Table Top

DaveRichardson

Odd question.... Anyone ever use hardwood, the real stuff, flooring to make a table top? I've got an opportunity to get some free 5/4 oak flooring for free and the idea of using it for a table top came to mind.

What do you all think? It'd be the typical stain and spar poly treatment that I know we all love.

theyolksonyou

I'd say go for it. It'd be interesting and can't beat the price. You could even get creative with the layout if you have enough.

DaveRichardson

Was thinking of running it they the tsble saw and taking off the tongue and groove so they'd be regular boards. Better for drainage and stability than if I did a mono-slab!

Hawg Fan

That's a great idea. I'd keep the T&G, and glue and nail every joint to a precut piece of marine plywood, trim the edges and seal the wood with the outdoor polyurethane. Just an idea.

DaveRichardson

I like the marine ply for a substrate! I might go with that!

RRP

I don't want to be a wet blanket, but I wouldn't do it unless the table will be covered. Oak is not a good exterior wood, though with 3 or more coats of good marine spar varnish it will hold up, but may need maintaince in the future.

Carolina Q

What kind of oak? White might work, but red is too porous and sucks up water like a sponge. Not sure what you have? Split off a sliver about the size of a pencil, put one end in a glass of water, then blow into it like a straw. If it's red oak, you will make bubbles. If white, the pores don't go all the way through so no bubbles.

Still, free is a great price!!

DaveRichardson

I'll do the straw trick this weekend to see which flavor it is. It's some older hardwood that's been sitting in a storage for 20+ years; climate controlled. I'll bet it's white...

It'll get at least 4 coats of spar on all sides no matter what it's species.

Only planning on this needing to last about 5 years. Will be going to a masonry outdoor kitchen by then; just gotta move to the country first!

henapple

It's free. If it last 4 years...poly, keep the tounge & groove. Water proof substrate. .

DaveRichardson

@henapple has spoken..... It will be done!

Gotta have some fun @ ya, buddy!

Thanks! I think I'll start in the next few weeks.

henapple

You'll have to figure a way to wrap the edges...maybe stainless steel L channel?

DaveRichardson

I was thinking about cutting at 45's and wrapping with more of the oak. Back braced, of course!

I have seen a stainless U-channel that I might use, but I'd have to plane down the top to keep it flush with the top....

Carolina Q

I wouldn't use a channel. Just something to trap water. How about a breadboard treatment?

DaveRichardson

Wow..... I'm a doctor, not Norm Abram!!!!

That's dang impressive,and way out of my skill set!

blasting

Could you just build your table out of oak, then get a more suitable top?  Granite, concrete, stainless, tile, corian etc.  Then you are taking advantage of the oak, but not giving yourself an ongoing maintenance problem.

Like henapple said, you could do it, knowing full well it isn't a permanent solution.  Personally, if I were going this route, I'd cut it off the t&g and put a low maintenance sealer on it, leaving a good 1/4" between boards - similar to building a deck.  Water's got to go somewhere.

As a lifelong woodworker, my table will be powder coated metal with a granite top.  Lately I'm all about zero maintenance.   

DaveRichardson

If I did cut the T&G off, that was my plan. And if I did that, I would then cut a curve on it to soften the table a bit. Legs would be darkly stained pine, with the oak lightly stained.

The powder coated would be amazing, but SWMBO'd kill me!

blasting

Good luck and have fun.  Looking forward to seeing some pics.