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Showing off my new Concrete BGE Table

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premke
premke Posts: 12
edited April 2012 in EGG Table Forum

This is my first post to the BGE forum but I just wanted to brag a bit on my new table I built....Poured in place, colored concrete with a wood base structure.... 90% recycled materials, overall budget under $100....I think it turned out great...what do you think? 

image
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  • pezking7p
    pezking7p Posts: 132
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    Looking very nice.  I like the color you dyed the concrete.  Did you have to do anything to the surface to smooth it out? 
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  • MrCookingNurse
    MrCookingNurse Posts: 4,665
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    I like that tin man. Looks dope. Does the front slide open to give the egg air?


    _______________________________________________

    XLBGE 
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  • premke
    premke Posts: 12
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    I removed the forms a day or two early and polished with a orbital sander with 60 grit paper...used a lot of paper...I could have used a diamond polisher but I was looking for a more rough look...then finished it with 4-5 coats of a FDA approved sealant used for floors in food warehouses...FDA approved for incidental contact...final appearance is that of a sealed and smooth sidewalk or warehouse floor..NOT a super smooth polished finish..

    Yes the front slides either way for storage and ash cleaning/airflow control...but there is plenty of flow from underneath and around the "door" for air without needing it to be always open... 

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  • Smoker_Guru
    Smoker_Guru Posts: 372
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    Very Nice Work...
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  • ChokeOnSmoke
    ChokeOnSmoke Posts: 1,942
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    Very nice!

    I poured a concrete top on mine too.  Did it last summer and I'm happy to say it made it through the winter just fine and is looking good.  I dyed my concrete a darker grey.  Sanded it very little and put 2 coats of a clear patio sealer on it.

    One of these days I plan to experiment with some acid or water stains to jazz it up a bit.
    Packerland, Wisconsin

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  • cortguitarman
    cortguitarman Posts: 2,061
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    My cocrete top. @choke, there are sealers made specifically for counters. My buddy made mine. He makes kitchen counters and bathroom vanities all of the time. I can get you the name of the sealer if you are interested.

    This is my first post to the BGE forum but I just wanted to brag a bit on my new table I built....Poured in place, colored concrete with a wood base structure.... 90% recycled materials, overall budget under $100....I think it turned out great...what do you think? 

    image
    Your table looks good.
    Mark Annville, PA
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  • Bjorg
    Bjorg Posts: 241
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    I would like the name of that sealer. I will be making such a counter top shortly. 
    Quebec - Canada
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  • ChokeOnSmoke
    ChokeOnSmoke Posts: 1,942
    edited April 2012
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    @choke, there are sealers made specifically for counters. My buddy made mine. He makes kitchen counters and bathroom vanities all of the time. I can get you the name of the sealer if you are interested.
    Very professional looking.  I like the flecks of whatever that is in there (glass?).
    If I do some acid staining this summer I'll sand the sealer off and they have to apply another.
    So yeah, if you could get the name, that'd be great.

    Packerland, Wisconsin

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  • cortguitarman
    cortguitarman Posts: 2,061
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    The flecks in there are actually the agragate in the concrete. He used river rock instead of limestone in the mix. When ground down, the various colors of the rocks show through. Some are red,, some black, and some green & brown. He also makes them with glass in the mix. The possibilities are endless. I'll let you know the sealer name when I hear from him. Once sealed, it doesn't ever have to be redone.
    Mark Annville, PA
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  • RichardBronosky
    RichardBronosky Posts: 213
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    What does "poured in place" mean? I can't mean on top of the table from in place. That would be unnecessarily difficult.
    I finally took the plunge and bought my large Big Green Easter Egg from Roswell Hardware in Roswell, GA 03/31/2012
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  • cortguitarman
    cortguitarman Posts: 2,061
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    Yep, that's what t means. Mine was made in my buddy's shop. He has done both methods. He said doing then at his shop is much easier. Mostly because of the equipment he uses.
    Mark Annville, PA
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  • Mike8it
    Mike8it Posts: 468
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    Very nice
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  • ChokeOnSmoke
    ChokeOnSmoke Posts: 1,942
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    The flecks in there are actually the agragate in the concrete. He used river rock instead of limestone in the mix. When ground down, the various colors of the rocks show through. Some are red,, some black, and some green & brown. He also makes them with glass in the mix. The possibilities are endless. 
    Interesting stuff.  I plan to experiment with some of this stuff in the future.

