sprayed with a thick layer of two-pack poly varnish. Start on Monday morning, pack up & ship to customer by Wednesday arvo at the latest.

    Of course, professional ones scream "factory made" whereas mine strongly suggests that the maker was incredibly fortunate enough to have sentient timber that earnestly desired to be co-operative, rather than hinting at any real skills or capabilities.

  13. #12
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    Default

    I reckon I could do it in a day at work (spread over 2 days to allow for glue drying). No end-to-end finger joins either where I am, it'd be full length boards being dragged around by hand.

    Square dress: 2 hrs max.
    Layup and grain matching: 30 mins
    Glue-joint profile on the spindle moulder: 1 hr including setup
    Glue and clamp: 30 mins
    Wide-belt sander to 180 grit: 30-45 mins, plus 15 mins to 240 grit
    Trim to size: 30 mins for square cuts, add another 60-90 mins for the curved end, cutout around the wall and sink
    2mm radius all over: 15 mins
    Orbital and hand sanding to all seen edges and top to 180: 1 hour, +15-30 mins to 240

    Total of 7-8 hours, plus 3-4 hours for a second person at various points to help with feeding and moving things around.

  14. #13
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    Nov 2007
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    Cool

    I could have used some of that there sentient timber to do my second cupboard top!!!

  15. #14
    Join Date
    Nov 2004
    Location
    Redlands area, Brisbane
    Posts
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    Default

    Awesome job Chief! I would love to know how the HBO finish holds up on a kitchen bench over time and how much maintenance it needs.

    I'm thinking of something similar for a kitchen renovation but I have a (literal) ton of Cherry that could be used.

  16. #15
    Join Date
    Sep 2006
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    Behind that little door under the thicknesser...
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    644

    Default

    The burnishing oil lasts just fine. Though I feed our river red gum benchtops each year with a beeswax polish just to be kind to them.

    They do darken in time too. Ours is 4 years old... maybe?

    The titebond glue has held up nicely in ours! Home made as well but not quite to the same standard of finish as the OP's!



    Still have to do the laundry one...
    Ours is not to reason why.....only to point and giggle.

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