Need Advice on Finishing products for Heavy Use Bar Tables

[jwm3rd]

Hello, I am newly interested in woodworking with several projects popping up in my mind. I am also a Bartender at the Wig & Pen brewery (Canberra) and am currently planning on refinishing all of the wood table tops in the bar. I am planning on Sanding, Staining and Sealing with Tung Oil. I have been doing some internet research on these topics, but am really interested in talking to a local expert if there is one on the forum.

I am planning on using Howard's Tung/Orange Oil for Furniture.
I am not sure what type of wood the tables are.

I would like to stain these tables a dark brown to match our English Pub atmosphere. Is there a preferred Stain to use when using Tung oil to finish and seal? Also I have seen that a lot of people cut their Tung Oil with a chemical to speed up the curing process. Does anyone have advice for me in these areas? Alternatively I am interested in hearing about other products if Tung Oil is specifically inappropriate for the heavy use Bar environment. Any advice is really appreciated.

Thanks in Advance,
Jeremy

[AnselmFraser]

Can you get Osmo oil in Australia ? If so this is the stuff you need .

[Master Splinter]

Here's probably the best article on Tung oil you'll find:
Pure tung oil: the world's finest natural wood finish - The Wood Works Book & Tool Co.

Tung Oil is "Non hazardous" rated by Worksafe Australia; however people with severe nut allergies may react to it...but if you've got trays of peanuts on the bar, this is probably minor!

Be aware that you'll need to be able to take tables out of service for a week or so while the tung oil dries (possibly more in a Canberra winter!)

If you are into the whole 'atmosphere' thing, I'd suggest you also give the tables a frequent application of a beeswax furniture polish, just for the smell. Just stay away from the ones that use proper industrial solvents and get one with a citrus or eucalyptus based solvent...buy one that smells good, or make your own polish.

Oh, and terebene is a drying agent for oils, and it is (or at least was) available from Feast Watson.

[ubeaut]

A couple of furniture maker/shop fitters have had amazing results with restaurant furniture, tables etc. finished with Hard Shellac.

I believe one of the first restaurants was one in Sydney in the Lifestyle TV show (of a few years ago) My Restaurant Rule, 0r whatever the show was called.

Hope this is of some help.

Cheers - Neil

[JB]

Be aware that you'll need to be able to take tables out of service for a week or so while the tung oil dries (possibly more in a Canberra winter!)

This could be a problem for you Jeremy, as a week or so is a minimum with tung oil.

Apart from that, I like the choice of tung oil. Bar tops in pubs are usually offensively shiny, while tung oil is a natural matt to satin finish.