Table modification

matt_unique · Posted: Thu Dec 20, 2007 1:42 pm Post subject: Silicone

I was thinking about the silicone sealer, but that in itself would cause an airspace no?

flapbreaker · Posted: Fri Dec 21, 2007 12:36 am Post subject: Re: Map

matt_unique · Posted: Fri Dec 21, 2007 10:50 am Post subject: Re: Map

Sea Angel · Posted: Fri Dec 21, 2007 3:24 pm Post subject:

I have cut to fit a piece of cotton backed vinyl table cloth and overlaided it with a piece of acrylic plastic from HOME DEPOT, also cut to fit. I have placed pictures and maps under the plastic and removed same without any issues. The dampness that we have here is not as pronounced as in the NW, so I'm not sure how that will playout for you.

There are plenty of plastic cleaners that takes out any scratches and it is pretty brake resistance. I have not had the table top cover, etc, 'fly off', scratch, crack or break; yet, after 2 years.

416rigby · Posted: Sat Dec 22, 2007 10:25 am Post subject:

Sounds like a cool project. Initially, it is what we had in mind but Donna came up with the tile idea and we decided to go with that. We love it. We have had no problems with it. We normally have a couple of pieces of that nonskid mat material on it along with some saltwater fish placemats for normal use. When we want to display the table, we simply remove the mats.

Joel, I'm no rocket scientist...it was an easy project. "So easy a caveman can do it." Laughing

There's a description of how we did it in that table thread...or you can PM me if you like.

Rick

thataway · Posted: Sun Dec 23, 2007 7:51 pm Post subject:

C Pelican came with a glass over the table top--and we put different charts under it. I believe that the glass was safety glass. Never a problem with it flying or falling out. As long as the fiddles around the edges are adequate, the glass should stay. I prefer the glass, because of scratching. Lexan is even worse for scratching. We have had plastic chart protectors--and you can polish out the scratches, but for a table, the glass works very well.

matt_unique · Posted: Wed Dec 26, 2007 11:34 am Post subject: Glass

Sea Wolf · Posted: Wed Dec 26, 2007 1:12 pm Post subject: Re: Glass

matt_unique · Posted: Thu Dec 27, 2007 10:36 am Post subject: Glass

Thanks for the info and ideas.

Where can I buy safety glass cut to spec? Is this something I can get from Home Depot or such?

colobear · Posted: Thu Dec 27, 2007 12:36 pm Post subject:

Not at Home Depot, you'd find it at a glass store. I think tempered glass has to be made to size at the factory because the act of cutting it to size would cause it to shatter into the tiny pieces that make it safety glass. Check at a place that does window and doors.

AKDoug · Joined: 27 Dec 2007 Posts: 2 State or Province: AK

An auto glass shop will have flat windshield glass available for repairing heavy trucks and heavy equipment glass since they are just a flat piece cut to fit. They use the same safety glass as used in automobile windshields. It has a plastic film in between two layers that holds the whole thing together if it's cracked. It would be a perfect way to go with this project. Tempered glass is tough, but it fractures into a million tiny pieces if it is broken.

thataway · Posted: Thu Dec 27, 2007 6:45 pm Post subject:

Any good auto glass shop can cut and then smooth the edges. If you want to smooth the edges of safety glass, we find that a belt sander works fine.

We have never had any moisture problem with the glass over a chart--but I would not put a truely valuable chart under the glass. Items can get spilled and get under the glass. We were always able to clean this out on the rare occasion it happened. We really enjoy having the planning chart for a cruise under the glass. That way at dinner we can look at the broad picture of the next day's routes.

matt_unique · Posted: Thu Dec 27, 2007 7:11 pm Post subject: Map

Thanks again. My antique map of France is laminated so no worries about spillage.

I will research local autoglass shops.

Sea Angel · Posted: Fri Dec 28, 2007 9:03 pm Post subject:

Hi Matt;

I posted the pixs of the plastic table top cover on my page 2 under
"Table Top Cover".

http://www.c-brats.com/modules.php?set_albumName=album535&op=modload&name=gallery&file=index&include=view_album.php

Hope this clarifies the overlay cover question.

breausaw · Posted: Sat Nov 29, 2014 4:09 pm Post subject:

Does anyone have additional input on this subject? I also have a laminated chart I would like to place on the dinette table.
I don't really like the safety glass approach because I worry about it breaking eather from my son sleeping on it or during the bed setup; a piece of glass that size adds quite a bit of additional weight to the table top.
Not too crazy about plexiglass rather, polycarbonate perhaps but it scratches too easy.
Was actually thinking of using the decoupage approach, but there would be no turning back if I used the original table so thinking of buying a nice piece of Marine plywood and starting from scratch; if that project fails the original table is still intact.
I've been in a number of restaurants with tables finished with perhaps fiberglass resin or something like that, not sure.
The other problem I see using plexiglass or something similar is the chance of it raising up in the middle, this would drive me crazy. I would have to screw it down and that would not be pretty.
So I'm hoping that someone has come up with a more creative or desirable approach..