Bar Top | Build It | Ask This Old House

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 [amzn.to/3p54uLh] to chip away the wood fibers on the live edge. Afterwards, Tom uses a belt sander [amzn.to/3NdcKAU] to clean the edges up.
For the top, Nathan uses an electric hand planer [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 [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 [amzn.to/3JgqbPy] and heavy duty 3 horsepower router [amzn.to/42GwYcc] and straight cutting bit [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 [amzn.to/43FPt1v].
Finally, Nathan applies an oil/wax combination finish [amzn.to/461cQo5] and buffs it in with a rotary polisher [amzn.to/3qG2Ekp].
Nathan received expert assistance from Mike at Peregrine White Sawmill [ / mikesrusticwoodshop ].
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Materials:
Epoxy [amzn.to/3CxH6cy]
Black pipe table leg kit [amzn.to/3qV3PN9]
Dish soap [amzn.to/3Nk6sPY]
Bucket [amzn.to/3pezNmZ]
Rag [amzn.to/3CEChOI]
Oil-wax finish [amzn.to/461cQo5]
Tools:
Tape measure [amzn.to/3CIjNg0]
Circular saw [amzn.to/3NFJYuq]
Drill [amzn.to/43FPt1v]
Wire wheel [amzn.to/3p54uLh]
Belt sander [amzn.to/3NdcKAU]
Straight edge [amzn.to/42QIW2M]
Power planer [amzn.to/3PgBUkS]
Putty knife [amzn.to/42UpNNw]
Router and planing jig [amzn.to/42GwYcc]
Water pump pliers [amzn.to/46gZeVU]
Polishing wheel [amzn.to/3XflRWy]
Rotary polisher [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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Bar Top | Build It | Ask This Old House
/ thisoldhouse

[@thaatsriight]

HEY, HEY, HEY! Use a coaster buddy! 😬

[@dan14-22]

Respect the wood

[@mst5632]

Well, now I’ve seen it all. Tom Silva using a non-Festool electric tool. Never thought I’d see that day. 😂 Congratulations on another great season, ATOH crew. You’re still awesome. Enjoy your time off & summer!

[@user-sp9tx6ti6i]

i've been watching this old house since the first day it aired on tv my favorite tv ever thank you

[@kellynewman862]

Same here!

[@JimDean002]

When I watched you slab the tree I thought we were going to have to wait two years for the bar top :-) looks really good

[@orionwarren4244]

Wonderful season! Been a fan since 1978 and if there's one thing I can count on, it's This Old House!

[@kellynewman862]

Ask This Old House, This old House & The New Yankee Workshop are the best!!! Elite top notch craftsman for sure!!!

[@richardjohnson8009]

Beer and building, America

[@douglascamus8207]

Thanks again, for another great season! I'm looking forward to learning more from you guys!

[@-ixNay-]

Can I get this crew to build my house! I will buy drinks!!

[@taftamick54]

Best show on TV...

[@brentlariviere1272]

The best show and guidance - thanks for everything you do, and another great season

[@christophermartin7973]

Man I love watching you guys so enjoyable. Thank you for your great work!

[@tbone587]

Love this show. Watch it every saturday morning from 7-11!

[@brijean5865]

I learned so much from you guys. I've been watching you for years.

[@israelgonzalez171]

Been watching your show since I was a kid. On Saturdays after watching cartoons I will jump to channel 50 or 58 to see you guys.

[@age_of_reason]

This is the best DIY show ever.

[@teeing9355]

Tommy is the man.

[@saanchip305]

This season flew by 👍🏽👍🏽

[@elvisfreitas3757]

Great job, everyone!!!!

[@davidredpath4781]

Would love to kick back and crack a cold one with these guys and just learn from them and hear about all of the jobs they have done!

[@jonathanparag6299]

Love this show

[@derekwagner7162]

I love that they pulled out the wood slab from yesterday

[@glennm449]

Cheers to this old house! 🍻

[@TR-sk8hf]

you guys ...and girls are awsome,great job.

