Hey everybody, Thanks for checking out my post, this may have been covered elsewhere, but I didn't find anything...does anyone have any experience with an online supplier for buying the arm rail for the edges of the bar top? I've found quite a few online retailers, but I love to get references, feels like the sort of thing you'd want to buy once, and be done with it. Also, prices are pretty variable. Thanks in advance! -Rick
I was agonizing over the same issue when I was building my bar a few years ago. I was doodling some creative application of crown moulding or other fancy, readily available trim pieces from the local Home Depot clone. I tucked the idea away in the back of my mind, letting it stew while I focused on other things. I was at Home Depot one day looking for another piece of bar-related lumber that was on a lower shelf. When I stood up, it was staring me in the face! Exquisite red oak Chicago Rail (I didn't know it had a name, so I didn't know how to search for it). Nice and beefy, clear as a baby's behind! In 8' lengths (my bar is 11'). I didn't have a suitable miter box, so I bought the pre-made matching corners, ends, and splices. Frankly, this is probably my proudest and, arguably, the most visible detail on my bar (you can't help but touch it when you sit down). It's especially satisfying when I notice that 75+% of the local bars have a virtually identical rail (properly mitered, of course!). The strangest part is that I never expected to find anything like this at Home Depot. I don't recall what I paid for it, but $10/ft sounds like the right ballpark. If you're not inclined to buy fine lumber at a big box store, you might seek out a local lumber supplier. Shipping can be a PITA for 12' pieces, and, to address your concern, you're buying it blind.
Thanks @mikehartigan - I'll have to dig around a little more next time I'm in the hardware store. I don't think I've seen them before, and as much as I hang around there, I'm thinking they may not carry it, but that doesn't mean they can't order some. It would be great to see the wood, as well as have a pre mitered corner. Thanks again!
I don't have any direct experience with your specific application, but if you have a custom millwork producer near you, you can often grab some left over odd lots from bigger jobs at a steal.
I ordered mine online, it was perfect. I'll try to remember to grab the name when I get home. Very affordable.
I haven't forgotten about ya, I just keep missing my contractor and he's the one with the details. Here is a picture of the arm rest I (he) ordered.
Thanks!, caught my contractor at lunch and he didn't remember off the top of his head and said he would look up the invoice and get back to me. The arm rest is Hard Maple stained with Walnut danish oil.
Great looking bar! Well, all except for that Cowboys jersey Any good bar top has a bullnose edge to it. If it doesn't I don't feel like I'm sitting at a bar, just a table.
