i've got a table i'd like to finish with the commercial-grade wood finish that you find at restaurants that use wood tables...i don't know what the product is, but it feels thicker than "regular" polyurethane and holds up better against constant use

i don't know if it's even polyurethane that they use...if it is, do they just put on more? is it a slightly different product?

7/2/2011 3:39:34 PM

its usually an epoxy resin.

google "bar coat" or something like that

here's one
http://www.uscomposites.com/kk121.html

7/2/2011 4:03:11 PM

ah, that sounds like it...i assume it's probably not available at lowe's or home depot? i can (and will) check, but just in case anyone's bought it locally before...

thanks!

7/2/2011 4:05:44 PM

you can get it at lowes/home depot. Its in the same area in Paint with Bondo.

It's a pretty plain two part epoxy that everyone uses. It's not cheap BTW.

7/2/2011 6:45:25 PM

^ this is the stuff, i think

http://www.lowes.com/pd_298930-1149-5050110_0__?productId=3366918

definitely more expensive than i was hoping for, thinking $50

no idea if i need a gallon or a quart (which is $23), but i'll look into it

thanks for the feedback

7/2/2011 6:55:57 PM

that link i posted has a coverage chart at the bottom. should be about the same i would imagine.

according to that, 1 gallon is about 16 sqft if you want a thick layer

7/2/2011 7:08:59 PM

I used this stuff made by Zinnser for my work bench. It's held up surprisingly well. I did apply around 8 coats, though, but the workbench looks damn good.

http://www.rustoleum.com/CBGProduct.asp?pid=248

7/3/2011 12:06:43 AM

I used marine Spar Varnish on my workbench. Did around 5-6 coats and its beautiful.

7/3/2011 9:16:26 PM

i picked up a birch bench covered "clear acrylic lacquer"...i'd like to remove it, stain it, and then coat it again

what's the best way to remove it? sandpaper?

9/15/2011 2:32:43 PM

I would think some kind of stripper. Sanding it will take forever and the stripper can keep you entertained while you sand. Once you get tired of sanding, just make the stripper sand it for you.

sanding will take forever, get some chemicals to do the work for you.

9/15/2011 2:36:00 PM

Take table top off. Run through a giant planer.

But really a belt sander with a wet/dry belt plus some water would wreck that shit fast. I dunno, how big is the table? Strippers are nasty.

9/15/2011 3:50:22 PM

Depends which club you go to

9/15/2011 3:56:44 PM

the stripping is needed for a bench...looks like this, but not quite the same thing:



i would rather sand it than strip it

9/15/2011 4:05:06 PM