Measuring a Finish Against the True Test of Time

News2u

Well, it’s been almost 2 months since we pushed our table out of the nest to fly on its own after applying an epoxy-varnish finish I got off YouTube.This is the inaugural cook 1 day after leaving the table to fend for itself:

Briefly, I used 2 build-up coats of a high end epoxy containing UV inhibitors, then rolled on 5 coats of high quality varnish with even stronger UV protectants: 

Our egg is a work horse, typically fired up 3 times a week no matter what the weather might bring. It sits under a patio umbrella and, when not being used, stays draped with a fitted cover.

Under the most punishing of conditions, cooking low and slow through just about everything clammy northeast Florida can throw at it -- from monsoon rains to extremely brutal heat — the finish looks like it went on yesterday. 

So far no indication the finish is failing in any way. All glued and laminated joints remain tight, no cracks or separation points. No discoloration or fading from sun exposure. I’ll keep posting pictures every couple of months -- come rain or shine — to monitor how the finish holds up over time. I’ll post the good, the bad, and the ugly:

Thatgrimguy

Sure looks great. And if you cover it between uses, I feel sure it will look great for a long time to come.  

News2u

Agreed, only we're not that good about remembering to keep it covered at times. In some ways the cover can pose some hidden dangers. Invariably water leaks in through seams or build up from all the humidity, leaving a very wet film of water that practically never fully dries. So as much as you have to remember to cover the table, you have to also remember to uncover it to let dry and air out.

RRP

As a professional painter told me once is with varnish it will last for years to come, but if you ever gouge through the surface you need to apply varnish to it immediately before it gets wet as water will ruin the bond around the gouge, ruining the finish  underneath and you'll have a bear of a time without stripping and starting over. BTW beautiful table!

News2u

Dern good point, my man. A break through to the wood and you're open to all kinds bad things; mold and mildew can start growing underneath the finish.