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What are John's final words in "Helter Skelter"? |
D Vautier
10/2023
It has taken a long time to finish our dream kitchen island. The idea of a custom island started way back in 1997 when I decided on a kitchen island so I first built a temporary structure with plywood and 2 x 4's that had the rough dimensions of the present unit and contained an idea of what we, as a family, really wanted. It was not until 2004 that we were able to contract the design out to a wood shop but I continued to use a heavily painted sheet of plywood for the counter top. Some years later we were able to build a more permanent counter top by gluing two layers of 8-ply plywood together and finishing the surface with black Formica. That countertop lasted 15 years and 3 kids. Not bad for a temporary counter top.
Now after 25 years the island is finally finished in American cherry butcher block as we had originally invisioned. It now looks so good that I’m afraid to even use it. We left it natural and only need to oil it weekly or so.Here is the island in 1997 with a plywood counter top. I wired an outlet for the dogwater area but never got around to using an automatic dogwater filler.
There was originally one dishwasher and a compactor but we eventually installed two dishwashers. I had just a plywood countertop.
Later on the temporary countertop consisted of two layers of plywood with a Formica finish. It lasted 15 years and three kids.
When we replaced the temporary 15 year countertop we added a vycor moisture barrier on top of the two dishwasher compartments.
My son Val helped me to get the new counter top in place
He also helped me do the faucet holes using a vertical drilling guide.
We then installed the new tap and soap dispenser.
The counter was then screwed down and the sink calked.
We now have a finished well oiled counter top. I got this very beautiful American cherry butcher block countertop from Standfill Custom Woodworking. Good job.