Blog Post: "Crafting a Countertop Tonight: My Woodworking Way

I’ve been building countertops out of wood for years—every one in this house, and the last one too, all handcrafted with sweat and sawdust. Tonight, I tackled another, and it felt good to get back to the workbench, with our trusty chocolate Lab, Denali, right by my side. With bear season six weeks out (April 28, 2025, Manitoba’s black bears are calling), I need a clear space to prep my Mathews Tactic and gear. So, I hit the lumber yard, grabbed some 2x6 spruce, and brought it home to make magic—with Denali sniffing around the whole time.
First, I measured the countertop spot—25 1/2 inches deep by 31 inches long. Gave myself a little extra, so I cut the 2x6s into 32-inch lengths with my circular saw, nice and square, while Denali watched like my unofficial supervisor. Then, I hauled ‘em to the table saw. Ripped each one to 5 1/8 inches wide, shaving off those rounded edges to get clean, flat surfaces for lamination. Took some focus—those blades don’t mess around, and Denali stayed clear but curious.
Down in the basement—our workspace ‘til we build a proper garage in the future—I laid ‘em out. Checked the crown, bow, and grain pattern—gotta match ‘em right or it’ll warp. Denali sniffed each piece as I worked. Once they lined up, I slathered on wood glue, pressed ‘em tight, and clamped ‘em with long bar clamps. To keep the lamination from twisting, I stacked the plates from our workout equipment on top—worked like a charm, with Denali sprawled out nearby. That’s all I’m doing tonight, but tomorrow, I’ll power plane the top to level it, belt sand it flat, then hit it with an orbital sander for the perfect finish while chamfering the edges to avoid any sharp corners. Before it gets stained, I’ll cut it to the perfect 31-inch length with nice square cuts on both ends—gotta look clean. My wife will stain it to match the rest, and I’ll install it after. It’s gonna be the base for our little coffee bar, a sweet spot for morning brews, and it’ll sit pretty next to the others.
This kind of work takes steady hands, especially after a long day. I popped a 3mg ALP pouch under my lip—keeps me sharp without the jitters, no smoke clogging the basement. Grab some with my code at https://alppouch.com/BUSHMASTER—they’re my go-to for the grind. I’ll be back with more soon—stay tuned.

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