Which finish for workbench top
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Tagged: workbench tabletop finish
- This topic has 18 replies, 9 voices, and was last updated 9 years, 7 months ago by Marilyn Moreno.
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I’m getting closer to finishing my workbench, as inspired by Paul’s YouTube series.
It’s only 5 feet long, since my space is small at the moment.
Now I’m wondering what sort of finish would be good for the benchtop. I’ve used Whitewood, which I’m told is a kind of pine.
For the top, my considerations would be mostly utilitarian, in that I would prefer the finish not to scuff too easily. Of course, it being a benchtop, probably any finish will end up getting scratched.
Other criteria are probably that I don’t want a super-slidey finish, where my workpieces float off like on an air hockey table.For instance, would shellack be a terrible choice?
It seems that it would be fairly easy to apply and very forgiving in case of mistakes.
23 August 2014 at 5:59 pm #61577I’ve built 3 benches over the past 40 years and I’ve finished each one with an oil based varnish which holds up well and can be easily repaired. My current workbench was resurfaced 8 months ago and I used General Finishes Arm-R-Seal but any readily available varnish should do. I would stay away from shellac because it dries to a high gloss finish which may cause your worktop to be quite slippery.
I applied a few coats of blue milk-paint since I had wanted to try it for some time and I liked the color. Then I finished it with another few coats of shellac and some wax. I didn’t find it very slippery and time takes care of that anyway. It does not prevent dings and denting, but I don’t care too much; it’s a tool. I would think the color helps by its contrasts to any wood I put on it, but that may be my imagination as well. I would go with what is readily available and what you like. Let us know, what you decided on in the end.
Here are a few pictures of my workbench
https://woodworkingmasterclasses.com/discussions/topic/another-workbench-w-i-p/page/4/#post-56129
David
Thanks a lot for your input, guys. It sounds like I have a whole lot of options.
At this moment, I’ll probably go for an oil-based varnish. If I can’t find that, I’ll try shellac instead.
I’m going to put up a few pictures later today or tomorrow at the latest. The wife and I have some errands to run which may take all day.
I have uploaded a small gallery to imgur.
Sorry about the mess in the background. I’ve only recently moved to the US. This is actually my in-laws’ basement. They used it primarily for storage, and I asked if I could reorganize everything to use the space more efficiently in exchange for using it as my shop.
The bench is probably 75% done. One half of the actual top is on and glued to the apron. I’m currently preparing the second apron, then the second half of the top, then the well board, and the it’s done.
Except for the finish that is. That comes after that.
In the pictures, I notice a few places that show glue. I will plane those again when everything is assembled, before I apply the finish.
Don’t put too much time into it. The top gets torn up pretty fast. I had a brief moment when I was done with my bench and proud of it and I wanted it to look all nice forever, so I put coats of Danish oil, then coats of shellac. Then it basically started getting dinged up from the first time I used it.
If I was making a second bench, knowing what I know now I would just put a couple coats of Danish oil and then get to work.
Here’s my now finished workbench. I have used an oil-based varnish, of which I’ve applied 3 coats, which gives a nice surface that I can now start to scratch up with my tools. 😉
I wanted to try out applying the varnish, which was a factor in my decision. On my next workbench, I will probably just use Danish Oil or something similar.
I am happy with what I made, for sure. Thanks for all the tips, guys!
Looks good, Ende. I bet you are excited to start using it.
Unrelated question, but I was curious… how did you get your leg vise plate flush with the bench leg given the apron, or does it not need to be flush? I don’t have a leg vise and I’m just wondering how that works.
31 August 2014 at 10:35 pm #63098Nice looking bench. Well done. You’ll have to give us an update on how the leg vice works for you over time.
31 August 2014 at 11:38 pm #63106a great bench Thomas now you can complete all those projects you’ve been planning of which i’m sure there are many
Jay, I indeed had to improvise a little bit because of the overhanging apron.
I ended up gluing a board to the leg to make it flush with the apron.
I have a number of things that I would do differently with the next bench. My legs would be wider, the well would be deeper, and the vise leg would have a haunch. 😉
1 September 2014 at 2:52 pm #63137i can understand that, when i watch Pauls videos i often have to imagine myself working from behind the bench as my bench faces the opposite direction from pauls, and my feet should have the letter L & R on lol
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