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+-- Thread: Barn Wood Coffee Table (/showthread.php?tid=7335129)
RE: Barn Wood Coffee Table - BaileyNo5 - 01-25-2018
I'm still occasionally considering finishes for this table. Also seems like someone else on the forum was asking about finishes for weathered wood. Can't remember who or which forum. I did a little experiment with two different varnishes. Broke a board in half, and one half of one side was coated with Varnish #1, and half of the other side got Varnish #2. The varnished half is on the top in both photos below.
Varnish #1 was General Finishes water base gloss. As you might expect, it darkened the light gray color, but didn't really change it a lot.
![[Image: 39192666144_23f154e6a8_z.jpg]](https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4723/39192666144_23f154e6a8_z.jpg)
Varnish #2 was Varathane oil base gloss. It also darkened the board, even more than Varnish #1. Which is not surprising.
![[Image: 39870366222_7de9a7df47_z.jpg]](https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4653/39870366222_7de9a7df47_z.jpg)
So if I had to pick one to use that preserved the original look, it would be the water base varnish.
RE: Barn Wood Coffee Table - barryvabeach - 01-26-2018
Nice work. I made a head board out of pallet wood for a friend's child. I hit it with a 60 grit flap sanding disk using an angle grinder to take off any splinters, and surprisingly, that did not mess up the patina. I sealed it with two coats of General Finishes semi gloss, and you don't see the finish, but again, it sealed the surface quite well.
RE: Barn Wood Coffee Table - crokett™ - 01-26-2018
I know this would spoil the look some, but have you thought about a sheet of glass over the top? this would preserve the existing weathering and still protect from splinters, etc.
RE: Barn Wood Coffee Table - BaileyNo5 - 01-26-2018
(01-26-2018, 09:10 AM)crokett™ Wrote: I know this would spoil the look some, but have you thought about a sheet of glass over the top? this would preserve the existing weathering and still protect from splinters, etc.
That's a good idea.....for most folks. I have no one to blame but myself. I made wooden mallets for several of my grandkids.....and they like to use them. I'll skip the glass for now......
