Building a bar finish?

[Karas3434]

decided to build a bar out in the garage. got it all framed up and picked out wood for the top. My question is what should i finish it with? Poly, varnish, shellac? Its gonna be in my garage so pretty much just for me and my buddies, not showroom quality but i still want it to look nice. I looked at the 2 part glaze coats and with the bar top being roughly 26 sqft, the $70 a gallon glaze coat (would need 2 gallons to do my bar) just isnt worth it to me. Looked into polys but there about 25 different kinds. Id like that glossy bartop finish but after all the materials i got about $50 or so left in the budget for coating the top. Any suggestion

[sandbarDan]

never tried this stuff before..just happened to see it while looking at glass resin.. http://www.uscomposites.com/kk121.html it cost $39.00 a gallon

[boogerbuttbaits]

I used tin on the bottom part and plywood for the top
And painted the top. Made it look like the beach

[ChampioNman]

Yep that stuff is the shizzle. Lays up about 1/4" thick or so.

[JerryT]

Go epoxy

[21XDC]

You might consider this..

http://shop.hobbylobby.com/pro...29665/

http://shop.hobbylobby.com/pro...29723/

You can always get 40% off coupons too.

[Karas3434]

<table width="90%" cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=center><tr><td>Quote, originally posted by 21XDC &raquo;</td></tr><tr><td class="quote">You might consider this..

http://shop.hobbylobby.com/pro...29665/

http://shop.hobbylobby.com/pro...29723/

You can always get 40% off coupons too. </td></tr></table>

Cant seem to find out how much footage that stuff covers? like i said im at roughly 13'x2' so id need enough to do 26sqft. 40% coupons where?

the kk stuff is nice but again id need 2 gallons and $80 is outta budget

[JerryT]

http://www.amazon.com/Finish-V...EGLBS

They have a bunch of different sizes and a few customer testimonials on what they where able to cover

[Karas3434]

<table width="90%" cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=center><tr><td>Quote, originally posted by JerryT &raquo;</td></tr><tr><td class="quote"> http://www.amazon.com/Finish-V...EGLBS

They have a bunch of different sizes and a few customer testimonials on what they where able to cover</td></tr></table>

Thats the exact stuff i was looking at in Lowes, 1 gal cover 16sqft, 1 gal cost $65. the whole two part epoxy might be a bit more than im trying to tackle by myself.

looking into spar urethane possibly

[21XDC]

Here is the info you need&gt;&gt;&gt; http://eti-usa.com/envirotex-lite/

[Karas3434]

Id need 1 gallon of that and at $120 a gallon! even 40% doesnt make it worth it. thanks though.

[13starsinax]

you made it look like the beach in new york? wanting margrarit aville are ya

[Rstrelec]

If you are not dead set on keeping a wood finish you could stay with the garage theme and do black and white checkerboard tile, or use some of the garage floor finish available everywhere these days.

I'm sure there are cheaper "knock-off" brands that would hold up fine on a bar top.
http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/...10053

[Karas3434]

<table width="90%" cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=center><tr><td>Quote, originally posted by Rstrelec &raquo;</td></tr><tr><td class="quote">If you are not dead set on keeping a wood finish you could stay with the garage theme and do black and white checkerboard tile, or use some of the garage floor finish available everywhere these days.

I'm sure there are cheaper "knock-off" brands that would hold up fine on a bar top.
http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/...10053</td></tr></table>

already bought and stained a nice piece of wood....

[rayz_379]

I owned and operated a bar for 3 years and made my bar top prior to opening. I used solid oak, stained it, and applied 4 coats of satin finish polyurethane, blocking it off between coats. It turned out fantastic and it still holding up today. This was a retail bar and it held up for ME so cannot see why it wont work for home use. Just my $.02 and I did about 40' by 24" bar using less then one $30.00 gallon

[mgnorman]

Whatever the prep coats are, the top coat shoud be at least 80 proof?!?!

mike