www.ultimatehandyman.co.uk

A friend has asked me to cut or help him cut a solid oak worktop, only straight cuts across the width, but the cuts are going to be seen, some kind of kitchen island?.
What would be the best way to cut this and end up with a good finish, Router, Circular saw etc, Scribe first, cut with worktop upside down
All/Any advice greatly appreciated as always.

Do the cuts need to join onto anything? If not then you can cut with just about anything and then sand it nice and smooth. A track saw would be best if you have access to one, otherwise a circular saw with a guide will do a nice job. Take your time and then sand it up to about 240-320.

Thanks for reply, they are not joining anything.

dead easy tbh as above track saw or circular saw and a home made guide so its nice and straight. nice sharp blade and sand the edges up.. no need to flip the top over as you might do with a lam worktop.

when ya sand the edges up youll see how quickly it goes reaaaaaly smooth like glass

Oak is a very tight grain so the end grain will sand well. It will suck in more of the finish coating and therefore it will come out a bit darker but you can minimise this with a very watered down PVA, around 90% water. This soaks right in and when dry and re-sanded it will reduce the absorption rate of the finish to keep the overall tone it more uniform. In this instance you will have side and end grains visible so it is a consideration.

Nice to see you back Blakey

DWD

Thanks one and all, went to have a look at what he want's done today, not only the cross cuts on ends, but he wants it cut down the length, and all four sides will be visible, narrow breakfast bar,?
So does all the above advice still apply for length cut?

Yep same advice, you will definitely want to use a good straight edge though for a rip cut. A long box level is good for this. A track saw, even a cheap one, would be a worthwhile investment.