Replies

1. 
   HowardAcheson | Jun 03, 2003 05:31pm | #1

   Mineral oil mixed with a little paraffin would be fine. However, it will not last very long. A more durable finish would be an oil/vanish product like Watco, Minwaxy Tung Oil Finish, etc. Like all of today furniture finishes, these are non-toxic when fully cured. It will still need to be renewed from time to time but will last fairly well. Film type finishs will not stand up to the tempertures of hot plates an utensils in my experience.

1. 
   Steinmetz | Jun 05, 2003 08:49am | #2

   How about a sheet of Tempered glass let into the wood's surface to lie flush and sealed at the edges with clear silicone caulk??Stein.

   Edited 6/5/2003 2:00:01 AM ET by steinmetz

1. 
   HowardAcheson | Jun 05, 2003 05:56pm | #3

   All I can say is "maybe". Tempered glass can be brittle when it is unevenly heated.

   On a side table for a grill, I used some 6x6 ceramic tile glued onto an exterior plywood substrate. Silicone sealant adhesive was used as the adhesive and grout with a waterproofing additive was used between the tiles. It has stood up for years.

1. 
   Steinmetz | Jun 05, 2003 08:50pm | #4

   Howie, I wasn't aware of that peculularity in tempered glass.

   I know, when confined to a tight inclosure,(As in rear car widows) and subject to high heat with little room to expand, it shatters.

   That problem was solved by making the gasket more flexible.

   Sun roofs appear to be immune, but they might be the laminated type.

   Somhow, reading your first post, I assumed you wanted the wood's finish to show through.

   If you choose glazed quarry tile, and tinted grout,that too will out last the grill.  Stein.

   "Never look back, someone might be gainin' on you"

   Re: Lot's wife, to Satchel Paige  ?

   Edited 6/5/2003 1:54:25 PM ET by steinmetz

2. 
   BHerman | Jun 05, 2003 09:37pm | #5

   I built something like this a few years back for my deck - originally I had a wood top, but it was a bitch to keep clean. I ended up replacing it with a stone top. We have quarries near us, had them face-polish a slab of sandstone, with the edge left rough. It works great, and looks great! Cost me about a hundred bucks, and is very easy to clean, provided I remeber to use a sealer on it 2-3 times a year.

1. 
   Gretchen | Jun 05, 2003 11:02pm | #6

   You might TRY finishing it with 50/50 spar varnish.  I'm not sure how hot the things you will place on it are.  If it is a metal saucepan straight off of a burner on high then it might not be enough. But I have put hot casserole dishes on my tables finished with this and they have not marked.  I also use non-poly spar varnish.Gretchen