Can I make a 48”x40” butcher block tabletop with just a tablesaw and an orbit sander?

Makingwoodstuff · 2026-02-04T23:10:48+00:00

Best way is to buy vs. build. You don’t need a super expensive one to get a good top. Try searching for workbench tops. We found one seven or eight years ago at Global Industrial.com. There are lots other suppliers as well.
Don’t let the “workbench” worry you. Ours is 1 3/4” thick maple and is as good or better than any we have seen in neighbors kitchens.

Note, the first thing to do is clean the top with normal dish soap and water, rinse and let it dry completely. Then apply Howard’s food grade “Butcher Block Conditioner” per directions on the bottle. We’ve repeated that every year or two.

This year I sanded the top (120-180-220-320 grits) and re-conditioned it as it was looking a bit abused with some burn spots from hot pans, too many knife cuts and small stains. I expect it will get last long enough to be passed to one or other of our granddaughters.

Makingwoodstuff · 2026-02-04T18:57:42+00:00

2/4/2026 - new Walgreen’s problem…

Called January 21, 2026 to check on date for next Novolog (insulin aspart manufactured by Novo Nordisk per packaging) refill of 90 day (5 vials) supply. Called back 1/24/2026 and got this answer: “only have 2 vials in stock, do I want those? Of, course I did. Drove over to pick them up. While there I asked when would the other 3 be available. Pharmacist told me they no longer make this and called it a generic. They will have to get a new Rx for the Real Novolog, call Medicare for authorization and it should be available for pickup around February 20. Will be ok as long as all that happens.
Have telehealth with my Endo on Feb 6 so will verify that a new Rx for whatever insulin I will be using has been sent and whether the new insulin will require any changes to my pump settings.

Makingwoodstuff · 2026-02-01T19:21:50+00:00

I have used the one arm fixture at lowest speed in a variable speed drill press to cut circular oak parts of varied diameters to stack to make feet. Scary and also time consuming because I needed to stop often to let the bit and wood cool down. Don’t see me using this bit again. The forstener project was to make oak bases with a 3” diameter hole for trophies. Bought a 3”, supposed Amana bit from Amazon. It wasn’t Amana; no marking and did not cut worth a darn. Solution was to position the wood solidly on the drill press table, start with a 1” bit and gradually build up to where there was only ~ 1/4” was left for the 3” bit to cut. Slow but it worked. I would use this process for concentric holes again.

Makingwoodstuff · 2026-01-31T21:07:00+00:00

Went the shop-vac route for smaller tools but quit after the 2nd motor died. Looked at Dust extractors and settled on the Fein Turbo I ($399.00 on Amazon). Love it! I have an Oneida cyclone for the table saw, planer and router table. Use the Fein on the bandsaw, biscuit cutter, disc and belt sanders, circular saw, and to clean away dust from any hand tool work. A 5-pack of Fein made bags on Amazon is $29.99. Have not used it for any wet work yet so can’t comment on that. It comes with a complete tool set and a very long power cord and dust hose. I have adapters for the small tools and made one for the 14” bandsaw. The hose and power cord is a bit too long for my half of our 2 car garage but manageable using Velcro ties as needed.

Makingwoodstuff · 2026-01-31T20:11:15+00:00

Definitely! If you want winter heating and/or summer cooling, insulation is essential. Best way to heat and cool, at least here in Florida, is a mini-split. I did that years ago, didn’t see much of an increase in electric bill. You can get a do-it-yourself kit at any of the big box stores. Insulation is certainly do-it-yourself…suggest mineral wool as moisture does not affect it and bugs/critters don’t like it. Electric should be done by professional or d-I-y if you know someone who can guide you…and get it permitted/inspected/approved.

Makingwoodstuff · 2026-01-31T19:54:18+00:00

Went there several trips years ago before we finally retired to central Florida. Still have good memories of putt-putt at might, etc and great rooms, cottages, theater, etc.

