Plywood Countertops For The Shed Kitchen

December 16th. After a lot of deliberation and research, I finally landed on a decision for the countertops: 3/4-inch oak plywood. I considered laminate, butcher block, even solid hardwood, but the more I thought about it, the harder it was to justify the cost. I went with a low-maintenance finish too—four coats of a heavy-duty water-based polyurethane. I ran into some tear-out while ripping the sheets, but a thorough sanding cleaned things up. Might be time for a new saw blade. I really like how the oak looks against the ambered pine, but the exposed plywood edge still isn’t sitting right with me. It feels unfinished. December 17th. Got to work on the lower shelving slats today. I used whitewood and the same shellac process as the trim—one coat of clear followed by two coats of amber. The wood is soft and will probably show wear over time, but the shellac should offer some protection. While everything dried, I put up a simple place to hang things, and I’m really happy with how it turned out. It’s funny how much the small details can change the livability of a space. I couldn’t get that exposed plywood edge out of my head. I considered iron-on edge banding, but it would’ve meant pulling the counters back off and sanding everything bare. Then, at Lowe’s, I stumbled across four-foot lengths of 3/4" × 1-1/2" oak strips—labeled project wood. I knew immediately they were the solution. After a coat of polyurethane, I tacked them to the front edge of the plywood, and suddenly the counters had a near butcher-block look for a fraction of the price. If I were doing it again, I’d add a narrow plywood backing strip and glue everything up for a truly bomb-proof edge. But for now, these will do just fine. I stayed up late finishing the rest of the slats. Rain’s in the forecast tomorrow, and I’m looking forward to seeing the shelves finished. December 18th. The rain moved in right on schedule. Thankfully, I wrapped up all the slats last night. I couldn’t be happier with how everything turned out—the shelves and counters look downright handsome. For supper, I made my favorite lemon chicken orzo soup and listened to the rain tap against the metal roof well into the evening. Instagram:   / heyjonmoore   Watch the full series:    • Full Series   Affiliate links: Cooktop: https://amzn.to/3Lx2BC0 Kettle: https://amzn.to/4epHOJz Cups: https://amzn.to/4e8AzoY Pour Over: https://amzn.to/4fi0Ke8 Crockpot: https://amzn.to/4nOlD4l Composting Toilet: https://compocloset.com/?ref=ovamdfdv Bed Frame: https://amzn.to/4iSTZlC Mattress: https://amzn.to/4aMiTBv Sheets: https://amzn.to/3MDUMeg Comforter: https://amzn.to/4rSbwi3 Duvet: https://amzn.to/497H4ZV Sawhorse: https://amzn.to/4mBLETJ Electric Kettle: https://amzn.to/48QSWOP Coffee Pour Over: https://amzn.to/4rUBIsu Plates: https://amzn.to/4f7cJv7 Bowls: https://amzn.to/3NRnmGg Spatula: https://amzn.to/4ft8zOa Supoon: https://amzn.to/3UxnjDz Sharpener: https://amzn.to/3Yv2auU - Clamps: https://amzn.to/3IJ8VFv Pocket Hole Jig: https://amzn.to/48a5LDo Sharpening Oil Stone: https://amzn.to/3XgbuT8 Leather Strop: https://amzn.to/4o5BcVf Bucket Tool Organizer: https://amzn.to/3GajTSD Hammer: https://amzn.to/3EaTFPq Super Bar: https://amzn.to/4i10wZx Tape Measure: https://amzn.to/4jkwKQw Speed Square: https://amzn.to/4llsouo Drills: https://amzn.to/3KphJAU Screw Bits: https://amzn.to/4co3rdB Drill Bits: https://amzn.to/3FVG5js Hand Saw: https://amzn.to/43DIDwx Battery Saw: https://amzn.to/4mBSt81 Saw Guide: https://amzn.to/4nOhxcK Jig Saw: https://amzn.to/3IkhQgA Tin Snips: https://amzn.to/4m68en7 Paint Scraper: https://amzn.to/3I6tviN Ladder: https://amzn.to/4i9FHvd Four Foot Level: https://amzn.to/483fUTS Bottle Jack: https://amzn.to/4naO3pg Husqvarna Weed Whacker: https://amzn.to/466pB1b Flat Shovel: https://amzn.to/4g8R6vI Round Point Shovel: https://amzn.to/4gk43TK Mattock: https://amzn.to/428uzcI Steel Digging Bar: https://amzn.to/3VxVye2 Tamp: https://amzn.to/3K97rob Best Wheel Barrow: https://amzn.to/4n98N1b Shop Vac: https://amzn.to/41IoLXb Leatherman Free P4: https://amzn.to/3NSdzjv Shellac: https://amzn.to/4owWjRb Mini Split: https://amzn.to/3IGEdwT Line Set Cover: https://amzn.to/471DPkv - Camera: https://amzn.to/48StcD7 Lens: https://amzn.to/4o3GIYR Mic: https://amzn.to/4mPtUnV Tripod: https://amzn.to/4osSnB1 VND: https://amzn.to/4gWOGke This video is NOT sponsored. Some product links are affiliate links which means if you buy something I'll receive a small commission. So thank you! #shedtohouse #tinyhome #diy