How to Clear Coat a Bar Top

Your bar is constructed and ready for use, so why not protect all your hard work with one final touch? If you want a scratch-proof, ultra shiny appearance found on restaurant table tops and bars, an epoxy clear coat is an option to consider. Preparation, application and finalizing an epoxy clear coat is a step that can increase the value and durability of your bar top for decades. Does this Spark an idea?

Instructions

1

Clear the surface of any oils, grease, dirt or water before application. Epoxy Methods recommends cleaning the surface with a cloth lightly moistened with isopropyl alcohol after the surface has been lightly sanded.

2

Mix the epoxy according to its instructions. Ratios can be a 1-to-1 resin to hardener or 2-to-1 resin to hardener, according to Epoxy Methods. Mix the product for one to two minutes to ensure a consistent mixture.

3

Brush on a thin layer of the epoxy clear coat. According to Hub Pages, this seals open pores and stops air bubbles from forming in successive coats. Allow this coat to dry. According to Epoxy Methods, a quick check for full hardness can be performed by pressing a thumbnail into the coating. If no indentation occurs, the surface is dry and hardened.

4

Apply a second or "flood" coat to the surface. According to Hub Pages, this coat should be applied in layers of 1/8 of an inch at a time. Allow four to eight hours to dry.

5

Apply another flood coat. There is no standard amount of coats for bar tops, but Hub Pages suggests that most bar tops will require three coats. Sanding is not required between coats.