I am building a small side table (30" semi-circle) with a surface
covered with glued-on preserved leaves (The leaves are from a grape
vine and I preserved them last year in glycerine solution).

I want to cover the leaves with a thick and hopefully waterproof
finish. The finish should be thick enough to mostly smooth out the
surface, maybe 1/16" or so. I'm also thinking that I may want to the
finish to have an amber color.

I know I could do a pourable epoxy finish, but I think it will be much
thicker than I'd like, and it's not particularly the look I'm trying to
get.

Various options I'm considering:

- McCloskey's Gymseal: It's mainly for floors, but it's also
recommended for bar tops. They claim it very hard, but also a little
flexible, which may be helpful for coating the leaves.

- Behlen's Rockhard

- Minwax Helmsman Spar Urethane (which is for both interior and
exterior surfaces)

- Regular oil-based polyurethane

In addition, the fewer coats required, the better, and a finish that's
easy to apply with room for error (unlike epoxy) would be nice.

If it ends up that epoxy is the really the best way, I may coat the
table with amber shellac before applying the epoxy. Maybe instead of
pourable epoxy, something like the brushable Progressive Epoxy's Basic
No Blush 2 would work (see at http://epoxyproducts.com).

Clearly, the best thing to do would be some tests on some scrap wood
with some of the extra leaves I have. If I mess it up the main table I
won't have enough leaves to try again and would have to have to do the
table without leaves.

Any sugggestions or advice would be much appreciated

Thanks.

DD

System Three "Mirror Coat". It is a 2-part epoxy but the only finish I know
of that can be built to 1/16" without problems (cracking, crazing, etc.).
This is the stuff they use to cover bar tops and such. You pour it on and
it cures crystal clear and was abolutely made for your application.

wrote in message
ups.com...
I am building a small side table (30" semi-circle) with a surface
covered with glued-on preserved leaves (The leaves are from a grape
vine and I preserved them last year in glycerine solution).

I want to cover the leaves with a thick and hopefully waterproof
finish. The finish should be thick enough to mostly smooth out the
surface, maybe 1/16" or so. I'm also thinking that I may want to the
finish to have an amber color.

I know I could do a pourable epoxy finish, but I think it will be much
thicker than I'd like, and it's not particularly the look I'm trying to
get.

Various options I'm considering:

- McCloskey's Gymseal: It's mainly for floors, but it's also
recommended for bar tops. They claim it very hard, but also a little
flexible, which may be helpful for coating the leaves.

- Behlen's Rockhard

- Minwax Helmsman Spar Urethane (which is for both interior and
exterior surfaces)

- Regular oil-based polyurethane

In addition, the fewer coats required, the better, and a finish that's
easy to apply with room for error (unlike epoxy) would be nice.

If it ends up that epoxy is the really the best way, I may coat the
table with amber shellac before applying the epoxy. Maybe instead of
pourable epoxy, something like the brushable Progressive Epoxy's Basic
No Blush 2 would work (see at http://epoxyproducts.com).

Clearly, the best thing to do would be some tests on some scrap wood
with some of the extra leaves I have. If I mess it up the main table I
won't have enough leaves to try again and would have to have to do the
table without leaves.

Any sugggestions or advice would be much appreciated

Thanks.

DD

I want to cover the leaves with a thick and hopefully waterproof finish.

I've had good luck with Behlen's Rockhard for a tabletop - no leaves,
though (except the one that makes the table bigger). I found it was
easy to brush on, the brush marks "flowed" out before it hardened, and
it built up to a thick coat fairly quickly. Just be sure you sand
lightly between coats.
Good luck,
Andy

wrote:

I am building a small side table (30" semi-circle) with a surface
covered with glued-on preserved leaves (The leaves are from a grape
vine and I preserved them last year in glycerine solution).

I want to cover the leaves with a thick and hopefully waterproof
finish. The finish should be thick enough to mostly smooth out the
surface, maybe 1/16" or so. I'm also thinking that I may want to the
finish to have an amber color.

KraftKote

http://www.klockit.com/products/dept-94__sku-GGGHH.html


--
Jack Novak
Buffalo, NY - USA

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On 29 May 2006 10:01:44 -0700, wrote:

I am building a small side table (30" semi-circle) with a surface
covered with glued-on preserved leaves (The leaves are from a grape
vine and I preserved them last year in glycerine solution).

Don't know exactly how thick you can build it up, but you could try a
two-part cabinet maker's finish. Build it up with acyrilic sealer,
sand it, then topcoat with a conversion finish. It'll be tough and
waterproof- and makes for a really nice surface. The stuff we use at
work comes from Sherwin Williams- I'm sure they'd be able to help you
if you popped into one and asked.