How To Preserve Family Pictures In A Table Top
Eddie asks, “I want to put pictures i.e. stickers, photos, and other graphics on tables and would like to have a really gloss finish on them without damaging them. What finishing products can be used without damaging the pictures. Also any ideas on where to get graphics. Thank you.”
I have seen some really cool table top decorating finishing ideas. Scrapbooking is a very popular way to archive and collect family memories. But, in order to see them you have to open the scrapbook. What if made your table top into a scrapbook? Then you can view your family’s memories all the time.
There are two different ways you can do this, the first is a permanent table top where the pictures and graphics are embedded in the table top and cannot be changed. The second method will allow you to change out pictures and graphics as new family memories are created.
The first method is layout the pictures and graphics the way you want to and then cover them with a clear epoxy coating. Kleer Koat is a two part polymer that will work to embed pictures into the resin. Most photo quality pictures and photo quality paper can be embedded in without any special preparation. Sometimes thin paper must first be sealed to prevent the Kleer Koat from completely soaking through penetrating the paper. If the Kleer Koat penetrates the paper it will cause the paper to become transparent.
For a step by step process on how to get a professional looking epoxy table top check out this page.
The draw back with the epoxy method is that the photos are embedded in the epoxy, you cannot change them out.
The other option is to place a thick sheet of glass over the top of the table. I would go with a 1/4 to 3/8 inch thick sheet. The glass is heavy enough that it will not slide off of the table. When you want to change out the pictures and graphics simply lift up the glass and swap them out.
The down side to the glass is that if the table will be used by kids, who have a tendency to be rough it, can be broken. Then you have to be concerned with glass shards.
Instead of glass you could use a thick sheet of clear plastic. It won’t have the same luster and shine as glass does and it will have a tendency to scratch up pretty easily, but it won’t break.
