Replies

1. 
   zak | Jun 10, 2006 09:02pm | #1

   I'm not going to answer your question on wood finish, I'm sure there are people here with more information than me on that subject, but I would recommend gorilla glue over titebond for anything exterior.  It has a way better track record dealing with moisture, and better safe than sorry.

   zak

   "so it goes"

2. 
   user-93637 | Jun 10, 2006 11:50pm | #2

   Another vote for Resorsinol (sp?). I used it on a boat I built as a kid -- 35 years later glue joints tight! A bit messy and smelly to mix but durable.

3. 
   Conrad | Jun 11, 2006 02:25am | #3

   Regardless of what finish you use, all wood shrinks and expands with the seasons. Finish can slow the process down but will not prevent it. It really doesn't matter much if you use a surface finish like spar varnish or a penetrating finish like tung oil. Unless there is no way this wood will be exposed to direct sunlight and rain, I would avoid oil finishes. Spar varnish can be a good choice if exposed to sunlight due to it's UV inhibitors, but it remains relatively soft. A UV-stablized polyurethane might just be the ticket, especially for a bar top. As far as glue goes, the absolute best for outdoor glue-ups is epoxy. It's readily available where boatbuilding supplies are sold, or various sources like Jamestown Distributors. You can even coat your entire project in epoxy to slow moisture transfer as much as possible, but you still need a topcoat of poly, etc.

   Conrad

4. 
   Danusan11 | Jun 11, 2006 05:14am | #4

   West system epoxy 3 coats, finish with spar. Works great for boats and will be water tight like a frogs hiney. Use it to glue up the boards also. If you are so inclined, there are some tricks to using and I would fill in the spaces if needed.

1. 
   BillBrennen | Jun 11, 2006 08:37am | #5

   Yep, what Danusan said. Resorcinol would also work well, but is overkill for a bar top, and the epoxy is the superior coating for moisture control, so you will need to buy it anyway. Overcoat with marine spar varnish, and you're done.Bill

5. 
   limeyjoiner | Jun 11, 2006 10:05pm | #6

   personally I would go for the gorilla glue. I've had some glue failures when using epoxies with oak (has something to do with the natural acids in the wood)

   Resorcinol would work well but the gluelines will show as the glue dries red.

   if you do coat it with epoxy make sure you coat all surfaces top and bottom even where you can't see, any uncoated surfaces will absorb moisture causing the board to cup, but it will provide an excellent base for the urethane spar varnish.

   Duncan Miller carpenter/wooden boatbuilder

   "Man is a tool-using animal. Without tools he is nothing, with tools he is all." Thomas Carlyle (1795-1881)