What kind of clear resin can you use on an outdoor table that won't turn yellow from the sun?

Question

I am making a pool side table with a beaded top. I need to cover the beads with a clear resin. I have checked Envirotex lite & Klear Kote that they use on bars, both say not to use outside. The UV rays will yellow them. There has to be somehting to put on an ouside table top that won't yellow or amber with age. Both the Fiberglass boat shops & the Envirotex Co. sent me to the bar top people. Has anyone made anything like this & used a clear resin on it?

YoHo, i checked out your site & they said their product was not right for the application I was looking for. As for the Marine application they said it was not clear enough. The bar top application will not hold up in outside weather. I don't understand that I know they have bars outside!!! Going to Sherman Williams next & ask.

Checked Sherwin Williams nothing. Have 4 other sites checked nothing. How thick would 10 coats of polyurethane be? It would have to be at least 1/4 inch to cover beads!!

Answer 1

I would suggest a water based gloss polyurethane. Many, thin coats. I would recommend 8-10 coats.

Update - Water based poly dries so fast you should be able to easily put on 10 coats a day. You could put on 100 coats if you wanted to.. Just keep going until you feel satisfied.
I suppose another option is you could take a sheet of glass and with a torch (Probably MAPP or Acetylene) melt the glass into the beads, depending on the type of beads you are using.

Answer 2

Outdoor Resin Table

Answer 3

ODD that you were sent away by a Boat Mfg. That would be my first suggestion, Fiberglass resin, seeing as how much it has to endure applied to a boat.

One answer states check things such as UV rated resins, and perhaps MSDS sheets would offer some clue?

No offense at all, but it seems as if more research is needed. The issue certainly is the yellowing, and even outdoor bars aren't involved in the critical nature that implies.

Steven Wolf

Have you considered a Glass top over?

Answer 4

The owner of an epoxy products company told me a while ago that all clear epoxy putties will eventually yellow. I know that superglue and epoxy glue can influence eachother and to me it sounds like the superglue is accelerating the yellowing process. Have you tried leaving the superglue a few days alone before applying the epoxy? What is the reason for the epoxy by the way? Are you making something like a "glass" cover for the picture? Like you sometimes see with pendants? If you are only using the superglue to keep the picture in place while you are applying epoxy you could also experiment with other glues. For instance elmers (roughen the surface you apply it too) or a rubber glue. Diane: that's a great website you have there!

Answer 5

Resin is probably not the way to go as a top finish.
If you asked for a resin at "boat people" it's probably the reason they turned you to the "bar people"
Resins are not used on the "brightwork" you will find on boats
Go back to the "boat people" , ask about a marine varnish & see what they can recommend for your purpose .
Spar varnish withstands weather & is used on spruce , masts & spars as well as mahogany & teak for interior & exterior use ....pine? might want to rethink a glossy finish.
Mc Kloskeys is an over the counter "spar varnish" which is OK
Better stuff at marine supply.
Would not use polyurethane "varnish ", it will get scabby & is tough to redo.
In any event ,check the cans of whatever you use to see if it is "food safe"
Best regards

Answer 6

I was comfused when I first saw this in my mail. I ask this question ovrer 3 years ago when I was making a pool side table for my brother. At this point i don t eve remember what I ended up doing to finish it.

Answer 7

http://www.clearstarcorp.com/products.asp
or maybe use any resin then buy a clear anti-uv top coat.

Answer 8

acrylic?