I am not afraid to admit that while I recognized this job needed to be done, I was afraid to do it. Part of the need to do the refinishing was because of the small extension I added. Yes, I could have spent some time making that extension “match” in a way. After all, the oak I had used too build the bar back pieces was sourced such that it already looked like a patchwork of multiple species.

The finish on the oak bar top at the Coq & Bulldog had seen better days. The top remained as is since the opening of the pub in 2010-ish so was now a collection of burns, stains, and damage from liquids. I had already done the work of lifting one sagging corner but I was never going to make it level, if it ever was. The owner mentioned a benefit of this: that when things spill, they run to the back bar, not to a client’s lap. I am not certain if this was intentional.

So there I was, ready to hit it with a Festool Rotex set for more aggressive removal and some 80/120 sanding discs. I was surprised at how easily the existing finish came off and brought out the bare oak. The original finish did include a tint but it appears as though it was integral to the film of the finish and not a penetrating stain applied to the bare wood.

Some stains from years of use and abuse were harder to remove than others. The stains at the bottom of 2 beer taps was not going to come out. Without patching the wood, a couple of cigarette burns were there for the long run. That I was sanding so aggressively in spots meant that the bar would also not be completely flat. Given that it already is not level I did not worry that no one could use it as a reference surface.

The existing main angled joint in the 2 runs of the bar was remarkably tight. I did add some cyanoacrylate glue with saw dust to fill the small gap that had developed over the years. I treated my new joint at the bard end in similar fashion, as I had done all I could to get that as tight as I could with the skills and tools on hand.

Sanding went from the aforementioned 80/120 to 220 grit. The coating on the bar is Osmo Topoil. I poured the first coat out of the can in areas about 2 sf at a time and followed behind with a cotton rag to spread it thin. I worked from dry to wet until then end.

Topoil calls for 2 coats but I did 3. For each coat I used a Festool White Viel to assure a uniform application before drying. After the first coat cured, I sanded with 320; after the second coat cured I sanded with 40.

Water now beads up on the bar. I know that won’t last but with some regular cleaning with an oil-soap (Osmo sells one in a convenient spray bottle) the next refinish might be easier than this one.

(I am finishing this post a couple of years after I wrote the draft. The bar top still looks good and performs and cleans easily.)