Looking to get a wood panel for the computer desk, looking through Bunnings website, found these two:
https://www.bunnings.com.au/interbuild-2200-x-600-x-26mm-aca…
https://www.bunnings.com.au/alpine-oak-600-x-2100mm-x-26mm-l…
Are those 2 both solid wood throughout? it seems like the interbuild one is lots of planks of wood glued together? and the alpine oak one I will need to stain and finish it?
or any other suggestions that where I can get a piece of solid wood benchtop for desk?
thanks
I can't help you stain your wood, but I may be able to help finish it.
The second one is a laminate. It's MDF with a thin layer of wood glued to it. The first one is solid wood, but it's pre oiled, which means you can't coat it in a polyurethane coating to protect it.
Am I able to sand away the pre-treatment and apply my own after?
I'm not quite sure it's MDF inside?
They’re both solid timber, made of pieces glued together.
I’ve recently been going over the same pieces to make a workbench for my garage.
As long as the width works for you, then they should be perfectly suitable. I needed 800ish for my application, and preferred 40+ mm thickness, so I ended up going for a different panel.
My local Bunnings had a few other types of timber in the same range so it might be worth checking out in store
Do you mind sharing the link to 800mm one on Bunnings ? I haven't been able to find anything on their website around those measurements.
The one I ended up going for was only 30mm thick, and it’s pine instead of hardwood. Works fine for my use as a garage workbench, but might not be as suitable for a desk.
I was just looking for it, and for some reason they put it under the “Dressed Pine” category instead of the laminated panels like everything else.
https://www.bunnings.com.au/araucoply-2100-x-900-x-30mm-clea…
Ikea sell decent wood pieces, but they are more expensive than Bunnings.
My computer leads to me getting wood too
Whatever floats your boat. For me its usually my browser contents. But if you can just look at your computer……..
I clicked on the link, but Firfox is giving me warnings, and my firewall is configured to block Russia.
OP head on down to a timber yard, you'll find a better range and usually better prices.
Any chance you know a nice timber yard in Melbourne ?
Geez, dude, that person is in Brisbane. How about you search for "timber" in Google Maps?
I don't think you're going to get better prices than those pieces at a timber yard.
Demolition yard for reclaimed wood
Oh wow, yeah if you want a really nice desktop that will last, avoid the laminate. Check out their Tasmanian Oak boards. They are dressed all round (DAR). Building a bench top is quite simple. Buy the number of boards needed to make the width you'd like and some gorilla wood glue (in the glue section). You can use biscuit joints etc. but for a desk I wouldn't bother as it's just extra complexity. Glue the pieces together then clamp for 24hrs - a big clamp is great if you have it, otherwise you can use tie down straps. Don't over tighten as it will bow the pieces, just enough to hold them together firmly while the glue sets.
Sand off excess glue once dry then sand all over in the direction of the grain. Given the timber is DAR it won't need heavy sanding so avoid a power sander unless you're really comfortable. Something like 120 grit by hand will do the trick and be patient. Then finish with a 600 grit paper which will make the whole thing smooth as smooth can be.
Finishing - you can then stain with whatever you want or just finish it with a natural finish. My favourite is Ozmo Raw finish, it's expensive though and not at Bunnings. You can even use a furniture wax as the finish on Oak which is easy as, just need to reply every so often but will give a very beautiful worn look over time which can't be beaten in my opinion.
Timber yards have nicer stuff. I'd recommend Wheelan the warehouse in South Melbourne. If you let me know which direction you live in I can recommend others. Timber yards can be a bit more confronting than off the shelf at Bunnings but you can get nicer stuff. If you want something really nice, look at the hydrowood at Wheelan. I built my bathroom cabinet from golden sassafras and it's gorgeous.
Sorry. Heaps there. PM me if you have questions. I'm passionate about making good quality wood furniture and have no training, just lots of fun in the past making custom stuff for my house and slowly replacing all the IKEA stuff!
The link is for solid timber, not a laminate. Laminating also means joining pieces of timber together in other than thin sections. Solid square sections side by side is also laminating them, just not what most people think of as a laminate.
Most wouldn't understand the acronym LVL over their garage that spans over 6 meters above the door holding the concrete tile load above.
Fair - didn't read the description. Just saw laminate and assumed.
Rest of the post stands but will say that if you don't want to sand, glue, cut, etc. This piece probably is good.
Which piece sorry?
Hi Stegasaurusnext,
Really appreciate your post, I know its abit of an old one. I'm currently looking for some panels aswell to make a drop leaf table. I know its abit cheeky but I don't suppose you can recommend a timber yard in Melbourne?. I'm in Wallan but don't mind driving if the prices are good.
Hi Stegasaurusnext,
Really appreciate your post, I know its abit of an old one. I'm currently looking for some panels aswell to make a drop leaf table. I know its abit cheeky but I don't suppose you can recommend a timber yard in Melbourne?. I'm in Wallan but don't mind driving if the prices are good.
I've used those Acacia Panels in plenty of renos & kitchens, great value for money! Bunnings also do Benchtops (kaboodle) but much more expensive than this!
Both are solid wood. One is from multiple planks glued together so it's a very loose use of the term "solid" but it is certainly not ply.
If you're making a computer table, consider using cross layered ply wood. Computer tables have significant constant load right where the table is least reinforced. Unless you're going to steel frame the table, solid wood is going to bow and warp.
Ply can look great too. The only downside is it is prone to chipping in corners, which isn't an issue for computer tables.
Ps. MDF is just nasty. It will deform with continuous loading unless the support is close together (which means your legroom suffers) and cutting MDF is messy.
Not what I thought this wood be about, given the title……oh well