Alternative to Conversion Varnish?

[DavidCBaker]

I'm building some bar counters for my son's brewery (Atlanta and Birmingham) and I'm trying to match the Ash tables. The professional people used a conversion varnish, so I bought a gallon...and then realized that it can only apparently be sprayed on. I don't have a spray setup, nor do I have a place to spray them. So I could really use your help:

1) Can I brush/roll the stuff? I'm guessing not since they don't give that option in the instructions. They are 16" wide by about 10' long.

2) If I can't, can you recommend a finish that could be applied by hand (rag or brush) and would hold up decently? It won't have water on it, but people will obviously be setting a cold drink or two on it.

If it only lasts a year or so, I'm good with that. I'll just carefully plan to disown him before he discovers what a loser his Dad is.

 

[mrFinpgh]

I think Target Coatings has a polycarbonate urethane that can be applied w/o a sprayer. I think that's supposed to be a pretty tough product.

One of the other companies makes something that I think [member=4105]tjbnwi[/member]  has some familiarity with. I can't remember the name, though.

 

[tjbnwi]

The product I use (Kem Aqua +) is spray only.

Use;
https://generalfinishes.com/wood-fi...anding-sealer/enduro-var-water-based-urethane

Tom

 

[Svar]

What difference does the application method make? Visible brush strokes? Consider it a feature. It's a bar, people will be too drunk to notice.

 

[DavidCBaker]

Thanks to all of you--really helpful, and I have the solution from your ideas.

 

[tjbnwi]

What difference does the application method make? Visible brush strokes? Consider it a feature. It's a bar, people will be too drunk to notice.

KA+ when brushed dries so fast you can’t lay it out.

Tom

 

[Cheese]

KA+ when brushed dries so fast you can’t lay it out.

Could you roll it out Tom with an 18" wide roller?

 

[tjbnwi]

KA+ when brushed dries so fast you can’t lay it out.

Could you roll it out Tom with an 18" wide roller?

Highly doubt it..........

Tom

 

[Packard]

The clear finish I see most often in bars is a poured epoxy.  It is apparently super durable and easy to apply (but requires following directions exactly).

It does look plasticy to my eye.

I refinished the table tops at a local  Starbucks which would seem to get the same abuse that a bar would.  I put down four coats of brushed on oil based Minwax gloss. 

They remodel Starbucks stores on  a 10 year cycle and the tables were all in good condition when they remodeled it.  So about 8 to 9 years of service. 

The key, in my opinion, was waiting 200 hours (about 8 days) for the finish to cure prior to putting it in service. The finish will continue to cure over several months but most of the curing will be done in 200 hours.

I have the same finish on my kitchen countertops for over 10 years, but that is not nearly the abuse that the Starbucks' tables would have had to withstand.

I lightly scuffed between coats so from start to finish it took two weeks.  That is the biggest obstacle.  But even the poured epoxy  calls for 36 yo 48 hours before light use and 30 days for a complete cure.