Epoxy/lacquer to protect table top?
nancyj
6 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago
I just had a table top made and it already has superficial scratches all over that I can feel with my finger nail. I have kids and we live at the beach so kids + sand = scratches. I want to protect the table but already have glass on top of a nearby coffee table so don't want to be the house of glass. I'm thinking of adding some thick epoxy resin to the top. Any recommendations on a particular type, or other recommendations? TIA!
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WHAT kind of epoxy resin?
Comments (6)Dear Becky and Mermaid.. Thanks for your reply! Becky.. there's no Hobby Lobby here (I only wish!) but I Googled that product and came up with a number of places I can order online. It looks good! I'll check with hubby before I order it but it seems to be what I want. I hate going from store to store shopping. Hubby looked in three stores yesterday for epoxy resin (ER)and all sales people said ER would turn yellow but no one had any suggestions for him on what else to use. Mermaid.. I guess what I'm thinking is I wanted the glass to be "imbedded" in something and originally I'd planned on just filling up to the top of the lip with resin. I had bought the ER at Ben Franklin and $80 only bought me enough to come up half way up! I wasn't going to spend $160 for a second hand table top that would only hold my coffee cup and hubby's beer bottle so was trying to think how else to go about it. Thought putting glass on the top edge of the table (after using the ER I had) would protect it from gathering water after a rain and make for a smooth surface, so that started the glass top idea. Thought I should have SOMETHING holding the glass pieces down besides just the thinset under it... I started Googling for other epoxy sources and found that BF was way more expensive then what was sold at the hardward store here. That's when I started reading about ER turning yellow in the sunlight. Thank goodness I saw THAT! As noted I was "sure" I had read some of you used something like ER outside but couldn't find what brand you used.. knew you wouldn't use anything that didn't stay clear. With this "EnviroTex Lite" I can go ahead, pour to the top and won't need the glass. Whew... well, I may find I CAN'T pour to the top.. have to research more about what depth I can use this to.. but regardless I'll have my pieces secured. =) It says "two or more coats maybe applied one over the other by simply wiping the surface with a clean cloth and alcohol prior to recoating" but regardless I'll have my pieces secured. =) I know this probably sounds whacky to you guys that have been doing this. =) When I finish I'd like to post a picture. I notice the pictures on here all seem to be from "Photobucket" (never heard of that before). Can I use "Webshots" on this forum? Thanks again for your help.. I "lived" on Garden Web a few years ago when I first started gardening. It was wonderful!...See MoreRefinish table top w/protective surface?
Comments (8)I had this same problem a couple of weeks ago on a dining table we received from a relative. The top was partially discolored (it looked like the original protective covering had been partially worn away). I was hesitant about sanding it but I was refinishing a couple of smaller tables at the same time, so I figured what the heck. I got some fine grit sandpaper and lightly started sanding a small section, just to see what would happen. The old finish came off pretty easily and it was kind of gummy little balls (I had to change paper often). I went ahead and sanded the whole surface and then applied a polyurethane clear coat (3 coats). The table looks really good now. I think as long as there is no stain in your table, you should be able to sand it down no problem....See MoreFirst time, help! Table top
Comments (5)If you want to change the color, it's probably best to do the stripping. (There are other ways, but they're not particularly DIY level). Don't just "sand off the old finish." Worst case, you zip through the veneer to the substrate, best case, you don't completely remove the finish or remove it evenly and your stain will be uneven. The discussion above led me to believe you just wanted to top coat. If you want something different, then yes, strip. Lacquer became used after WWI and displace shellac for the next 20 years. After WWII, almost all finishes are lacquer up until recently when there are a few other things coming in....See MoreHow to protect (but not refinish) old table top
Comments (28)So I'm back where I started, with poly. That's what I'm going to do. But first I'll remove the old shellac with denatured alcohol then apply a thin coat of new shellac. A light sanding, then a few coats of poly. I'm guessing some of you will recommend against this. I've read in some places that poly won't adhere well to shellac, but I've read in enough other places that it works just fine. I love the look of the shellac so I'm willing to risk it. I just don't think I'll get that same look with poly alone. The problem with the glass idea is that I change the size of the table somewhat frequently. I have 12 leaves, so it can go from a small table for four to enough room to seat 14 adults comfortably. I really like being able to just pop in a couple of extra leaves if friends or family come for a meal, or take them all out if we need floor space. I can't thank you all enough for your help and advice. I've learned so much in this whole process! I'll post pictures when it's done. :)...See More
nancyj
6 years agonancyj
6 years agoWhat type of topcoat do you think is on this table and would that be more impervious to scratches?
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