What Wood for a Rustic Farmhouse Plank Style Table?

[bradesp]

Guys,

I was thinking of using rough sawn white oak for replacing an existing kitchen table top... I'm after a very rustic look. Are there other species I should consider? I'm wanting something that is relatively easy to find locally and isn't outrageously expensive and wont be overly difficult to construct with my modest woodworking skills. Lastly, I do want something a little more durable than plain pine.

All suggestions are appreciated!

Thanks!

 

[LeftyTom]

I would think of oak first, then maybe pine. Pine lacks a bit in strength compared to the oak, though. If you could find it, some wormy chestnut may make a fine looking table.

Mind you, I am from the school of "what have I got on-hand, and how much of it do I have."

 

[scsmith42]

Wide plank, rough sawn white oak would be a great choice, with a preferance on quartersawn.

I even know when you can buy some of it locally from a manufacturer..... :gar-Bi

 

[walnutjerry]

Brad---------Just for insight, people used what they had years ago. For the rural farmer many tables etc. were from "heart" pine and many from oak. One table I know was built circa 1923 for a farm house was oak legs and aprons with poplar for the top. Keep in mind it was kept covered with oil cloth all the time so it did not matter what wood was used for the top. When company came they brought out the lace table cloth and put it over the oil cloth. Of course that was the dining room table. The kitchen table was all pine.

Will be interesting to hear your decision.

Jerry

 

[Tarhead]

If you get the chance to see the Woodwright's Shop episode "Viking Chest", (it aired last week, sure to repeat) there is an excellent segment on Don Weber's Hayrake style Oak table during the last 3 minutes. The top features 2" thick planks, Breadboard ends with drawbored tenons in elongated holes to allow for expansion and Butterfly keys to prevent the boards from separating.
Here's an article:
http://popularwoodworking.coverleaf.com/popularwoodworking/200902/?pg=62

Great WIP Pics:
http://blogs.popularwoodworking.com/editorsblog/content/binary/HayrakeTable.pdf

Looks like it would stand up to a few generations of hungry people.

 

[CrealBilly]

Guys,

I was thinking of using rough sawn white oak for replacing an existing kitchen table top... I'm after a very rustic look. Are there other species I should consider? I'm wanting something that is relatively easy to find locally and isn't outrageously expensive and wont be overly difficult to construct with my modest woodworking skills. Lastly, I do want something a little more durable than plain pine.

All suggestions are appreciated!

Thanks!

Ted, once had a market for wide (20" plus) SYP farm tables. I'm not sure where the wide planks were going but I suspect it was somewhere in Virgina. The raw materials for a table consisted of some lengths of SYP 2x6's 4x4's and 2xWIDE top.

Something to note, the wider and clearer the top the more they sold for.

 

[tjgreen]

Might be cheating a bit, but you could also build the top using unfinished oak or pine plank flooring. Easy to find, pre-milled with tongue and groove so joinery's a breeze. Could make your own breadboard ends out of matching stock, and nobody would know they were floorboards. For a really rustic look and a substantial bargain, you could use reclaimed floors from Habitat ReStore or similar.

Otherwise +1 for rough-sawn wide oak planks.