Wood finish question - The Firearms Forum

TedW · 06-20-2004, 10:31 PM

Folks,

I hope someone out there can help me. I'm planning to finish the top of my portable shooting bench with some sort of polyurethane or similar hard finish, and decided while I'm at it, I'd decorate it with vintage ammo & gun advertisements just for the heck of it. I was wondering if anyone knew what type and brand of finish is often used by restaurants to permanently seal photos, seashells, etc. inside table tops. I was told it was some type of polyurethane, but I'm not certain about that.

I'm sure there are probably several brands of this type of finish, but I thought maybe someone out there might have used this product before and could tell me what to look for and where to find it.

Any input you may have is greatly appreciated.

BlueTic · 06-20-2004, 10:50 PM

What your looking for is a resin coat. Don't know the brand name but you mix it kinda like fiberglass and almost pour the coats on. You need to take stips of wood and form up the sides to the height of where you want the resin and take them off before the last coat and just brush it down on the sides with the last coat. sand just a little between coats to get rid of small bubbles - That will look really cool for a bench!!!!

rosierita · 06-20-2004, 10:53 PM

if you go w/ the polyurethane, go w/ a HIGH GLOSS. the others just dont hold up as well from what i've experienced.

i'm not certain that a name brand will matter.

gpostal · 06-21-2004, 06:13 AM

you can get what Restaurants use ,it is called decupoge or poly coupoge ,{?spelling},you can get it at craft stores ,it is a two part resin ,like mixing a epoxy ,but and easy to work with ,I have done several pictures ,the only flaw in your plan is that ,it don’t hold up good in the sun ,it will melt ,in severe heat ,if you notice restaurants ,don’t have them hanging in the sun

I have some ,I will look up the name when I get home from work

keppler · 06-21-2004, 06:26 AM

You might consider laying a sheet of plexiglass over the top. A good bead of silicone around the edges underneath the plexi should seal it fron moisture. This stuff is easy to work with and if laying flat should be resistant to cracking or splitting. You can sand the edges then heat with a propane torch to get a ultra smooth edge.

armedandsafe · 06-21-2004, 11:11 AM

I've done some decoupage and have not had good luck with it for outdoor projects. It fogs, hazes, chips, cracks and softens very rapidly outdoors. I like the idea of a plexiglass cover much better.

<http://familycrafts.about.com/cs/decoupage/a/012201a.htm>

Pops

JohnK3 · 06-21-2004, 11:28 AM

A good two-part marine epoxy, such as West Systems by the Gougeon Brothers, would do the trick.

UV stable, easy to measure and apply. Aircraft Spruce (www.aircraftspruce.com) has it. I've got a gallon of it at home that I use for my big honkin' rockets.

TedW · 06-23-2004, 08:43 PM

Thanks for the advice, everyone!

howtodecoupage · 07-29-2009, 10:05 PM

yep, you are right! Decoupage doesn't do so well outdoors. LOL! Great thread guys.

kutaho · 07-29-2009, 11:23 PM

Linseed oil, rotten rock, and a Lot of elbow grease.

didn't pay attention, I take back what i said...

johnlives4christ · 07-29-2009, 11:28 PM

best thing for it is an epoxy resin. basically fiberglass kit without the fiberglass. the reasons i recommend is first it will be impervious to the elements, second it will cover your decoration without problem, and third. if it gets scratched or cloudy from use you can sand it and buff it out again if needed.

