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I picked up a large slab of pine for a kitchen bar top, and I'd like to get it surface planed.
I only found one place with a large planer in the local area, but they say they won't be able to do it until "later." She said "months later" - not sure what that was about.
The slab is fully dried, 100" x 19" x 3" and I'd just like to get the surfaces parallel.
Any ideas of where I can get this done?
I'm sorry I can't help with the planning, but it sounds cool. Are you going to have a live edge?
If no luck with anyone getting it done, would a floor sander get it flat enough? Just get buggest grit and work way down...
The wood emporium in Loveland. Not sure how big.
PM timk maybe? He does woodworking and is near you, but most planers only do something about a foot wide.
Would JohnnyEgo know/have a solution?
I can probably throw it on my CNC and surface it one side at a time
Local millwork shops(S4S or wide belt sander/edger/jointer), cab shops with wide belt sander. Woodworkers Supply may be able reference to someone.
Go see TimK.
If you're unarmed, you are a victim.
Secret: Make a large jig (wood frame, levels, metal, whatever) that is perfectly straight. Then make another jig that you can slide a router on. Basically, imagine it as a large typewriter, where the wood is your paper - but leave it static, and slide the router around. Zig your router back and forth on the sliding jig and you'll plane it reasonably well. Then use a belt sander to finish it smooth. The quality of the cut is dependent on the edge of your main frame/jig. So something with perfect edges is recommended.
https://youtu.be/kGAwhKsTsjM
otherwise a lot of cabinet shops have wide format belt sanders that will do what you are looking for.
My planer tops out at 16", otherwise I'd tell you to bring it over. I could joint it flat in two passes, which would make it flat, but not necessarily parallel to the opposite face, which is what a planer does. You can build or buy a slab jig like the one def and Ox reference, and do an admirable job flattening them. Or you can ask them to do it for you at Sears Trostel up in Fort Collins, or any number of cabinet shops wherever you live. A drum sander is often better than a surface planer for this sort of thing, and most custom cabinet shops will have one. The 'rustic' look with live-edge is in these days, so I doubt you'd have a problem finding someone in your area that could do this pretty easily.
Give Denver Woodworking a shout. They have the gear to do it; were not afraid to do one off type stuff for me in the past. They are off Evens & Broadway area. Rates were reasonable, but not free.
Austin Hardwoods in Denver have planed butcher block top for me.
I appreciate all the ideas.
Tim is going to CNC it for me here locally.
[emoji106], hard to beat the local resources in your area. Tim is top notch.
If you're unarmed, you are a victim.
Try Austin Hardwoods. Almost all shops claim to be buried but they usually get the jobs out much quicker once they accept it. Simple economics dictate this, they make not money by storing your top for 6 months.