Most durable top coat for a painted table

Question

I paint decorative pieces of wood furniture frequently-but they are light use. I am doing a dining table that gets used a lot, what is the best top coat product to use for something that will be spilled on and used pretty heavily?

Answer 1

This is a casual table? and not a fine piece of formal furniture? If this is for everyday, hard use, how about one of the bar top finishes? They are VERY durable, are meant to take alcohol and spills continuously and they go on heavily.

I would steer away from Polyurethane only because it has a sickly yellowish cast to it which might ruin your decorative painting job. Polyurethane is not a "nice" finish, but it does build up heavily and is durable, so consider it as a choice, but beware of that yellow urine color.

Check out this epoxy based bar top finish that is pretty much invincible: http://www.woodcraft.com/family.aspx?fam...

This is a similar product, which I have used for all kinds of coating, gluing and finishing, particularly in harsh enviroments. It was originally formulated for marine use - about the harshest use there is: http://www.woodcraft.com/family.aspx?Fam...

This stuff is closer to a traditional varnish and is even suitable for more formal furniture, but it's meant for tough use, like bar tops: http://www.woodcraft.com/family.aspx?Fam...

Answer 2

I would use polyurethane.at least 2 coats.