High-Tech Meets High-Traffic: The Science of UV-Cured Oils in a Commercial Space
Sometimes, the best projects start with a beer and a burger. During a recent date night at Durham’s Geer Street Garden, I found myself looking past my plate and at the surfaces beneath it. The tables and bar — made from incredible, thick-cut reclaimed factory floorboards — were showing the honest wear and tear of years of community use.
I knew I could breathe new life into them, but there was a catch: a busy restaurant can’t afford a week of downtime for a traditional finish to dry. To solve this, I turned to a specialized process I’ve been developing in the shop: Instant UV-Cured Hardwax Oils.
Testing for the Real World
Before taking a single tool to the restaurant, I spent months researching and testing. I invested in an LED curing system from LED Coating Solutions and ran a gauntlet of tests between two industry leaders: Vesting LED-Hard Wax Oil and Osmo LED Smart Oil.
I put sample boards through a ‘restaurant nightmare’ scenario — soaking them in wine, beer, water, ketchup, mustard, and even acetone. While both performed admirably, the Osmo proved slightly more resilient against the scratches that come with thousands of sliding plates and glasses. With the data in hand, I was ready to move from the shop to the job site.
Efficiency Meets Heritage
The sheer volume of the project — four small tables, one large table, two countertops, a long service counter, and the main bar — meant I had to be strategic. While my furniture builds often involve slow hand-tool work, this required a blend of traditional skill and modern efficiency.
To remove the failing old finish and get past years of sun damage, I started with a DeWalt Cordless Planer followed by my Lie-Nielsen Jack Plane to clean up the tracks. This combination allowed me to quickly reveal the fresh wood beneath without losing the character of the pine. I followed up with a Bosch 6-inch Speed Sander in turbo mode to bring the surfaces to a perfectly smooth, tactile finish.
Zero Downtime
Working around a restaurant’s schedule is a delicate dance. On Monday and Tuesday, I was able to wrap up the smaller sections before the lunch rush. By Wednesday and Thursday, the weather cleared up, allowing the owner to seat guests outside while I tackled the “big ticket” items inside.
The real “magic” of the UV system happened during application. As soon as I passed the LED light over the Osmo LED Smart Oil, the finish cured instantly.
The results were immediate:
Instant Utility: I was finishing the tables at 11:00 AM, and by the time I packed my vehicle at noon, customers were already sitting down to eat and drink on those same surfaces.
A Clean Environment: Because the finish is Zero VOC, there were no harsh chemical smells to disrupt the dining experience. Several employees remarked how incredible it was to see a “wet” finish become bone-dry in seconds under the light.
Renewing Lumber
What brings me joy in this project isn’t just the technology; it’s the history of the wood. These table tops began as trees that grew over a century ago. They served as factory floors for decades before being repurposed for Geer Street Garden.
By applying a durable, maintainable hardwax oil, I’ve ensured that this old-growth pine can continue its story for many more years to come. It’s a privilege to help keep Durham’s history under our plates and glasses.
Cheers 🍻
