Hey everyone! I'm getting married soon and I'm planning to use a big butcher block table (8' x 25") for guests to sign with sharpies at the reception, and we want to play beer pong on it too. I'm wondering if I can put a clear coat of polyurethane on it afterwards to protect those signatures. I know it sounds a bit unusual, but I'm new to this kind of project and would really appreciate any tips or advice you can share!
1 Answer
Definitely go for a spray finish to avoid smudging those signatures. A water-based polyurethane like General Finishes High Performance would work great. Just make sure to test it out on some scrap wood first, scribble with sharpies, and see how the finish affects the ink. It's important to ensure it doesn't dissolve the signatures!
Polyurethane should be fine as long as you don’t brush it on. It’s commonly used over stains, including ink, on hardwood floors. For the best results, I’d recommend using a water-based poly like Bona HD since it has more solids and offers better protection than some general finishes. And don’t forget to do a test run first!