Two-part Epoxy Strengthener for Softwood Lumber

[zdorsch]

On this morning's episode of This Old House they were showing how they constructed a pine top dining table. As part of the finishing they applied a two-part epoxy to strengthen the pine top. It was further explained that they would then poly over that surface. The epoxy mix really brought out the deep coloring in the pine and made it look very nice.

Has anyone ever tried using this method with pine? I'm wondering how effective this would actually be.

Thanks,

Zach

 

[Howard Acheson]

Was it a pour-on finish or a brushed on finish?

In general, epoxy scratches fairly easily and can not be effectively repaired.

 

[tryingtokeepmyfingers]

Was it a pour-on finish or a brushed on finish?

In general, epoxy scratches fairly easily and can not be effectively repaired.

I saw this also and wondered what it was... they brushed it on and said the wood just soaked it up deep....

also I learned about a brush sander for the first time

 

[zdorsch]

Howard,

It was a brushed on finish, like tryingtokeepmyfingers said, that looked to be the consistency of stain.

I want one of the wire brush sander tools now too!

 

[Tarhead]

Check out Smith & Company's epoxy primer CPES: Smith & Co. - Restoration Products
Not sure if they used it on the show but it will accomplish the same thing.

 

[mkepke]

I caught that episode, but thought the color looked hideous. The epoxy had a molasses color and really changed the look of the raw wood - the table looks like it has a racing stripe.

You can see it on Season 31, ep 14

Ep. 14: Doors and Tabletops | TOH Episodes | TV | This Old House

-Mark

 

[gazzer]

Check out Smith & Company's epoxy primer CPES: Smith & Co. - Restoration Products
Not sure if they used it on the show but it will accomplish the same thing.

I used CPES on a cypress chest lid. I think I put 3 coats on, basically flooding it on until it would not soak up any more. I'd say it worked great as a primer, allowing me to sand for the final finish a bit better. With the hard and soft grain of the cypress, sanding tends to eat out the soft wood leaving a wavy surface. The CPES seemed to harden the surface so it was uniform.

Because the chest is an outside piece, it still needs to be coated with something like spar varnish to prevent damage to the epoxy.

-G