How to Make a Wood Slab Counter Top

Measure the length and width that you want your counter top to be when finished. Take these dimensions to the home improvement center or lumberyard and ask a professional how much wood you will need to complete the project.

Mark the desired length on your boards with a pencil, adding an extra 1/4 inch on all four sides to allow for sanding. Always measure the boards twice so you don’t make a mistake before you cut.

Determine the width that you want the boards to be and add an extra 1/6 inch. Set the table saw to cut the wood to this measurement according to the manufacturer’s directions. Most counter top boards are 1.5 to 2 inches wide. The wood should be thicker than it is wide, so if you lay a board down wrong, you will know.

Cut the pieces of wood with a table saw. As you finish cutting a board, lay it on a flat work table, keeping the top of the board facing upward and the cut sides next to one another. Glue is applied on the cut side of the boards to assemble the wood slab counter top.

Run a bead of food-safe epoxy or wood glue down the center along the long cut side of your wood strip. Spread the glue with a small brush, covering the wood evenly. Pick up the next board and press the two sides of the boards together, wiping away any glue with a lint-free cloth. Lay the two glued sections down on a flat surface and pick up the next board.

Repeat Step 5 until all the wood strips are glued together.

Clamp the wood strips together to hold them firmly in place. To prevent the clamps from indenting the wood, place a thin scrap piece of wood between the clamp and the counter top. Wipe away any glue that comes out from between the seams. Allow the glue to dry as specified in the manufacturer's directions. Remove the clamps when the glue is cured.

Square the lengthwise sections of the wood slab with a carpenter's square or a metal cut guide. Mark the cut lines with a pencil. Position the edge of your trim saw against the line and cut off the excess wood.

Sand the top and sides of the counter top with 80-grit sandpaper on a hand-held sander. You can also hand sand by folding a piece of sandpaper into fourths. When you are sanding, always sand with the grain of the wood, never against it. This will ensure that the boards are smooth and even.

Vacuum the wood slab with a bristle brush attachment to remove all the sawdust.

Repeat Steps 9 and 10 two more times. Change the sandpaper to 160-grit and for the last sanding use 220-grit. Wipe the surface of the counter top with a tack cloth to remove all the dust.

Pour some butcher block oil, which is a blend of linseed oil and mineral oil, onto a clean lint-free cloth. Rub the oil onto the top and sides of the wood counter top. Leave the oil on the wood for at least 30 minutes. Repeat this step another five to 10 times or until the wood won’t absorb any more oil.