What's the thick polyurethane coating that some bars use to preserve sports cards and pictures on the bar top?

Question

I'm adding a bar in my basement and always wanted to create a bar top similar to certain pubs and restaurants where old baseball cards or pictures are seemingly preserved forever under a thick layer of polyurethane varnish. The finish is transparent so you can see whatever is placed underneath it. I've tried doing this with regular varnish but it's simply too thin and doesn't set even. Does anyone know what this special finish is called and if there's a process to applying it?

Answer 1

It's a resin, and is rather challenging to try and do yourself for the first time. I helped the guy that did the bar for our restaurant, and it is a slow process, and requires the enviorment to not have any moving air in it, as to not allow any dust or airborne particals fly into this as you pour it, cause once it is in there, it's in there. There is also a technique used (invloving a spray bottle of water) you do to help eliminate the air bubbles. I would highly recommend using a scrap peice of wood to practice on, before trying this on your bar top, as once applied, is near impossible to undo and remove. The link below will give you more info on resin and links on types

Answer 2

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RE:
What's the thick polyurethane coating that some bars use to preserve sports cards and pictures on the bar top?
I'm adding a bar in my basement and always wanted to create a bar top similar to certain pubs and restaurants where old baseball cards or pictures are seemingly preserved forever under a thick layer of polyurethane varnish. The finish is transparent so you can see whatever is placed underneath...

Answer 3

I just used a high gloss clear polyurethane, dozens of coats. Worked for me but very time consuming. There are things you can get at craft stores like Hobby Lobby, it's a 2 part mixture, sorry I can't remember the name.

Answer 4

Thick Polyurethane

Answer 5

The product's name is ENVIROTEX-Lite. It's a 2 part epoxy based clear coating. You'll most likely find it in your local Independent Paint Stores. As far as application, It's pour on application. this product is great for your intentions, just pay special attention on mixing directions since this could make or break your project, epoxy in general, requires induction time before application and usually has a "pot-life"- it's a window of time before the catalyzed epoxy solidifies.
http://www.eti-usa.com/consum/envtex/envlite.htm

Answer 6

I always thought it was resin, like what they use to patch dinged surfboards. And, I'm pretty sure it's an epoxy (you have to mix two components to get it to harden).

As far as applying it, I would think you have to build some kind of form or build a ridge around the perimeter of the bar to keep the resin in place until it sets.

Answer 7

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Answer 8

If you are planning to start on your woodworking project, this isn't something you should use, it's something that you would be insane not to. Go here https://tr.im/QwNZe
Truth is, I've been a carpenter for almost 36 years, and I haven't found anything like this for less than 10's of thousands of dollars.

Answer 9

It is probably a two part epoxy.
I would use a piece of acrylic held in place with mirror screws or mirror clips so I could change the pics as I wished to suit the evening when friends call around.

Answer 10

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I like the spar urethane - but still takes several coats, and is what I used on my oak butcherblock counter top. I used 4 coats, three years ago, they are still like new.