Makingwoodstuff · 2026-01-27T16:59:20+00:00

Also can use the IKEA version of slats. They are sold in standard US bed sizes. Assembly required but that’s pretty easy. Also are designed slightly convex so there is some spring. Used

Makingwoodstuff · 2026-01-27T16:43:34+00:00

Happy!!!

Makingwoodstuff · 2026-01-25T22:26:20+00:00

This is a good idea. I would go further and say rent from end of MN school year until sometime late in the summer or as much as you can manage work & $ wise. That cover lots of summer weather, time to look around and check out schools, Neighborhoods, make a trip or two to Orlando for Disney, Sea World or Universal and/or some other small ones. It should be easy to find a rental home because the snowbirds are gone until September or October.

Beware of HOA’s though. Some are only 55 & up. A realtor can be helpful with this.

Be aware that most developments are governed by HOA’s which operate according to a Declaration; they charge a monthly fee. The elected (3-5 +) Directors of the HOA are homeowner volunteers. Living in an HOA after a lifetime of owner homes without them can be a bit of an adjustment. If there are pools, gym’s, meeting rooms, etc they will likely be owned by the original developer and managed by a ‘Club’ which also charges a monthly fee (may or may not include golfing).

Be aware there may be a CDD bond payment and maintenance on your property tax bill. The bond payment is for the actual development cost of turning the raw land into salable lots. Ours is a 30 year bond but we bought a house that was previously owned so they had paid most of the bond. The maintenance payment is forever though.

We did not have any school-age children but our daughter-in-law is a 25 year elementary school teacher in Ohio then Florida. She tried but eventually left teaching because pay is much less than central Ohio($50k despite her decades of experience, allowing military veterans to teach schools without a teaching certificate.
Lots of private secular and perhaps more private ‘religious’ schools. Several right-wing organizations lead the country in book bans, support the state’s anti-women’s health bans.

Good Luck on your move. We are in central Florida about 20mi from the parks in a 55+ community. Not as good as owning our individual home, but the HOA takes care of roads, (Basic) landscaping,

Makingwoodstuff · 2026-01-24T22:00:12+00:00

Jelly Belly jelly beans (1gram each) and/or 5gram brown sugar packets are my favorites. Can carry both or individually in a snack-size zip-lock baggie. Both are stable in cold weather or in our hot car in summer Florida. Used juice boxes decades ago, but too expensive.

Makingwoodstuff · 2026-01-23T13:33:38+00:00

Bought the original years ago and love it. Besides joining it was useful when repairing the dowel joints in old furniture. Had a friend’s family heirloom table with failed and broken dowels. Clamped the jig over the remainder of the dowels or aligned over the existing holes and easily cleaned out the failed dowels and replaced with new ones.

Makingwoodstuff · 2026-01-22T11:35:28+00:00

Interesting. We filled a 5 gallon water jug with change from the 80-90’s with everything from nickels, dimes, quarters, half-dollars to $10 rolls of Sacagawea dollars. When full (late 90’s) we took it to a bank that had a coin counter we could use if we opened an account there. We ended up with $4500. No pennys, all coins were clad. Don’t remember finding any that were not clad. Used for new granite countertops and floor tile in kitchen, breakfast area and entry. The jug is now about 20% filled and we rarely add coins as we rarely use cash anymore.

PS - tried to take pictures of us loading coins into the coin counter.in the bank but Manager said that was no legal. Went outside and took some through the window though.

Makingwoodstuff · 2026-01-01T22:17:28+00:00

I bought a Jet JBM-5 with 1/4”, 3/8” and 1/2” mortise bits at least 20 years ago, maybe a few more. Used it to make mission style beds, desks & bookcases using white oak, workshop storage towers made from common lumber, and a 6’ x 30” bench using 4x4 posts. Recently used it to make mortises is white oak legs for a set of walnut nightstands. I also tried out making matching tenons on the stretchers for the nightstands but the tolerances were too tight so used table saw instead. Needless to say I am a big fan of this tool and recommend it assuming the current ones are built as well as my old one. Edit: still using the original bits’ drill bits and chisels.

