"Out Of Cigars" Cigar Band Project #1

[thechrisdotcom]

Originally Posted by Jasonw560

In the picture, bottom right corner, I see some all-purpose glue and scissors.

As for the table, my wife is kinda artsy and does stuff like that, so I can ask her if she knows what's best.

Didn't even catch the glue in the pic, haha.

I have a crap load of beer coasters too. I'd love to make a table with them, but I have a feeling the polyurethane will soak the coasters and mess up the color of them.

Definitely ask your wife for some ideas, that'd be awesome! Thanks!

Originally Posted by thechrisdotcom

Didn't even catch the glue in the pic, haha.

I have a crap load of beer coasters too. I'd love to make a table with them, but I have a feeling the polyurethane will soak the coasters and mess up the color of them.

Definitely ask your wife for some ideas, that'd be awesome! Thanks!

With cigar bands, I'd glue them as the OP is doing, then coat the whole finished board with either Puzzle Glue (literally what it sounds like and can be purchased at Walmart), or get a proper clear coat for artwork from an art supply store (it's more expensive, higher quality, and wont color the work like hardware store spray clearcoat).

For anything with some thickness to it, if I wanted a clear/clean top, I would either have a glass top made for it, or do the polyu just like you're thinking. It probably *wont* mess with the color, but might give the coasters a wet look. It's basically like a two part, super clear epoxy. Mix the two parts really well, and pour over surface, let gravity level it out.

[ktblunden]

Originally Posted by Lonely Raven

For anything with some thickness to it, if I wanted a clear/clean top, I would either have a glass top made for it, or do the polyu just like you're thinking. It probably *wont* mess with the color, but might give the coasters a wet look. It's basically like a two part, super clear epoxy. Mix the two parts really well, and pour over surface, let gravity level it out.

Any chance you could link to something like that two-part poly? My Google-fu is failing me, but this is exactly what I was thinking with doing a coffee table. Basically like what they finish some bar surfaces with.

[cricky101]

Originally Posted by ktblunden

Any chance you could link to something like that two-part poly? My Google-fu is failing me, but this is exactly what I was thinking with doing a coffee table. Basically like what they finish some bar surfaces with.

It's sometimes called "bar top coating" or "bar epoxy" or something like that, too. I don't remember for sure (it was a few years ago), but I think this is what I used http://www.uscomposites.com/epoxy.html#kleerkote

I had a small storage ottoman where the top could be flipped over and used as a TV tray. I coated the bottom of the tray with bands and then used the 2-part epoxy to cover it all in.

I would do one layer then epoxy it. Let it dry, and do another and epoxy it. I think I did three layers in all. It gave it more depth with bands appearing to float. I didn't cover the entire space with each layer, but over the course of three layers it covered it all so you could see the different layers of bands below.

[ktblunden]

Originally Posted by cricky101

It's sometimes called "bar top coating" or "bar epoxy" or something like that, too. I don't remember for sure (it was a few years ago), but I think this is what I used http://www.uscomposites.com/epoxy.html#kleerkote

I had a small storage ottoman where the top could be flipped over and used as a TV tray. I coated the bottom of the tray with bands and then used the 2-part epoxy to cover it all in.

I would do one layer then epoxy it. Let it dry, and do another and epoxy it. I think I did three layers in all. It gave it more depth with bands appearing to float. I didn't cover the entire space with each layer, but over the course of three layers it covered it all so you could see the different layers of bands below.

Awesome, thanks for the link. Do you have any pics of that ottoman? It sounds really cool and I like the idea of multi-layers.

[cricky101]

Originally Posted by ktblunden

Awesome, thanks for the link. Do you have any pics of that ottoman? It sounds really cool and I like the idea of multi-layers.

I'll try to get a pic of it for you. Hmm. Wonder what the conversation with the girlfriend will be like as I'm taking pictures of the foot stool ...

[ktblunden]

Originally Posted by cricky101

I'll try to get a pic of it for you. Hmm. Wonder what the conversation with the girlfriend will be like as I'm taking pictures of the foot stool ...

Tell her you want to post it on that interior decorating forum you frequent.

[cricky101]

Originally Posted by ktblunden

Awesome, thanks for the link. Do you have any pics of that ottoman? It sounds really cool and I like the idea of multi-layers.

It's kind of tough to photograph the "layers" but here are a couple. They were taken with my cell phone camera, so the quality is pretty bad.

They are mostly older bands I got on ebay. I used a couple large cigar box inserts along the bottom, too.