Workbench Care

[Dust Mite]

As you know I recently finished the main part of my new workbench. I still have the cabinet to do but I am enjoying the use of the new bench.

Like a lot of use we take pride in our benchs, more so if we made them ourselves as I did.

The bench has seen a good deal of use of late and now has a reasonable share of minor scratches and dings. Its starting to get some character to it. But I noticed that the top was becoming very dry a shabby looking with the use.

I decided to give it a service.

Fist was a very light sand with 600 grit just to take any glue spill off.

Then I applied Neopol wood polish, which I let soak in for a spell and then buffed off to finish.

A very simple process.

A word here about Neopol. The Kiwis among us know what Neopol is but I dont know if you Aussie lads do.

Its made in NZ, and has been around for about 60yrs or so.

I remember my grandmother and aunties using it. It has a pleasant sandalwood or lemon scent ( I prefer the lemon). It is a white liquid cream that is applied thinly over the surface a couple of times. I should point out that it contains no silicone or non natural products.

Its then left to soak for a minute or three and buffed off. It can be used on all types of wood and furniture. When fully buffed it leaves a very smooth surface that has no residual grease or oil left on it. Its magic stuff. :)

Pic 1 shows the damage from work

Pic 2 Shows the first coat being applied. Already there is a difference.

Pic 3 Half the top is done

Pic 4 The final result

Pic 5 The Majic Bottle :)

[Groggy]

I've never seen the stuff before, what's in it?

Do you scrape your bench?

[Waldo]

G'day,

Work bench care?

It's bench, you get dings on it, you bash on it, it gets paint on it. :confused:

[echnidna]

Cover the workbench with junk and sawdust

[Harry72]

Yep with Echnida its easier!

[Dust Mite]

Lol :) Philistines !!

[BobL]

The closest thing my bench gets to care is vacuuming the sawdust off the top and the remains of any organ oil left on a brush wiped on it.

[meerkat]

:eek: Dude I hope the wife does'nt know you pinched the dining table and are now using it for a wrokbench!!!

I can't say to much about care coz I don't have one (workbench) yet, although its almost done piccies to follow :)

[Flowboy]

Bob,

That is Organoil and not organ oil, such as from a spleen?:eek: :D

Rob

[Purpleheart]

Hmm, now I am feeling bad. Maybe I should go and clean up my workshop.......

[echnidna]

d'yer use a feather duster next?

[Poppa]

Dust Mite, is that an Oregon top on your bench? With something else as an edge? If it is Oregon, how do you find it? I was thinking of using Oregon for the top of my bench, because I like it so much, but was re-thinking recently because it is not a hardwood. Just wondering about yours....

[Flowboy]

Hi Poppa,

I used Oregon as the top for my workbench (50mm) and it's been great so far (12 months.) Still level and handles the bump and grind very well.

Regards

Rob

[Poppa]

Thanks Rob. I have a reasonable supply of Oregon at a good price, and I also have a technique that we use in our business for staining the red grain black (I like black). Not sure about that though - might just leave it red, because I like the timber. Still thinking and planning for the bench construction....

[Dust Mite]

Dust Mite, is that an Oregon top on your bench? With something else as an edge? If it is Oregon, how do you find it? I was thinking of using Oregon for the top of my bench, because I like it so much, but was re-thinking recently because it is not a hardwood. Just wondering about yours....

Hi Poppa, yes it is Oregan with a Rimu border.
The top is made from 65 x 65 Canadian Oregan ( its generally a denser wood than the stuff in the southern hemisphere), laminated with biscuits and then the rimu put on last.

You can see how I did it here http://www.woodworkforums.ubeaut.com.au/showthread.php?t=35250

After it was assembled I gave it a light coat of wipe on poly to seal the top and then let it dry for a week, sanded it back with 400 grit and finished with the Neopol. The results are very good. I decided not to apply the extra two coats of poly as the neopol worked very well.
This is the top before I started using it to give you some idea of the difference between new and 4 or 5 months of use.
http://www.woodworkforums.ubeaut.com.au/showthread.php?t=35400

And yes the Oregan will stand the workload.

[Flowboy]

Hi Poppa,
I thought I'd let you know how mine went together.
100x100 Oregon legs ( to your desired height)
Rails 50x65-70mm Oregon
Subframe Oregon as above.
Top (2) 1.7x290x50mm Oregon.
Skirt: 42x110 Jarrah, butted against each other at corners.
Coach Bolts 6x3/8".
Vise jaws Jarrah as desired (mine are 50x150x600)
Dog Holes to suit.
I have a shelf (Oregon) underneath as well.

I'm not sure I'd want black on the top of the bench, could make it even more difficult to find things:)

Regards,

Rob

[Poppa]

OK, then I think you've convinced me to use Oregon for the top. I might use something else for the base, and I've got this idea of putting drawers underneath. Maybe if I do the draw fronts in Oregon that will bring it all together. Hmmmm. Thinking music please....:)

[BobL]

Bob,

That is Organoil and not organ oil, such as from a spleen?:eek: :D

Rob

Bitta both plus crushed insects, sweat, blood, turps, meths, sanding sealer, paint, boiled linseed, and glue.

[Grahame Collins]

Whats this clean bench top stuff?
Benches are made for chucking stuff on and end up having no room on them, right?
Then ya build a new one.

Grahame 7 benches Collins

[Dust Mite]

The bench does get messy when in action and heres the proof :)