Bartop Epoxy

Yes, they do exist. Do a google search for "bartop epoxy" and you will find several suppliers. You will not find it at mega centers because it is not commonly used in homes and is somewhat specialized. As useful as they are, mega stores just cannot carry all the products available for home improvement in all areas: they would need to be twenty times the size that they are, if not larger.

It is also not surprising that the mega store personnel do not know about bartop epoxies, and it is not really their fault: they usually are not skilled workers and they do try their best. But they usually are trained only to know the products that they stock, and they sometimes don't even know those products that well. I always ask "Who is the person who knows the most about ____?" When I get the blank stare followed by a helpful, "What is it you need to know?" I respond, "I need to know who here knows the most about ____." Sometimes, I'll humor them and actually ask the question, followed by "that's why I need to speak with the person who knows the most about ____."

Thanks Lawrence. I found a local place that sells it.

Does anyone here have any experience with this stuff? Is it better/easier/more durable than 3 or 4 coats of polyurethane? How are the fumes?

The stuff my father-in-law has is very durable. He has had it for 10 years now and it hasn't scratched or chipped at all. He put pictures and memorabilia underneath it. It looks real neat. As far as the fumes go I don't know. Have you finished the job yet? How did it turn out?

This stuff is very nice,but as being equalled to 3 or 4 coats of poly,try about 20-30 coats of poly,ive seen people coat over coins with this and still not able to feel a bump of the coin on the surface.As far as applying I have never done this.Good luck this should look great over oak.

Well, I chickened out and used polyurethane instead...

1) Being a basement with zero ventilation I was concerned with the fumes.

2) I did some research on bar top epoxies and they seemed difficult to use. One manufacturer even said to use a bernzomatic torch to remove bubbles.

3) Call me a chicken, but I had put so much time, effort, and money into this very custom bar top - I was afraid I would ruin it all. So I stuck with a product that I am comfortable using - polyurethane. I put the first coat (of many) on the bar top last night.

Looks great!

Be careful not to put to many coats of poly on,no more than 6 otherwise you could run into it peeling away from eachother.