"Eigenvector" wrote in message
. ..

"Lew Hodgett" wrote in message
news:rbXuk.253$1a2.170@trnddc04...

"Eigenvector" wrote:

I was talking to a friend who suggested that I take my newly constructed
tabletop to the services of a local woodshop for final planing. The
logic being that they are equipped to handle objects far far wider than
anything I could have as a woodworker and passing my tabletop through the
planer one more time would absolutely ensure the tabletop was flat,
planar, and minimize any finishing that I would have to do.

Does that seem like decent advice, or are you all thinking "why isn't
the finished tabletop perfectly flat to begin with?"

Just for reference the tabletop is created from 4 10" wide pieces and
sad to say as this was my first attempt it didn't turn out as well as I
expected. It looks as though the finished wood bowed slightly after I
had finished it - I'm wondering if the weather changes may have
something to do with that? It is for all intents and purposes fall
where I live now.

SNIP

I finished the top with a sander, it took a while to do but now the top is
nice and smooth and I have a finished product.

I'm glad I did a mock up before using better wood. Now that I've see what
it can take to do the job right I'll know what to expect in the future.
Actually I like the finished product, sure it's poplar and built like a
Sherman tank, but I kind of like the way poplar looks - nice green and tan
wood tones. Might stick it in the basement and use it as a poker table.