Post #722926 by tikiskip on Fri, Jul 18, 2014 5:40 AM

Where are you located?
If you are in a dry area using stain or varnish may work for some time.
But I gave up putting bamboo or rattan outside as I live in Ohio and it rains a LOT
here so that's rot city no matter what you do.

This bar will never look pretty, I think of tiki bars as having a pretty and or gritty look.
For me the gritty look is best as it's way more easy for one thing because all the stuff
in your bar is going to age and get that gritty look on it's own especially outside.
IF you want a pretty bar outside your going to need to redo the bar every now and then
no matter if your area is wet or dry.
Too much work I say.

So why fight it, your bar has the gritty look many work hard to get that look in their tiki bars.
You may want to go gritty look and just spray the thing with a clear coat of a weather proofing
of some sort and be done.(at most a new top maybe)
I would not give this a burn as it would mess up that cool beachcomber look.
This protectant will need to be redone every year or two.
(But it will be an easy quick spray job, not a long stain varnish job)
That's the way I would go.

It's a cool bar, if you like it then the price was fine. (could not buy the stuff to build it with for that)
Put some tiki, lights and a few drinks on it and it will look way cooler.

Good Luck!