I’ve searched the Knots forum and found lots of information about exterior finishes for wood doors.
I am making a maple table top (12×12) that I’ve routed a persons name in. I put black latex semi-gloss paint in the routed letters and sanded everything smooth. The table will be outside under a covered patio. UV protection is not a consideration since it will not be receiving any direct sunlight. Since it is a table, it will have drinks placed on it. I’m considering a spar poly (Olympic), but am not sure what that would do to the paint in the letters. Question: what finish should I put on top to protect the maple from moisture?
Update – I’m leaning toward Krylon clear indoor/outdoor acrylic. I read on Olympics web site that their spar poly should not be used on indoor projects as the absence of direct sunlight will cause the finish to cloud up…..
Thanks in advance!
Edited 7/21/2005 2:04 pm ET by jhcrowman
Replies
Spar varnish will work and it will leave you with something of an amber colored finish.
If you want something really tough, do what the boatbuilders do. There is a product from US Paint called, I think it is called Awl-clear that is an exterior two part finish. It is very clear. In fact, they also have a product called Awl-Spar for those who want the spar varnish look. You would have to order through a Marine store or catalog, like West Marine. It is not cheap at all.
Good luck
Two very good clear exterior varnishes are Minwax ClearShield and Benjamin-Moore Alkyd Ultra Deep Base (C133). The Minwax is available at HD and leaves a very clear, high-gloss finish. It's a little too thick (probably to meet the VOC regs here in CA); thinning helps it flow out.
The B-M is an exterior paint base. It too leaves a beautiful clear finish, though slightly more amber. It is even thicker than the Minwax.
According to someone who did a long-term test, the Olympic paint base performed better than anything else.
I have a couple of test pieces sitting outside with various exterior (and interior) finishes on them. It should be interesting to see how they compare after a year or so...
"Everything should be made as simple as possible, but no simpler." A. Einstein
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