[@jayhitek]

Mark with the Cloud Candy. Great call Mark!

[@jonboy8181]

Looks great! Cheers, guys!

[@thefrankperspective4247]

KZbin planer sled - complicated and expensive TheOldPlanerSled - no nonsense. Love it

[@JonnyDIY]

Nice job, but wish spent lil more time explaining that router jig setup. I noticed the slab was shimmed up. Would have liked to see how got it all level and lined up

[@darushimo]

Great timing for me. Thanks!

[@gregs2118]

Another great video.

[@joeivo911]

Congrats!

[@vaughngaminghd]

Congrats on another season "in the can" 😆 TOH crew!

[@SalehalOreef]

amazing group ❤️

[@itorIamop]

Great video as always!

[@b0wserscastle]

QS red oak - that's beautiful stock.

[@jimcatanzaro7808]

Tom still killing it

[@inspectioncertificationass8923]

Really nice video!

[@joevaldivia6733]

I have been watching Tom Silva forever and this man is amazing. It would be nice if you showed how you pre drill before you set the screws. It would help the beginner, I already know you pre drill into the wood, especially hard wood. Other then that, good job👍

[@JimDean002]

The main things went pre-drilling are obviously not to go too deep. Wrap a piece of tape around the drill bit to mark the depth if you need to. Also make sure you're centered in the hole and drill the right size hole for the screw you're using. Too small you'll still split the wood too big and it'll wallow out.

[@amolochitis30]

Nice !

[@Dave-kq7gv]

they should've hollowed out a cavity in the center & filled it with lead to make it even more top-heavy 😂🤣

[@JimDean002]

When Sherrie and I bought our house and rebuilt a lot of it, the only thing we subbed out was the granite. Obviously that's a pretty specialized job. The guy I hired said he'd had trouble out of the type of slab that she wanted so he routed a groove in the narrow part in front of the sink and epoxied a steel rod into there. He said he'd been doing that for years on slabs he felt needed it. All I know is it still there and still hasn't moved

[@montanaspring7176]

love you all

[@madethehorsecry]

Cheers 🍻

[@mikeclarke3005]

for that edge that had been exposed to some rot I usually treat with a wood hardener like from Varathane or minwax

[@sleepygrumpy]

Love TOH and Silva but man yall got to get a friend with a planer, yall have a lot of trust in the trueness of that router table

[@manandatractor]

I can't believe you guys dishonored that beautiful piece of wood with plumbing parts. Taking the easy way out???

[@brettrudy2245]

I don't meditate. This is my inner peace.

[@A6Legit]

5:58 I would mix the epoxy before adding wood chips.

[@DK-pr9ny]

Love the top. Poor choice for legs..

[@taysmith2895]

Of all interesting and educational things in this video, and other videos of ATOH, I've been unsuccessfully looking for a supplier who sells eye glasses like those of Tom's. A helpful link would be greatly appreciated. Cheers.

[@chrisschiebur6298]

Where did you find the kit for the legs? Looking at making a table myself.

[@bikeny]

I'm not a builder, so please forgive this question. Am I to understand it that you used the router and went back and forth over the entire top moving it slowly but surely from one side to the other side to ensure that the top was perfectly level? I thought that the planing you did took care of that? Using a sander wasn't an option? Thx.

[@A6Legit]

Hand planes aren't great at getting the whole surface flat like a planer machine. It was likely just used to remove high spots so the board would sit flat. You could skip the hand plane and just use the router if the board sits flat, or shim so it doesn't rock.

