kitchen island/breakfast bar

[Chuck Ward]

Can somebody give me some input on a breakfast bar/ kitchen island

[Art S. Hamilton]

Hi, Chuck


Well...if you decide to talk yourself into topping it with natural wood, try to remember that regular maintenance
is part of the package. Same for concrete.

If you're going to choose maple, here's what my wife and I just did. We pocket-holed a gridwork of 3/4 spruce
to the top of the frames (which were 2 x 4's). When I say pocket-holed, I always mean with glue added. To
the top of the grid, we glued and screwed 3/4 maple plywood with Bulldog PL400. To the top of that we made
up tongue and groove rock malple strips which were 2 1/4 wide. We used the PL400 and 1-1/4 FINE Kreg
screws, screwed up from the bottom, lots and lots of them. After letting the adhesive cure for three days, we
random orbit sanded with 40 grit for about six hours, then 60 grit for three hours, then 150, then 320. Then
we used a warmed cocktail of beeswax and food-safe mineral oil, and pooled it on. It absorbed 500 ml
immediately. A day later, same again, and this continued for four applications, using slightly less oil each
time. Fourth application used up the last of three 500 ml bottles. Then you wait a week, do it again each
week for four weeks, then once a month...forever. The beeswax drops out of the equation after the first
four applications.

Sound crazy? Well, visitors think it's kinda nice and so do we. You can buff up the wax with a car
polisher, because your beautiful 320 grit finish disappears with the oil as it raises the fibers.

If this sounds certifiably nuts, then at least you are informed. We found no internet guidance, we just
decided what we wanted, and what we were willing to maintain, then followed oiling recommendations for
butcher block (end grain up) tops.

Regards,
Art

[DAVID CZUPRYN]

Hi,Chuck. I get requests,now and then,for a kitchen island.First thing,I suggest is deciding where they want it,and what size they want it to be.Then I tell them to cut out a cardboard templet matching whatever size they've chosen,and tape it to the floor where the island will be installed. I advise them to leave it there for at least one week,and pretend it's a real island. Don't walk over it at any time,rather walk around it,as if it really exists. If after that,they find it comfortable,then proceed to design.You'de be surprized how manny people decide to abandon the project,because there kitchen isn't big enough to support an island. Have more to add later.Does this help you at all? Please,let me know. Dave

[Chuck Ward]

David, thanks. I will try that and see what I come up with.

DAVID CZUPRYN said:

Hi,Chuck. I get requests,now and then,for a kitchen island.First thing,I suggest is deciding where they want it,and what size they want it to be.Then I tell them to cut out a cardboard templet matching whatever size they've chosen,and tape it to the floor where the island will be installed. I advise them to leave it there for at least one week,and pretend it's a real island. Don't walk over it at any time,rather walk around it,as if it really exists. If after that,they find it comfortable,then proceed to design.You'de be surprized how manny people decide to abandon the project,because there kitchen isn't big enough to support an island. Have more to add later.Does this help you at all? Please,let me know. Dave