Bar Top Finish

[Jeffrey Schronce]

J.E. Mosers - Grain Fil - it water based and clear so you don't have to color it or have contrasting pores like the other products.

Think I got mine at Woodworkers Supply in NC (Greensboro?). THey sell over internet as well.

Edit : BTW Pappy if you want an excellent waterbourne lacquer Woodworker Supply has gallons of JE Mosers for $39.99. Thats the price of Minwax water based products.

[downtheroad]

Jeffery
Do you have a brand name for water based filler? I've got about a 100 linear feet of red oak 4X4. I make bandsaw boxes out of it and I have to finish it satin because of those pesky pores.
thanks
Paul

We've used the Enduro waterbased grain filler. As I wrote above, General Finishes now owns this product line and I'm not sure if they are still making it (they've dropped a lot of useful Enduro products since their acquisition of Compliant Spray Systems).

I did see the grain filler today on Homestead Finishing's site.
Here's the link:
http://www.homesteadfinishing.com/ht...woodglazes.htm

[Jeffrey Schronce]

We've used the Enduro waterbased grain filler. As I wrote above, General Finishes now owns this product line and I'm not sure if they are still making it (they've dropped a lot of useful Enduro products since their acquisition of Compliant Spray Systems).

I did see the grain filler today on Homestead Finishing's site.
Here's the link:
http://www.homesteadfinishing.com/ht...woodglazes.htm

Enduro water based clear grain filler is listed on Homestead site. It is showing as a new product, so hopefully it isn't going away. As I noted, these water based clear fillers are much easier to work with than the tinted.

[TheRic]

Not sure if you care what happens down the road, or how much abuse this bar top is going to be subject to. Not sure what was used (maybe someone here knows) but I was at Hooters and a couple of there table tops had started to peel / chip / break away / etc. They looked terrible with just a little piece missing.

It looked like it was easy to pull off a good sized section. I'm sure the tables were poured with one thick substance. Multi coats of ????? will probably take more abuse in the long run compared to 1 thick pour.

I had a bar in collage that I used poly on the top. After every party I put a new coat on the top, looked like new till the next party. When I moved out it looked like new with about 50+ coats on top. Well I did put about 48 coats on to start with.

Just throwing it out for what it's worth.

[Woodshark]

A few weeks ago I asked the same question. Several people recommended this.

http://www.woodcraft.com/family.aspx?FamilyID=751

[Pappy]

Did some research into the Endoro Clear Poly Top Coat. I found it at Rockler but couldn't find a source for the cross linker. I called GF tonight and found I could order direct from them. The poly only comes in gallons @$51.50 and the smallest cross llinker is a pint @ $34.30 (plus shipping). A bit much to finish one 2' x 6' bar top.

He suggested their PreCat Urethane...Oops!...only comes in gallons.

Best reasonably available from GF looks to be their High Performance Poly. About $24 a qt at Woodcraft.

Ran across another product that gat some good comments and reviews. It is Behren's Master Rockhard Table Top Varnish. At $18 a qt plus $9 a qt for the special reducer it is another option. Everything I read makes it to be my best choice but I couldn't find much info on application other than brushing. Anyone know if it can be sprayed?

Because I work outside, fast dust free set up is important. Most finishes that can be sprayed or brushed/rolled dry faster when sprayed simply because the coats are thinner. This also allows dry time between coats.

There are 2 drawbacks to the epoxy type finishes. First they need to be applied to a level surface which means the trim on the front and ends of the bar top would require a different finish. The other drawback is the long dry time in a near dust free environment.

[Jeffrey Schronce]

I have only heard of Rockhard Table top applied with a brush, however I am sure with enough thinning you can likely spray it. You would think that drying time would be ok for spraying given that it is normally brushed, understanding the thinning agent is going to reduce drying time. I believe most things that can be brushed can be sprayed, but not as much so the other way.

You could pose this question at Homestead website and let the experts address the spraying of Rockhard.

I have been reading up on the on the Enduro line, PreCat & HPP. I think in the end I have decided to use HPP.