Finish Question
#5
Have just built a table for our Airstream.  Walnut, maple, birch, Paduuk.  Need direction on a good finish.
Prefer hand applied, grain filling and not high gloss. Would like a satin or semi gloss finish.  Would also like it to be durable as we will be eating and playing games on it for many years to come.  

Many thanks.
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#6
Epoxy, i.e. bar-top finish would be the only one I can think of as a single step to do all you list. But might be too glossy for your taste.

Otherwise a seal coat of shellac followed by a good grainfiller and then a good brushed coat or two of polyurethane such as GF Enduro-Var.
Don't sweat the petty things and don't pet the sweaty things. -- G. Carlin
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#7
Yes, I think you will need to fill the grain if you want it dead flat.  Crystallac WB filler worked really well for me.  For a finish I would consider GF's Arm-R-Seal OB wipe on poly.  Comes in satin, semi gloss, and gloss.  Behlen's Rock Hard Urethane varnish or Waterlox would be good choices, too.  

John
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#8
I refinished several tables for the local Starbucks shop with 3 coats of gloss plus a final coat of semi-gloss Minwax oil base.  These tables lasted 10 years in that commercial environment and looked excellent when retired.   Applied over 4 days with sponge brushes.  

Based on that experience I would recommend the same.

P.S.:  The local Starbucks just got in new tables last month.  They are starting to look like crap already.
No animals were injured or killed in the production of this post.
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