Building a Butcher Block Table out of Scrap Wood

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Building a Butcher Block Table out of Scrap Wood

Рет қаралды 138,977

4 жыл бұрын

In this video I put together a Redwood butcher block table using irregular pieces of reclaimed wood. There are quite a few challenges encountered in the process of building the table and I experiment with a 2 part finish in the end. As with all my videos I try to thoroughly explain my process and methodology every step of the way. Redwood is a really beautiful wood and hopefully this design does it justice!
There is a bit of a story behind the vintage wood used for this table and it took me a several years to work through this whole process. Eventually a bunch of muddy, bug-eaten blocks became my new 3D printer table. Part 2 of this series covers how I designed, tested, and built the solid 3D printed legs for this butcher block top.
Here is a link to part 2 of this series on making the legs:
• Designing and Testing ...
Questions and comments are very much welcomed. I am a generalist and am not really a professional at any one given thing. If you have a pro opinion about something in the video, I would love to hear it!
I'm now on Patreon!!! The reward levels are very basic for the time being but I promise to bring merch and other perks in the near future.
/ the3dhandyman

Пікірлер: 103

@preshitamalhotra1267 Жыл бұрын

This table is really well designed. Every piece is clearly labeled, kzfaq.infoUgkxn94T8Mu1iMnsLCMNOI9srXSsLkI4JXKW and the instructions are perfectly displayed, so it's really hard to mess up the assembly. The hardware is likewise clearly labeled. If I had a power driver, assembly time would have been cut in half, but I didn't mind the light workout. My only qualm is that is that the lift top is wobbly in between its open and closed positions, but that's really a minor complaint. For the price, you really can't get much better than this, hence the five-star review. I use it primarily for my wireless mouse and keyboard so that I can use my PC from the couch. Storage is nice. I'm totally happy with this purchase.

@WarrickTaylor 4 жыл бұрын

Wow that table is gorgeous. The finish looks stunning and the contrast of the chrome metal legs works well with the wood. Great job!

@The3DHandyman 4 жыл бұрын

Thank you kindly!

@judichristopher4604 Жыл бұрын

This Table Top is SOOOOO BEAUTIFUL

@celestewilkins2886 Жыл бұрын

I've had the chance to use this table a couple of times now. It's fun to whip out in front of people:) I can see what people are talking about when they say the legs are delicate, but they're design to support a "mostly" vertical load, not be torqued from the side or pushed back into place. If you just let the table open or close on it's own and don't force anything, it works great kzfaq.infoUgkxyFZUPFEey-PuqsPMxqaykBhgA1LWxFHh Once it's set up, it's pretty solid. My only gripe would probably be related to the clamps provided. They're not the highest quality. They do the job, so no big deal, but they could be better. All in all, pretty cool gadget.

@willianssales7554 Жыл бұрын

Wow...I really enjoyed the whole job especially the different colours of the wooden scraps together. Congrats.

@interstellarkid5122 Жыл бұрын

I only can say that this is a work of art. And I also noticed that you have a huge amount of spare time, nobody would have such patience to build a countertop.

@The3DHandyman Жыл бұрын

Lol, yeah. Needless to say building butcher blocks is not my day job!

@kdibaba Жыл бұрын

The butcher block and the finish are a masterpiece.. 10/10. I hate the legs though 😢.

@The3DHandyman Жыл бұрын

Lol, everyone seems to. They were also awful to make! 10/10 would not recommend!

@WhoDissGuy 8 ай бұрын

Good God man! What a project. I have to say, even though I too am not a fan of the legs, the table top is absolutely stunning. Well done.

@Dan-mu3rq Жыл бұрын

This is an absolute brilliant method for a person like myself who only has the bare minimum equipment, I am building a butcher block chopping board out end grain out of odd lengths as wel, Thanks for the tips

@The3DHandyman Жыл бұрын

I bet it will turn out as well as this table did. Have fun!

@polekhatwellin8515 Ай бұрын

You did a great job! Enjoy the fruits of your labor for many years to come!

@Two_Bluebirds Жыл бұрын

That's incredibly beautiful! Congratulations!

@saucyonePR Жыл бұрын

Amazing video! Loved the narration and the product. Thanks for posting. Beautiful table!

@seanlorrainecallaghan756 Жыл бұрын

beautiful job!!!! Thanks for posting!

