In this video, This Old House general contractor Tom Silva and carpenter Nathan Gilbert work together to build a bar top out of a slab of live-edge red oak from Nathan’s Christmas tree farm.

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Nathan Gilbert and Tom Silva get to work turning it into the ideal bar top. First, they take a wire wheel to the live edge to remove any punk and loose wood. Then, they set to work with a belt sander to smooth it over. After that, Tom uses one of his homemade jigs to route the slab flat while Nathan builds the legs. Finally, the two assemble the table, give it an oil treatment, and polish it.

Where to find it?
Nathan and Tom work together to build bar top from the lumber Nathan milled from his property.

Tom uses a wirewheel attachment [https://amzn.to/3p54uLh] to chip away the wood fibers on the live edge. Afterwards, Tom uses a belt sander [https://amzn.to/3NdcKAU] to clean the edges up.

For the top, Nathan uses an electric hand planer [https://amzn.to/3PgBUkS] to get the underside of the table roughly flat. Tom takes a few passes with the belt sander to finish it up.

To fill any remaining cracks in the wood, Tom uses a 5 minute epoxy [https://amzn.to/3CxH6cy] and mixes in some saw dust leftover from the belt sander to create a matching woodfiller.

While the epoxy cures on the top, Tom and Nathan begin leveling the bottom using a router sled [https://amzn.to/3JgqbPy] and heavy duty 3 horsepower router [https://amzn.to/42GwYcc] and straight cutting bit [https://amzn.to/3X8kysc]. (You could also use a planer bit.)

Nathan assembles the base by threading the pipes together with a wrench. Then Tom and Nathan secure the table legs to the holes in the bottom of the bar top with a drill [https://amzn.to/43FPt1v].

Finally, Nathan applies an oil/wax combination finish [https://amzn.to/461cQo5] and buffs it in with a rotary polisher [https://amzn.to/3qG2Ekp].

Nathan received expert assistance from Mike at Peregrine White Sawmill [  / mikesrusticwoodshop  ].

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Materials:
Epoxy [https://amzn.to/3CxH6cy]
Black pipe table leg kit [https://amzn.to/3qV3PN9]
Dish soap [https://amzn.to/3Nk6sPY]
Bucket [https://amzn.to/3pezNmZ]
Rag [https://amzn.to/3CEChOI]
Oil-wax finish [https://amzn.to/461cQo5]

Tools:
Tape measure [https://amzn.to/3CIjNg0]
Circular saw [https://amzn.to/3NFJYuq]
Drill [https://amzn.to/43FPt1v]
Wire wheel [https://amzn.to/3p54uLh]
Belt sander [https://amzn.to/3NdcKAU]
Straight edge [https://amzn.to/42QIW2M]
Power planer [https://amzn.to/3PgBUkS]
Putty knife [https://amzn.to/42UpNNw]
Router and planing jig [https://amzn.to/42GwYcc]
Water pump pliers [https://amzn.to/46gZeVU]
Polishing wheel [https://amzn.to/3XflRWy]
Rotary polisher [https://amzn.to/3qG2Ekp]

Build It:
This Old House general contractor Tom Silva, This Old House host Kevin O’Connor, and special guests including Jimmy DiResta, take you through step-by-step DIY projects in this popular video series. From end-tables to cutting boards to wine racks to chicken coops and more, learn how to build from the best pros in the game. Segments include mention of all tools and materials needed to get the job done.

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