SoZo Coffee Shop Table Top Series #1: Coffee Shop Table Top Project

I have no suggestions for finish type, but i think your work on this is beautiful. Great job!

-- Steve, Michigan - "Every piece of work is a self portrait of the person who accomplished it - autograph your work with excellence!" - Author unknown

Damn. Nice job.

Nice! Your other projects are also fantastic but, the one object in your post that caught my eye was your home made drum sander. What I could see of your design is very interesting. Perhaps you might post that project as there has been a great deal of LJ interest in drum sanders of late. Look forward to it!

-- Max the "night janitor" at www.hardwoodclocks.com

Great looking table top and I would also like to see more photos of your sander. Especially how you attach the paper. Thanks in advance.

-- Hal, Tennessee http://www.first285.com

I don’t have any good pictures of the drum sander quickly available, but there are lots of online resources if you google it. These are some pictures that I used when designing mine. I have a 1 hp motor wired at 220v and that is adequate for the task. The bed allows stock up to 21 inches wide. A wide sandpaper belt rolls around pvc pipe rollers centered on steel round stock with bearings. There is a hand crank on one side. I would highly recommend the upgrade to electric drive for the belt so that you have both hands free to manage your stock!

As far as how the sandpaper is attached to the drum, I cut out a small pocket on both ends and glued in a threaded T-nut. I pinch each end down with a bolt that runs through an wooden block cut to the size of the pocket. I also use a bit of spray adhesive on the back of the paper for added insurance. Occassionally you have to clean that up off the drum when you change paper, but it’s not hard to do. See the last picture.

-- DullChiselDoug, http://www.mcphersonvisionsinwood.com

A fantastic job it looks terrific.

-- W James Brokenbourgh Custom furniture maker http://artisticwoodstudio.com/

Great table! If I were you I’d go for an epoxy finish. It’d be waterproof, very durable, and long lasting. Your design would still show through. Not sure what epoxy to go with, likely a slow setting one so that you could spread it thin and even before it dries.

-- http://www.craftcollective.wordpress.com

I’m no expert in this, but I would say that inlay looks fantastic. I hope they are either very good friends, or paying you gobs of cash and / or coffee…

Finish them however you’d like color wise, accounting for my next suggestion is going to add a tinge of yellow to it, but use that clear heavy epoxy coating to protect it. Find one you like that levels to a thickness you can live with. It varies from brand to brand, and I think you can apply the stuff in layers. I have seen this stuff heaped on 1/4” thick in some places, and others it is barely perceptible. It offers a fantastic barrier against abuse and moisture. It’s what I see used in bar tops and tables around here, as well as the local coffee shops…

-- Manufacturer of fine quality sawdust since 1984. Comments and advice on my shop welcome. Check it out at http://lumberjocks.com/dbhost/workshop. Gladly accepting shop build donations!

That is some really fantastic inlay work. Major respect.

-- Brian in Arlington, TX - Laziness is the foundation of efficiency.

Amazing work! This is about as detailed as woodworking gets. I love doing inlays, but this was an ambitious project!
I would use a bar top finish for long life and the highest level of protection.

-- Willie, Washington "If You Choose Not To Decide, You Still Have Made a Choice" - Rush

That is absolutey gorgeous

-- Vladimir, Atlanga, GA

First, outstanding work, just thinking about the angles on the star made me dizzy and super kudos on the shop built drum sander!! I would use a pour on epoxy finish meant for bar tops – don’t forget to do the underside or the table will warp.

-- Sneaking up on the line....

Gives me all sorts of Ideas…

-- Drink twice... and don't bother to cut... @ larrysworkshop.wordpress.com For lovers of all things timber...

@degoose- oh boy, I can just imagine!

Sounds like I’m hearing that the marine/bar top style epoxy is getting multiple recommendations. The pricing is a bit scary for this product. Looks like I could buy it in 1.5 gallon amount for about $100 with shipping, or 1.5 quarts for about $50 with shipping. Do you think 1.5 quarts would be enough for 6- 24” x 24” table tops (top and bottom)?

-- DullChiselDoug, http://www.mcphersonvisionsinwood.com

I dont think 1.5 qts will be enough to do it Doug. You might want to give one of the manufacturers a call and find out what their recommended coating mils are or expected coverage rate. The bottom of course will be way thinner than the top, but you are still talking about over 48 sq ft of area to cover, 1/2 of which will need the thicker coating. For what its worth you really don’t need that much thickness to the top unless you envision having to buff out deep gouges. These folks talk about getting roughly 30 sq ft to a gallon. Is this a paying gig? If the numbers are set in stone you could do a lower grade finish and just let your friends know that it will probably have to be redone in the near future.

-- Sneaking up on the line....