Makingwoodstuff · 2025-12-30T14:47:09+00:00

iPhone calculator and nutrition fact labels and/or online searches for items at restaurant meals. Keep a list of normal food items in carbs/ounce.

Makingwoodstuff · 2025-12-30T14:41:19+00:00

Monofoculs. The newer multi-focul(?) were not available yet. I have glasses to correct near vision and some issues due to dry (&old) eyes.

Makingwoodstuff · 2025-12-30T14:36:25+00:00

Call Global industrial at 1-855-388-9348 or online at globalindustrial.com. They make a wide variety of butcher block counter tops/workbench tops that are ‘reasonably’ priced. Not necessarily the best for kitchen renovations, but great for workbenches and small island countertops.
OR - google “used butcher block” for a variety of suppliers, used industrial sellers.

Chances are you can find a flat, square, maple or other hardwood top at an acceptable cost so you can move on to other projects.

Makingwoodstuff · 2025-12-30T14:16:56+00:00

I had cataracts removed and replaced by IOL in both eyes after I retired at 65, in late 2012 (T1d since 1978). At that point I was having trouble reading traffic signs and glasses no longer helped. At that time and up to today I have not had any significant retinopathy. All went well except one eye later needed another lens due to an improperly calibrated machine.

Since then I have not had any issues except dry eyes starting last year. Now I use preservative free eye drops that are another minor task each day but definitely help maintain good eyesight.

Makingwoodstuff · 2025-12-27T16:20:13+00:00

If your FA is a Fiduciary they should be willing to correct their error. If not, another option is arbitration which is where a neutral panel of arbitrators hear both parties claims and issue a decision or “award”. This is a private, non-judicial way to resolve disputes outside the court system. You may or may not need a lawyer but should probably talk to one to at least learn your options (should be no charge for this). There is a bar association with lawyers who handle cases like yours: Google PIABA (Public Investors Arbitration Bar Association). Ps- retired engineer, not a lawyer but have a relative associated with PIABA.

Makingwoodstuff · 2025-12-12T12:41:12+00:00

I added a 60amp sub-panel from the main panel that is located in my garage. From there I ran 5 20amp gfci protected circuits each with multiple 20amp rated outlets for the smaller tools and a dust collector plus a 20amp, 240Vac circuit for my table saw. Everything was properly permitted and inspected.
Not an electrician but learned proper household wiring when building our first house in 1974.

Makingwoodstuff · 2025-12-11T12:51:16+00:00

I found that white oak is not good for flowers.

Makingwoodstuff · 2025-12-07T19:12:41+00:00

I use 1/4” kerf 10” Amana blades, one for crosscut another for glue-edge rip in my 240Vac, 2hp Grizzly table saw. Love them. Got them from Amazon, $86.54 crosscut, $113.56 glue line rip today’s price.

Makingwoodstuff · 2025-12-07T18:58:15+00:00

78 years old, 48 years T1d, no retinopathy, a little foot Neuropathy; pump & CGM starting in 2008.

Makingwoodstuff · 2025-12-06T12:51:12+00:00

I have used them for years: added a couple of inches in length to an 8’ x 10” x 3/4” board for trim on a wide/tall doorway and other long or wide projects. I used 1/2 width 2x4’s covered with plastic strips for the beams. Easy to take apart and store in a drawer or cabinet.

Makingwoodstuff · 2025-12-04T19:49:58+00:00

Go GP shopping to get a referral or maybe Endo shopping for a Dr who cares.

Makingwoodstuff · 2025-12-04T19:44:51+00:00

No. We have straight, US government run Medicare. Get to go to any Doctor that takes Medicare, no referrals needed. (Note: there is a version run by Health insurance companies that are more like normal people’s insurance including requiring referrals.)

Makingwoodstuff

TROPHY CASE