How to finish bar top?

[nipsmg]

I know it's sort of unrelated, but I'm building a bar in my basement/game room. 

Bar tops generally have a thick, glass like finish.  How is this accomplished?  Something like Envirotex Lite?  Multiple coats of poly?  Also, what's the best way to ensure a smooth, flat glass-like surface.

I'm expecting this to not be easy, but any help would be greatly appreciated

[dithrin]

Multiple coats of poly

ive seen tops use as many as 40 coats,  but that is for public bars that take a beating.  they have to eat through 40 layers to actually damage the bar.

I would say you could probably do with 8-12 to get the look your going for.  You can always get a high gloss poly as well if you want a high sheen, but typically the poly itself will give you a good look. 

[BobA]

Clear epoxy resin is also used for thick transparent coating.

How to coat

You tube link that to another vid that works

[nipsmg]

Multiple coats of poly

ive seen tops use as many as 40 coats,  but that is for public bars that take a beating.  they have to eat through 40 layers to actually damage the bar.

I would say you could probably do with 8-12 to get the look your going for.  You can always get a high gloss poly as well if you want a high sheen, but typically the poly itself will give you a good look.  

What's the best way to apply to get a good smooth finish?  I've tried with brushes but almost always end up with brush marks in the finish.  Any ideas for that?

[dithrin]

I would try a foam brush.  You may end up with bubbles instead of brush marks though, but the bubbles should work themselves out as it cures/dries, and you can also blow on the bubbles as you are applying and then the finish should self level back out.  The bubble should be significantly less after a couple of coats.

Thin coats are always better but takes longer as you may want to add more coats then.

You can also try adding some laquer thinner to thin it out. This would require a few more coats then, but overall has no affect on the finish itself. 

[cowtown]

Woodworking stores (Rockler, Woodcraft, etc) will have the bartop pourable finishes, and will usually have staff who know enough to be helpful.  In case you're wondering, your average lacquer or poly will begin to set too quickly if you try to pour it. Just don't ask me or my comatose Carrom board project how I know this. 

[michelevit]

I've sprayed automotive clear coat with a mini HVLP touch up gun.
It is clear coat that needs to be hardened. I use a product called Transtar Qwik clear.
Dries in an hour and is polish-able in 4. My HVLP gun is from Harbor Freight and was less than 40 bucks.

Much more durable than anything else. Once it hardens you cant dent the finish with your fingernail.
Be sure to clean out your gun by running some lacquer thinner, acetone or other solvent through it.

I buy it from my local car paint shop. (Center paint, San jose, CA)

Pour on coatings are a nightmare mess. Multiple Poly coatings takes forever and wont come near the hardness
or a auto clear coat finish.

[monkeychunkuk]

Wow that some scary stuff what if something fall onto whilst curing like a bug can you sand it down?

[bclinton]

I know it's sort of unrelated, but I'm building a bar in my basement/game room. 

Bar tops generally have a thick, glass like finish.  How is this accomplished?  Something like Envirotex Lite?  Multiple coats of poly?  Also, what's the best way to ensure a smooth, flat glass-like surface.

I'm expecting this to not be easy, but any help would be greatly appreciated

In case you are still looking for a solution. Google Bartopper resin. It comes in 2 parts that you mix (equal parts) You pour a skim fill coat first then up to 2 more coats behind it. You use a heat gun to work out the bubbles. Once it drys you have a completely clear very hard basically indestructible finish - just like a commercial bar.

[eds1275]

http://www.homedepot.ca/product/finish-vara-ob-bar-table-kit/983239

This is what I use. I have done a few projects that turned out amazingly. What I would recommend is reading the directions and abiding religiously! There are 2 pieces of advice I can give. Number 1, pour it in stages (all of course back to back) and push together. Number 2, the directions say to "spread it out." Well, it's hard to put into words but instead of pushing it around it's more like sort of skimming the top to make sure the entire surface is covered. I recently did a table, and poured it lengthwise in 3 sections.

Also covering with a sheet really keeps the dust out. How to suspend the sheet can be a PITA - make sure you have someone to help you wioth this so it doesn't dip into the finish.

For mixing, I use plastic beer cups and measure using the ribs around the edge.

[eds1275]

oops didn't notice that this thread is OLD

[fanneyjack]

The product to use is by the company Envirotex. The smaller kits are called Pour on finish and the professional end is called Crystal. A furniture maker that supplies furniture in the Cabela's catalogs uses the Crystal. Awesome looking, tricky to use. I believe their website gives hints on how to use it. Practice first.