[Bonnot]

Three coats of polyurethane on the top and two on the sides!

[jartzh]

It seems I have 2 problems. One is protecting from liquid on the top of the bar and the other is wood expansion.

How much will the wood move if I seal it completely in lacquer? I used lacquer on my kitchen table and it doesnt have any problems with liquids.

Can I solve both problems with liberal coats of lacquer?

Or lacquer on the bott to seal and then "bar top" finish on the top for the moister????

I thought carving the figures would be the hard part!

[Bonnot]

Don't use lacquer on the top, it's not waterproof and I would not mix poly on top and lacquer on the bottom. It's probably all right but why take a chance. I have made any number of small tables and although the "experts" say to seal the under side of the top, I never have had a problem and some are thirtyfive years old.

One thing you must do, however, is mount the top to the understructure so that it can move. One way to do this is drill oversize screw holes in the framework so the top can move and that large a top will move! If you don't the top may split or the framework will pull apart, more likely the top will split. Three coats of poly and reasonable care should last you for many years.

Good luck.