If you like shiny, how about an epoxy finish? Don't know what they look like but maybe using a harder wood replacement stained to match or contrast?

 

Second Docs Hardwood add on. Maybe a contrasting wood. Looking at the chairs I would prefer to see some wear on them, it would mean I got to actually sit in them.

 

I know about the color thing, but how about something like that spray on truck bedliner stuff?

 

Andy I know what you mean, the two chairs I made are doing the same thing and happy you mentioned this, as I had not given it much thought but an idea of using 1" aluminum angle glued on top of the wood, I fear that any finish you put on it would eventually get scraped off even epoxy, your shoes can do a lot of pounding and scraping, Monte hit on something there as well again not sure how long it would stay on the wood with the constant shoe scraping, but the aluminum would always be there.

Maybe even a 1/4 - 3/8 brass rod stringed through the legs stretched across the top of the wood.

 

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=9SIA1B10P48679&nm_mc=KNC-GoogleMKP&cm_mmc=KNC-GoogleMKP-_-pla-_-Applicators-_-9SIA1B10P48679

$10, worth a try.

 

white oak is hard as a bat ,maybe a 1/4 over lay glued to the top side .brass would look good too

 

Non skid peel and stick strips, it's sold for marine stairs and such. Kinda like sandpaper .

 

How about a brass or copper inlay that would compliment the woods and also age and wear really nicely creating a very nice patina without structural destruction to the wood. I think it would age better than aluminum and you could even use a simple oil varnish that wouldn't flake or chip.

 

You make things out of wood and you like doing it, I'd say your a woodworker. If you do want to make him something, make him a guitar stand or even a cigar box guitar.

 

I've always liked the way copper and wood can come together.
I thought this foot rest looked like something I would like to try.
Good luck…................

 

Leather..

 

It looks like the Brass is more favorable but what widdle mentioned, I think that's another great idea, Leather.

 

I was thinking the nonskid sticker too, like wdwerker mentioned.

 

Brass rub strip.

 

Duct tape.

 

You could split a copper pipe of the right size in half lengthways and set it on one of your footrests to see how you like the looks, if you like the looks, a little epoxy would make it permanent.

 

Creative thinking rampant here, as usual. My direction would be some very dark, very hard wood. Ebony, ipe, wenge.

Put it just on the wear surface and then sprinkle a bit on the stool elsewhere as screw plugs for instance.

Kindly,

Lee

 

Wow! A lot of good ideas here!

I had thought about the non-skid stick on but wasn't sure about the 'look'.

I'll cut some boards to size and experiment.

I really appreciate all the input. Thanks!

 

aluminum will protect it fine and look good

 

I'm with Widdle.

I was thinking, if you wrapped it with leather shoelace, soaked in water until plastic and pliable, then it might look something like the handle of the knife I attached and be easily replaced when worn. It would shrink as it drys and make for a very tight wrap. I think it would have a unique and very admired look.

 

I like the sounds of the copper and wood. Maybe the inlay, that would look great. Unless of course if you can find some copper colored duct tape. That would be the bomb! ;-)

 

Wear socks. ;-)

 

I found some "Skid Guard Black Safety Tape" on the Lowes site that I'm going to try on my existing chairs. All the great ideas above would be hard to 'retrofit' but I'm liking them for the future.

Thanks again for all the input.

 

Lots of good ideas! How about a hybrid of some of those ideas described above? I was thinking something like 1/8" - 1/4" thick by 1/2" high strips of metal, i.e. copper, aluminum, brass, etc. inlaid in a vertical way along the grain of the wood via a routed groove the same width as the metal. I would imaging leaving the metal strips slightly proud of the top of the wood so that shoes, feet, etc. would rub on the metal not on the wood, but not high enough to catch shoes and/or feet. That allows for the metal to be a part of the project, but not taking over a wood project. It allows having the durability of metal in just the area that you need it. Just a thought. Good luck Andy!

 

For repairing the existing one: Maybe sand & apply Rock Hard Table Finish. Then don't worry about further wear(that IS gonna happen, no matter what you put on the wood).

For a new build: Apply a slather coat of Thin CA glue to the stringer to harden it. Maybe 2-3 coats, then follow that with Epoxy or Rock Hard Table Finish. Or a dowel properly sized to fit some copper tubing, and let it patina.