@scottrobertson9788 2 жыл бұрын

Looks incredible! Awesome work!

@judichristopher4604 Жыл бұрын

EXCELLENT VIDEO Not just about the content... of course that was GREAT The FILMING and EDITING was Amazing...

@The3DHandyman Жыл бұрын

Thank you, Judi!

@mlk08012 Жыл бұрын

That’s stunningly beautiful.

@The3DHandyman Жыл бұрын

Thank you!

@gottabighit1 Жыл бұрын

“At this stage, I might need to be committed” … My daughter and I just watched “The Shining” 45 minutes ago. I am LMAO … Great video, BTW.

@TH2007TH 4 жыл бұрын

Fun video! Cool idea with the scrap! You rock these projects with what seams like a small space, I’m impressed. A shop tour sometime would be cool!

@The3DHandyman 4 жыл бұрын

@TroyBoy Hairytoe Good idea! It's been added to the list of requests.

@jeff0rapp Жыл бұрын

Love it!

@bizzytexas7468 2 жыл бұрын

pure energy, pure genius!

@The3DHandyman 2 жыл бұрын

People often refer to me as "pure energy" lol

@MrKrueger88 2 жыл бұрын

Awesome talent and lateral thinking ... And an excellent finish 👍👍👍

@The3DHandyman 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks! I'm typing this comment from this table today. Still looking good years later

@micahroberts3564 7 ай бұрын

Awesome table top. Just glorious. But those table legs....

@TheMadMagician87 2 жыл бұрын

Looks great to me, hope you have been happy with it 👍

@The3DHandyman 2 жыл бұрын

I love it :)

@lewy_dm Жыл бұрын

Great job!

@The3DHandyman Жыл бұрын

Thanks!

@Shanonmcnab576 Жыл бұрын

Beautiful table, I don't know about the metal legs though. Wood legs would've finished it off better I think.

@The3DHandyman Жыл бұрын

Maybe I'll do another video on that some day. Until then the legs might be ugly, but they work, and that's good enough :)

@fredastaire6156 4 жыл бұрын

"if I accidentally drilled through the other side at this stage, I might need to be committed" ROFL >_< priceless!! Fantastic build!! I looks beautiful!

@The3DHandyman 4 жыл бұрын

I will keep the jokes coming!

@guybartlett9587 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks

@glennryzebol4472 2 жыл бұрын

I wouldn`t have used the oil and then the top coat myself but it sure turned out to be a beautiful table. Congrats. Informative video Thanks

@The3DHandyman 2 жыл бұрын

Yeah, I definitely wouldn't suggest it either. The look on the face of the guy at the woodworking store when I told him that I had put the oil on was priceless tho! Thanks for the comment

@artoriginswithkbrooksnartorg 4 жыл бұрын

Love the animation!

@splender88 2 жыл бұрын

It must feel great to produce such a work of art. You managed to accomplish this using patience a trait I wish I had more of.

@The3DHandyman 2 жыл бұрын

There were definitely some moments that I would have liked to have sped through, but couldn't due to one reason or another. Patience isn't easy, but it is worthwhile. Keep at it 👍

@JimBurch 2 жыл бұрын

"$25 for everything and it wouldn't sell" ... that wood would sell for $25 SO FAST right now

@The3DHandyman 2 жыл бұрын

Probably true! I was also trying to sell it in Atlanta where redwood isn't quite as hot of a seller. Oh well, now I'm typing up comments on all that gorgeous wood. Not complaining!

@meekaboi Жыл бұрын

That's insane. Those ready-made blocks would easily sell for $100+ in the DC area. Wood prices are all over the place.

@fahadhassan3839 6 ай бұрын

Good 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

@joelhenry4643 Жыл бұрын

Unbelievable great job?!!!!!!😅😮

@palmolella Жыл бұрын

bravo molto bello e raffinato

@The3DHandyman Жыл бұрын

Grazie mille!

@MistressOnyaCox Жыл бұрын

I Love your voice like #JoeFrank of woodworking 😍😍😍😍

@The3DHandyman Жыл бұрын

Lol. Blush.

@sethzaunbrecher6703 7 ай бұрын

Great video and result. Can you explain your planer’s dust collection setup? I have the same planer, but the collection is not very good.