     I'll let you know the sealer name when I hear from him. Once sealed, it doesn't ever have to be redone.
    Thanks.
    Packerland, Wisconsin

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  • cortguitarman
    cortguitarman Posts: 2,061
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    The coolest top he has made has chromed motorcycle sprockets embeded in the top. The counter is black with red glass. Another one he did was a circular table with bullet casings in the concrete. The center was open and filled with clear resin. The bullets were suspended in the resin to look like they had been fired from the shells.
    Mark Annville, PA
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  • premke
    premke Posts: 12
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    there are two main ways to make concrete countertops, which basically what the two photos of tables above are...My tabletop was "poured in place", meaning that I built concrete forms around the table and poured the concrete "in place"...the other method, which gives a much cleaner look and allows for a much smoother finish is to build the countertop in a mold, let it dry and then flip it over...many kitchen countertops are built this way....as for the red table above, it was poured in place and has the texture of a sidewalk...the gray table above is probably glass smooth....
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  • cortguitarman
    cortguitarman Posts: 2,061
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    Yes, premke, you are right on the money. The one like mine was poured upside down on a dead flat steel table. This gives it the smooth finish. Also lots of grinding with diamond wet grinders. The finish sealer was applied with an HVLP sprayer.

    I really like the red color on your top. It pops against the color of the egg and blends well with the deck.
    Mark Annville, PA
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  • cortguitarman
    cortguitarman Posts: 2,061
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    @ChokeOnSmoke & Bjorg, here is the link where my buddy buys his concrete sealer.
    http://concretecountertopsupply.com
    Mark Annville, PA
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  • Squeezy
    Squeezy Posts: 1,102
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    What kinda weight are we talking about here?

    Tornados won't move it that's for sure!

     

    Never eat anything passed through a window unless you're a seagull ... BGE Lg.
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  • ChokeOnSmoke
    ChokeOnSmoke Posts: 1,942
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    @ChokeOnSmoke & Bjorg, here is the link where my buddy buys his concrete sealer.
    http://concretecountertopsupply.com
    Thanks, I'll check out the sealer and the site.
    Packerland, Wisconsin

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  • cortguitarman
    cortguitarman Posts: 2,061
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    Mine is about 275 lbs
    Mark Annville, PA
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  • Bjorg
    Bjorg Posts: 241
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    Thanks. That stonelok countertop kit seems like the way to go. What do you guys do with hot cast iron grills? I would be nervous to put it on there as they specify 400 degree max. I thing I will just hang them vertically. 


     
    Quebec - Canada
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  • premke
    premke Posts: 12
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    mine is about 250lbs plus the egg...it ain't going anywhere, I've stood on it several times and it didn't budge...and BTW, the red color was a liquid color additive mixed into the dry concrete bag mix while adding water so it will never wear out....the attached panorama photo (sorry for the low quality panorama, I used a free iphone app) but you can also see my 300lb surfboard bar table which matches the egg table...I used the same color ratio on that and the colors are the same.

    as for polishing, i opted not to do the diamond grinder route just because of the $$$...I probably would never get as smooth as the cast one anyway but that was Ok for me...

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  • premke
    premke Posts: 12
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    Bjorg, I've never had an issue...even pulled a grill out at about 700 and set it on it ...no issues whatsoever...
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  • OMG Eggs
    OMG Eggs Posts: 118
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    I built my table a couple of years ago and used a concrete counter for my table as well.  I went with a rough look, primarily due to laziness & time restrictions - I didn't even seal it (I don't use it directly as a cutting board).  Other than some grease, it looks just like it did when it was new.

     

    Honestly, I'm surprised more people don't do this for their eggs.  The counter probably cost me $60 including the form material.  IMO, wood isn't a good countertop choice.

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  • VA in GA
    VA in GA Posts: 54
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    Premke,      Great Job, very classy looking.  :-)   Really like that you used recycled materials, save the planet. Kudos, Virginia in MI.
    Proud Griller of a BGE Medium, Small and Large in May 2015!
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  • Bjorg
    Bjorg Posts: 241
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    That is re-assuring premke

    Quebec - Canada
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  • UPinSMOKE
    UPinSMOKE Posts: 53
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    premke and OMGeggs!

    First of all, premke..congratulations on one beautiful table. 

    OK, a question for either, or both, of you. What kind of concrete did you use? Inquiring minds NEED to know! :D

    Cheers!

    Pat
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  • premke
    premke Posts: 12
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    I just used the standard high strength bags of concrete (sacrete, quicrete or redimix) bought from the local home depot...the reinforcement is by far the most important thing though....I used welded wire fabric (called  remesh at home depot) within the mix and secured elevated in the middle with screws..and a 3/8" rebar around the perimeter and around the circle form for the egg...see this pic...it might help... 

    big trick is to NOt have any reinforcement within 1 to 1-1/2" fo the edge of any concrete or it will eventually bust out...

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  • premke
    premke Posts: 12
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    pic of reinforcing is attached....image
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  • premke
    premke Posts: 12
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    BTW...my pieces of reinforcment are a mess since they were 100% recycled scrap pieces from construction sites...but they still work and are never seen again (I hope), unless i take a jackhammer to it...
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