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world gathers for metal finishing
Q&As since 1989


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Restaurant wants unique bar top

I am wanting something unique to cover a bar top with. The bar is approx. 30 inches wide by 25 foot long. Any ideas and prices.

Thanks,

Cleve Mathis, owner
- Tallulah, Louisiana
2005

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Concrete mixed with plastic powder for color (you can get just about any color).
Steel or diamond plate
Bronze/copper
leather
acrylic

The list goes on and on, it would help if we knew what kind of look your client/you are looking for.

Marc Banks
- Elizabeth City, North Carolina
2005

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This is a real "beauty is in the eye of the beholder" question. Personally I like copper topped bars, although that isn't really unusual. Any good sheet metal shop could do that. You could also do some interesting things with patterns in ceramic tile, but that's been done before. I've never heard of or seen a titanium topped bar. Might not be pretty, but it surely would be unusual (and expensive).

Jeffrey Holmes, CEF
Spartanburg, South Carolina
2005

Best thing to cover your bar with, and definitely very appealing to your clients, would be glasses full of drinks ........ on the house of course!

Chris Love
- UK
2005

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How about an ice counter to keep the drinks cold? Easy to keep clean and very hygienic - just melt the ice and re-freeze it; no problem with scratches and cheap on the polish. Those hot days and nights in the deep south will make your place the belle of the ball and you will have to turn customers away!

Trevor Crichton
R&D practical scientist
Chesham, Bucks, UK
2005

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I have used system three mirror finish epoxy for the bar top. The epoxy worked great and I recommend the product. My problem is that the desired thickness was achieved, however, there are minor imperfections that need sanded and I need some advice on a final polish. System three recommends Finesse It [affil links]. I believe someone out there knows a better product for the finale.

Justin Gaines
self learner - Jacksonville, Florida
2005

top your bar with a tip jar! My friends love it! Every time they come over they tell me how nice it would look with some money in it!

Logman jones
- maidstone Vermont
2005

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Justin,
The surface can be lightly scuffed with some 220/320 grit sandpaper and wiped with denatured alcohol before putting a clear coat of commercial table top or bar top epoxy on it. This should take care of your problem. Make sure to use a heat gun [on eBay or Amazon] to pop any air bubbles in the epoxy for the first 30 minutes while it hardens. Good luck!

Don Angelo
Spring Hill, Tennessee
March 11, 2010