06-20-2004, 10:31 PM	#1
TedW Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: McKinney, TX Posts: 49	Wood finish question Folks, I hope someone out there can help me. I'm planning to finish the top of my portable shooting bench with some sort of polyurethane or similar hard finish, and decided while I'm at it, I'd decorate it with vintage ammo & gun advertisements just for the heck of it. I was wondering if anyone knew what type and brand of finish is often used by restaurants to permanently seal photos, seashells, etc. inside table tops. I was told it was some type of polyurethane, but I'm not certain about that. I'm sure there are probably several brands of this type of finish, but I thought maybe someone out there might have used this product before and could tell me what to look for and where to find it. Any input you may have is greatly appreciated. __________________ TedW -->

06-20-2004, 10:50 PM	#2
BlueTic Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: WA Posts: 652	What your looking for is a resin coat. Don't know the brand name but you mix it kinda like fiberglass and almost pour the coats on. You need to take stips of wood and form up the sides to the height of where you want the resin and take them off before the last coat and just brush it down on the sides with the last coat. sand just a little between coats to get rid of small bubbles - That will look really cool for a bench!!!! __________________ If you don't like my rights - please leave my country!

06-20-2004, 10:53 PM	#3
rosierita Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: South Carolina Posts: 5,218	if you go w/ the polyurethane, go w/ a HIGH GLOSS. the others just dont hold up as well from what i've experienced. i'm not certain that a name brand will matter. __________________

06-21-2004, 06:26 AM	#5
keppler Senior Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: Eastern Oklahoma Posts: 646	You might consider laying a sheet of plexiglass over the top. A good bead of silicone around the edges underneath the plexi should seal it fron moisture. This stuff is easy to work with and if laying flat should be resistant to cracking or splitting. You can sand the edges then heat with a propane torch to get a ultra smooth edge. __________________ They are not cold.... Μολὼν λαβέ

06-23-2004, 08:43 PM	#8
TedW Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: McKinney, TX Posts: 49	Thanks for the advice, everyone! __________________ TedW

06-21-2004, 06:13 AM	#4
gpostal Former Guest Join Date: Feb 2003 Posts: 4,552	you can get what Restaurants use ,it is called decupoge or poly coupoge ,{?spelling},you can get it at craft stores ,it is a two part resin ,like mixing a epoxy ,but and easy to work with ,I have done several pictures ,the only flaw in your plan is that ,it don’t hold up good in the sun ,it will melt ,in severe heat ,if you notice restaurants ,don’t have them hanging in the sun I have some ,I will look up the name when I get home from work

06-21-2004, 11:11 AM	#6
armedandsafe Former Guest Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Moses Lake, WA Posts: 10,344	I've done some decoupage and have not had good luck with it for outdoor projects. It fogs, hazes, chips, cracks and softens very rapidly outdoors. I like the idea of a plexiglass cover much better. <http://familycrafts.about.com/cs/decoupage/a/012201a.htm> Pops

06-21-2004, 11:28 AM	#7
JohnK3 Advanced Senior Member Join Date: May 2003 Posts: 1,636	A good two-part marine epoxy, such as West Systems by the Gougeon Brothers, would do the trick. UV stable, easy to measure and apply. Aircraft Spruce (www.aircraftspruce.com) has it. I've got a gallon of it at home that I use for my big honkin' rockets.

07-29-2009, 10:05 PM	#9
howtodecoupage Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 2	Re: Wood finish question yep, you are right! Decoupage doesn't do so well outdoors. LOL! Great thread guys. __________________ Want to learn How To Decoupage?

07-29-2009, 11:23 PM	#10
kutaho Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Peoples Republic of the Pacific Northwest Posts: 1,852	Re: Wood finish question Linseed oil, rotten rock, and a Lot of elbow grease. didn't pay attention, I take back what i said... __________________ No man stands in the same river twice If all else fails grab a rock Mi Taku oyasin Last edited by kutaho; 07-29-2009 at 11:50 PM..

07-29-2009, 11:28 PM	#11
johnlives4christ Former Guest Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Kentucky Posts: 3,828	Re: Wood finish question best thing for it is an epoxy resin. basically fiberglass kit without the fiberglass. the reasons i recommend is first it will be impervious to the elements, second it will cover your decoration without problem, and third. if it gets scratched or cloudy from use you can sand it and buff it out again if needed.