Assemble and Sand Tabletop Panel

What happens here

Lay out the prepared 2x10 boards for the tabletop, arranging them to achieve the best grain pattern. Use a Kreg Jig and a drill to create pocket holes along the edges of the boards where they will be joined, ensuring strong mechanical connections. Apply a generous bead of wood glue, such as Titebond III, along the entire length of the mating edges of the boards. Clamp the boards together tightly using bar clamps or pipe clamps, ensuring even pressure across the entire panel. Allow the glue to cure completely overnight. Once dry, use a metal putty knife or scraper to remove any excess dried glue squeeze-out from the surface. Finally, use a random orbital sander (e.g., Festool ETS EC 150/5 EQ) with progressively finer grits (e.g., 80, 120, 180, 220) to achieve a smooth, flat tabletop surface.

Goal: Individual boards are joined together using pocket holes and wood glue to form the solid tabletop panel, then cleaned and sanded smooth.