@The3DHandyman 7 ай бұрын

I thought about making a video on that at some point. It was made before I started the channel. Basically its a curved wooden box with a plexiglass top. Inside the box there is a formed piece of fabric coated in a thick layer of epoxy resin. The whole thing creates a smooth chute for the chips to collect at the back where the dust collector port is. For the port I used a 4" pluming fitting that had a 45 degree angle in it. Hope that helps!

@BGP369 9 ай бұрын

ooof 3 months! Have you considered 2 coats of pure tung oil followed by the top coat sealer? feasibly done in 1-3 weeks max. Nice looking table by the way.

@The3DHandyman 9 ай бұрын

If I ever do another build like this, I'll keep that in mind. I had originally tried the technique in this video on wood veneer lamp shades to make the wood more pliable. It just didn't transfer all that well to the next project. As is, the finish on table still looks great after 4 years, so at least there is that! haha

@edition-deluxe 2 жыл бұрын

Love the top, hate the legs.

@The3DHandyman 2 жыл бұрын

You and everyone else, lol

@allanpennington 7 ай бұрын

Does it need that much glue? Is there anyway to cover it with less to achieve a good enough bond but not so much squeeze out?

@The3DHandyman 7 ай бұрын

Possibly but you might end up with voids. If the wood is more clean-cut you can probably get away with less or wipe it off before it dries.

@KelzCasa Жыл бұрын

One of the coolest videos I’ve ever watched! Your 3D animations to go with this is awesome! Beautiful table, and it’s a shame nobody would even take redwood. I’d kill for some of it here in Texas! 😂

@The3DHandyman Жыл бұрын

Thank you! I think the trouble with the redwood was that no one in Georgia knew they wanted it until they saw the finished table. Their loss, my gain! 👍

@aka_pcfx 4 жыл бұрын

That's a really nice looking table! Say, what program do you use for your animations? They look stunning as well.

@The3DHandyman 4 жыл бұрын

@fx Thank you kindly! My programs of choice are 3Ds Max and Redshift 3D for rendering. As I make more videos I want to get more crazy with the animations, add simulations and effects, etc. Maybe I make an entirely rendered video some day. Future is wild!

@aka_pcfx 4 жыл бұрын

@@The3DHandyman Looking forward to it

@cairolandyn1611 3 жыл бұрын

a tip : you can watch series at Flixzone. Me and my gf have been using it for watching all kinds of movies lately.

@reyanshdevin4104 3 жыл бұрын

@Cairo Landyn yea, I've been using flixzone for since december myself :D

@edhiestand1197 Жыл бұрын

Curious about your benchtop planer. Are you happy with the results and have you thought about upgrading to a spiral or helical cutter head benchtop? Have a bunch of similar scraps so appreciate the video. Thanks.

@The3DHandyman Жыл бұрын

The Delta 13" planer has been just ok. It did get a new gearbox a few years ago. There was no charge because it was still under warranty. I may have been at fault for making it work to hard. There are some chips out of the blades and the table underneath the cutting head flexes so board thickness is not consistent across the whole width of the device. I have to clamp a piece of melamine in there to make it a bit less flexible but then there aren't any side guards for to guide the wood pieces through the device. It was cheap and it's good enough for me. I can't say I use it enough to justify an upgrade to a nicer piece of equipment any time soon.

@jdkemsley7628 Жыл бұрын

How well are all the joints holding up a couple years later? Occasionally you see long glue joints split apart. But it's a damn beautiful table

@The3DHandyman Жыл бұрын

Thank you! So far it looks like the day I finished it. I used Titebond III waterproof glue, not sure if that helped. Redwood also has a relatively low shrinkage/expansion rate compared to other woods. I also oiled it and let it sit for months before finishing/applying weight.... one or all of these things contributed to it's stability. Hope that helps! lol

@seanp.kilgore7648 Жыл бұрын

So I'm planning a similar project out of black walnut. My concern is wood movement and cross-grain glue ups. How has the table handled the changing of the seasons?

@The3DHandyman Жыл бұрын

After about 3 years, it's still as smooth as the day I made it. You may want to let it set for a while before doing the final sand and finish if you have the time.... but then again, I'm not a very experienced woodworker, so you may find better info elsewhere :)

@jeffreyjbyron 3 ай бұрын

This looks amazing, it's 100% redwood? I've been told not to make butcher blocks of redwood, but I love the way it looks. Too soft?

