Slab tables

[jeff...]

One of my nephews toured Graceland this weekend and showed me a picture book he got from the tour. One picture caught my eye, it was of a slab coffee table in Elvis' jungle room. Was wondering if anyone has made a table like this and what kind of finish is on it?

Here's a picture of the table, I think it's pretty cool...

http://www.photo.net/photo/pcd0088/graceland-jungle-2-38

Thanks

 

[DaveO]

I've never made a table like that, I wish I could afford the slab to try one with. I would guess that the top is finished with a bar-top self-leveling epoxy like where you see pennies or coasters embedded in it.
Dave

 

[jeff...]

Where can I get the finish? I would really like to try my hand at making something like this. Thinking an end table first to see whats involved.

 

[DaveO]

Woodcraft carries it as does Rockler. System 3 is a popular formulation http://www.tools-plus.com/sys0500k44.html

Other sources:
http://www.epoxyproducts.com/bartop.html

http://steebar.com/Supplies/Epoxy.html

HTH, Dave

 

[NCPete]

When I first came on to the forum, DavidF was having some tribulations with an epoxy finish on his demi-lune table. He would be a good person to ask about the products.

 

[MarkW]

I've done cyprus clocks that remind me of that finish. To do those I used a product like this. http://www.creative-wholesale.com/Crystal%20Sheen.html

It's pretty easy to use and is a rock hard finish. It will build very thick with 1 application also.

 

[DavidF]

When I first came on to the forum, DavidF was having some tribulations with an epoxy finish on his demi-lune table. He would be a good person to ask about the products.

I was actually using the system 3 "mirror coat" to fill the Jordan lake cutout in that project, but I did use it on some test pieces as a coating and it worked perfectly. I also attended a system 3 demo of the product where the rep covered a piece of wood about 1' x 6" in a layer of the stuff and lit ooked awesome! The trick is to get a small blow torch at the ready and just wave it over the surface as the bubbles appear and it turns out like glass.

http://www.systemthree.com/p_mirror_coat.asp

 

[D L Ames]

David. Would a heat gun serve the same purpose as the torch? Do you think it would produce enough heat to have the same effect?

D L

 

[DavidF]

David. Would a heat gun serve the same purpose as the torch? Do you think it would produce enough heat to have the same effect?

D L

Certainly a hair dryer doesn't work as I tried it, but a professional heat gun might - an experiment would be in order I think. I used one of the little micro torches that are commonly used for creme brule! HF does a small micro torch that takes lighter butane and is very small and light.

http://da.harborfreight.com/cpisearch/web/search.do?keyword=micro+torch&Submit=Go

 

[Kyle]

all of these are best applied when the wood is at 20% moisture content or lower. Burl tops are spectacular but a bear to dry. The big leaf slabs That I surrently have are all 6/4 or 5/4 to allow me to kiln dry the wood for uses such as this. The large wlanut slabs are 8/4 which and is in the realm of being able to be dried but only when the core reaches 25% or less to reduce defect.


The two part finishes are rock hard and very glossy. I personally like a more natural satin finish