Final Touches on the Coffee Bar Countertop and Backsplash Tonight

I’ve been crafting wood countertops for years—our new 25.5x31in coffee bar base included—and tonight, I put the final touches on it down in the basement, with Denali, my trusty chocolate Lab girl, by my side. With bear season six weeks away (April 28, 2025, Manitoba’s black bears are stirring), I’m balancing home projects with prepping my Mathews Tactic. Here’s what I tackled tonight.
Step 1: Filling Cracks with Wood Filler

The spruce countertop had a few small cracks—nothing major, but they’d bug me. I grabbed some wood filler, worked it into the gaps with a putty knife, and smoothed it flush. Let it sit while Denali sniffed the fresh scent. Takes patience, but it’ll look solid.

Step 2: Final Sanding and Prep for Staining

Once the filler dried, I hit it with an orbital sander—80-grit paper to smooth it out, chamfering the edges to avoid splinters. Wiped it down with a tack cloth to clear dust—ready for my wife to stain it tomorrow. Denali watched, tail wagging.

Step 3: Dry Fitting the Countertop

I dry fitted it in the kitchen—lined up perfect at 25 1/2 x 31 inches. Checked the fit against the cabinets, marked where I’ll secure it with a few screws from beneath—don’t need L-brackets, just clean and simple. Denali paced around, approving the spot for our coffee bar.

Step 4: Working on the T+G Backsplash

I kept going on the tongue-and-groove board backsplash—painted white to brighten the kitchen. Cut a few more 1x6 boards, trimming around outlets and switches and nailed ‘em up. Haven’t filled the nail holes yet—that’s next, though I might just paint over ‘em for a rustic look. It’s coming together.

This takes steady hands—I popped a 3mg ALP pouch, keeping me sharp, no smoke in the basement. Grab yours at https://alppouch.com/BUSHMASTER. More soon—stay tuned.

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