[@A6Legit]

Yes, that's how a router sled works. It's nearly impossible to sand a large surface without taking off more or less in certain spots. Sander is for smoothing not flattening

[@ZachAshcraft]

That’s correct -it’s called a router sled. The planer just knocks down big high spots, the router sled makes it perfectly flat, and the sanding just evens and smooths out everything

[@unclebuild8480]

I think Tom and Nathan got the top flat to their satisfaction with the electric planer and belt sander. Then after patching with the epoxy they flipped the plank bottom side up to make the two sides parallel. The router sled is a poor man's thickness planer. Since it is the bottom side it does not have to be as smooth or perfect as the top. The sled has to be made pretty stout to avoid any deflection which would show up on the surface as a divot or high spot.

[@mikev.1034]

👍🤙🤘

[@thedon98677]

Is that a ryobi belt sander y’all took the logo off because you’re embarrassed?! Lol

[@justinwoods240]

How come you don’t use hand tools that much. Could of easily used a jointer or a jack plane to flatten that board instead of the electric one

[@jazzfan7491]

What is that finish? Looks a lot easier than polyurethane

[@justin0114]

How do I apply for renovation opportunities?

[@briansworld007]

Love the content, I grew up watching this show!

[@davidpearson3304]

I wonder why Heath didn’t get an invite to the final episode. 🤷🏼‍♂️🤔

[@oldtwinsna8347]

How do you he wasn't invited, maybe just have been scheduling. Hard to get everyone together during a weekday filming. These guys run actual companies of their own.

[@gijoe41688]

what do u use to protect the top?

[@Peregrinewhitesawmill]

Odies oil

[@Panguin14]

Best finish out there.

[@RossMalagarie]

they picked the side with a cool looking knot then fill it with sawdust epoxy? If you picked the side with a cool looking knot then why not fill it with a clear expoy so you can actually see the knot?

[@stoneybakermd1936]

build it? and they will come....for booze!🤣

[@aerial9719]

Should have called Norm he could have cleaned....planed.,... stained and finished...

[@1wadup]

What’s the name of that green belt sander, I need one of those but the brand is covered with tape!😂😂

[@A6Legit]

Definitely not a Ryobi

[@JimDean002]

I have replied three times with the name of this sander but those keep disappearing mysteriously. Apparently they don't want you to know

[@JimDean002]

I'll give you a hint... starts with an r ends with an I and a lot of people mispronounce it

[@JimDean002]

​@@A6Legityeah, Ryobi 6a corded

[@rd-ch1on]

Every single product used is listed in the description with a link to the product 😂

[@edd2771]

I don’t understand why you planed and sanded the top if you were just going to rout it level using a sled. Seems like a waste of effort. Rout first and sand later.

[@avalon449]

So why was the name on the red cordless drill covered up with tapa and Tommy’s hand? So obvious.

[@A6Legit]

Probably because they aren't getting money for advertising different brands tools.

[@JimDean002]

Probably the same reason to Ryobi sander had tape over the name

[@bradpaulp]

What the actual what??? For the top, you’re using an electric planer. But for the bottom you used the better method of the router jig. I don’t get it.

[@teaglet]

I can never cut a straight line

[@kellynewman862]

Yes you can!

[@denniscotey8182]

Looks quarter sawn to me. It looks great but the "iron pipe" base is just cheesey. Over played imo. Beautiful hunk of lumber tho.

[@avalon449]

Jen didn’t get an answer to her question…….

[@A6Legit]

That'd be a "no" 😅

[@snomass1]

😂

[@nzkshatriya6298]

Guy's any chance of doing a project in San Antonio? Say, renovating my 70s era condo with aluminum wiring?

[@rd-ch1on]

Absolutely

[@johnlebzelter4208]

Troll elsewhere!! I’ve seen your other comments. Your a troll

[@hog8567]

He ruined that bar top. You can see the spiral marks from the router. He even said he wasn't even using a planer bit. That is laziness and poor craftsmanship......ESPECIALLY from him. I've been watching TOH for 30 years and I'm disappointed to see this poor quality.

[@par32]

It’s the bottom..

[@javiergalvan2604]

Another great video guys, never seem to impress me! Remain blessed and keep the video's coming ☝️ 😊👍🫵

[@Mr.Seebs.]

Cheers 🍻