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Cabinets, Furniture, Woodworks/table top needs finishing without replacing the glass

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Expert: - 8/9/2009


Question
Hi,
I recently picked up an octagon shaped wooden end table at Goodwill.  The top of the table has a beautiful design carved into it and there is an inset where a glass piece used to be to cover the engraved area.  Replacing that glass would be extremely expensive...is there anything I can apply to the top in order to even out the table crevices with the outer layer of the table?  I'm thinking clear lacquer or something like it?  Any advise/product suggestions you have would be much appreciated.  I've seen people make table tops/bars out of bottle caps and other sports memorabilia, how do they get that even surface??

Thanks,
Kristal

Answer
Hi Kristal, what your referring to is a poured epoxy coating. I don't think an end table sized piece of glass would be that expensive, especially if you can provide a template for the glass cutter.You can make a template from brown paper, cardboard, etc. Carefully trace the outline, with the table upside down on the template material, then after cutting out the template, use a pencil and your fingers to carefully mark the setback around the edge, and cut off the strip around the template edge to arrive at the inset glass size. Just the materials to do a pored epoxy finish will likely cost as much or more than a piece of glass. Also, you have to learn the technique involved in doing the poured finish.....and it's not easy to do.Hope that helps a little, but i would inquire with a few glass companies for pricing. Regards- Greg

Cabinets, Furniture, Woodworks

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Greg Scholl

Expertise

Questions on Woodworking, wood finishing and refinishing of all kinds, repairing furniture and wooden objects, Architectural details, Woodturning, carving, tool usage, product usage, some chemistry as it applies to woodworking and related interests,cabinet making and furniture construction/design, etc. I have experience with all manners of colorants, finishes, paints, stains, dyes, glazes, and coatings, wood species recognition and usage,tool recommendations, blade types and recommendation,techniques and methods for many Woodworking related issues, etc.

Experience

Fine furniture restorer and cabinet maker for over 30 years,serving high end Antique dealers, Interior designers, Collectors in the CT area. Consulting for area Painting/Decorating and Building contractors on non painting issues..(staining, wood prep.,clear finishing, floor restoration and architectural detail restoration and repair, etc.) Sold, built, serviced, setup Home, Industrial, and Commercial stationary woodworking tools for a major tool retailer in CT. for three years, sold hand and power tools , provided knowledge, parts replacement, service, and on site service, Trade show Demo, and training as well.

Publications
Published in Fine Woodworking Magazine (12/97), included on Fine Woodworkings first "Best of Fine Woodworking" CD-ROM (2002) ...("27 year compilation of expert know-how")

Education/Credentials
Art School at Silvermine Guild in Norwalk, CT., 9 year apprenticeship in a European run Cabinet and Restoration shop in CT., various classes on subjects having to do with the field. Seminars from major Tool manufacturers, Skil/Bosch, Delta, Powermatic, Ritter, Porter cable, Milwaukee, Dewalt/B&Decker, Performax.

Past/Present Clients
Many varied clients including work on Martha Stewarts' Westport, CT. show house, many fine Antique dealers and private collectors in and around Fairfield County and in Woodbury, CT. (the Antiques capital of CT.), Golden Age of Trucking Museum, Wilton Historical Society.

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