Is Epoxy the right finish for sinker cypress as a bathroom vanity topper?
JD99Fraser
| Posted in Finishing on
I’m building a bathroom vanity top out of a sinker cypress slab. It is a softer piece of wood than I was led to believe and but I’ve already paid for the shipping and have worked with it some so am seeking the best means to make it as waterproof and as hardened as possible. I’m looking at using West System Epoxy. I want the natural wood grain to show so 207 seems to be the hardener to use but should I also use 422 since it’ll be used as a bathroom counter-top? The slab is 73″ X 26″ X 3″ but I had to cut a cut out a check that ran down the heart and mend the halves back together. I used interior butterflies and decorative tiger wood butterflies on the faces. It’s my first attempt at woodworking so minor errors exist that could use the helpful filling properties of epoxy. What I need to know is whether epoxy will work with cypress? I fear that the epoxy won’t adhere sufficiently to the cypress or will crack and separate quickly, espeicaly when I drill the hole for the sink drain. I’m unsure if cypress is an oily wood or not and this is sinker cypress so it may react differently since it has sat in water/swamp for over a hundred years. This piece of cypress is kind of flaky and dents easily. I can write my intitials in the wood with my finger nail so I have to lay down a hard protective coat and I hope epoxy will look and last longer than polyurethane.
Replies
I can't answer your questions but this is what I'd do:
1. contact West Systems and ask them
2. Investigate using an epoxy sealer rather than the thicker sort of epoxy
3. And last but not least... try some of the chosen finish on some cyprus scrap before using it on your final piece.
4. and one more thought...epoxy isn't necessarily uv stable. If this bathroom gets a lot of sun, I'd rethink the whole idea.
Finish Inside
I would stay away from an epoxy finish -
Do you know how long this timber has been dry - can you check with a moisture meter ?
SA
Very little UV exposure. Windows surround our Japanese style tub so will be covered with shoji panels and do not have direct access to the vanity area.
Wow. Well, one HOPES that this is NOT the actual bowl that will have water flowing in it, but there will be a beautiful ceramic sink that sits atop the vanity top. However, inquiring minds would love to know. ;o)
You can use one of the pour on epoxy bar top finishes, I wouldn't use West Systems. Other finishes won't build up or be hard enough to protect soft lumber. The biggest issue with the pour on finishes is proper mixing along with correct temperature and humidity. You should drill any holes and do the sink cutout before the finish and allow extra for the build of the epoxy. Water getting in these areas and seeping into the wood can cause the finish to lift. There are a number of epoxy bar top finishes. Make sure you practice before committing to your top.
http://www.uscomposites.com/kk121.html
Vessel Sink
I'll install a vessel sink atop the slab, so I only need to drill the hole for the drain pipe to pass through. The faucet will be wall mounted so it won't cause any additional holes either. Thanks.
End result
Just reading your old post. I am also wanting to use a Cypress counter top in kitchen island. What did you end up using and did it work out? Epoxy or West epoxy, Tung oil or urethane?
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