@The3DHandyman 3 ай бұрын

Thanks! It's 100% redwood. It is fairly soft, so dropping things on it will definitely leave a mark... but that just adds character or something. If you covered the top in epoxy that would solve the softness issue.

@jeffreyjbyron 3 ай бұрын

@@The3DHandyman Has it held up well for 4 years? I made a kitchen island out of doug fir and it's been fine, but I assumed since doug fir is used for floring, it should be hard enough for furniture. Then I looked and saw tight-grain redwood (not construction redwood) is about the same hardness as fir.

@The3DHandyman 3 ай бұрын

@@jeffreyjbyron It's got some dents in it, for sure. Most of the dents are from moving it from house to house over the last few years. Otherwise, it's held up well. Not that it's an ideal look for everyone, but if you coated it in epoxy, it would be a lot more resilient.

@jeffreyjbyron 3 ай бұрын

@@The3DHandyman Sometimes I love the way epoxy looks. Most of the time it's too "definitive" for me. I like to have the option of easily re-finishing in the future so I usually stick with oils and waxes. I'm building a huge redwood table right now, and I'm tempted to do an epoxy pour, but I think it would be extremely hard and expensive. Everyone tells me to avoid building with redwood, but here in norcal, we have so much of it, and actually like the way it wears. I especially like how it wears when it's outside for a decade.

@The3DHandyman 2 ай бұрын

@@jeffreyjbyron It is a beautiful wood. I think you are right to stick with the oiled approach.

@jlinkels 2 жыл бұрын

It is nice work. But why the high speed playback. Is woodworking all about speed?

@The3DHandyman 2 жыл бұрын

I suppose this was one of my first videos and I wasn't sure what to show and I ended up showing all of it. Watch percentage is a huge part of the algorithm that decides what videos are popular and short videos almost always win. I try to do things a little differently these days. It's a learning process :)

@Yoursoul101 4 жыл бұрын

3 MONTHS of soaking?!?!?!?! holy crap

@The3DHandyman 4 жыл бұрын

I can't say I would recommend anyone else do it the same way! Haha. Hopefully the color will stay better over time as a result of the 2 part coating but it will take 20 years to find out.

@zx1701 Жыл бұрын

Looks great! Question: since you have small pieces of wood without any reinforcement underneath, is it not possible for the wood to break where you've glued them together? Asking because I'm about to do the same but not sure if glue will be enough for a computer desk.

@The3DHandyman Жыл бұрын

Thanks! If I were to body slam the table it might split in half. I am currently using this table as my computer desk and it is working nicely. Due to the size of the table, my 60lb PC is sitting right over the legs and for the last year an a half. There has been no signs of structural issues with the table. If you want to configure it differently, you way want to reinforce it is some way. Another thought... I also use a lot of wood chunks that have the grain running vertically through the table. This makes it more structurally weak than the fact that it is made from chunks. If the grain is running horizontally through the piece it will be much stronger, possibly as strong as solid boards, especially if they are 2in thick. Hope that helps!

@zx1701 Жыл бұрын

@@The3DHandyman Thank you. Very helpful. I'm thinking I might run a groove underneath using a router and put a long piece of wood there to reinforce it.

@The3DHandyman Жыл бұрын

@@zx1701 Any time! Reinforcement is a good idea but... you may want to use the exact same kind of wood for the reinforcement as you do for the top side OR a wood that has a similar tangential or radial shrinkage rate that is matched with the top of the table's predominant grain direction. On my desk project I used maple for the top and Baltic Birch plywood for the underlay. The Maple planks on the top shrink and expand at a different rate than the Birch. This caused the Maple planks to split apart when humidity dropped during the winter. Check out the wood database to find something that might work best. www.wood-database.com/wood-filter/ I'm no expert woodworker. Because of this particular issue I decided not to reinforce the redwood table at all, just make it really thick instead and alternate grain patterns. Redwood also happens to have very low shrinkage rates compared to other woods which may have helped with this issue. It might help to talk with someone at Rockler or Woodcraft (if you have one in your area) about this concept to before getting started.

@zx1701 Жыл бұрын

@@The3DHandyman Great advice! I'll do that. In fact I might just use a metal plate instead as it will be easier to install that. Thank you very much!

@The3DHandyman Жыл бұрын

@@zx1701 If you put oversized holes in the metal plate for the screws (washers+pan head screws) then the wood will be able to expand and contract while the metal stays a constant size. Just an idea. Good luck with the project!