Thread: antique workbench tops

Please do not sandblast them that will ruin them
I suggest sugar soap and steel wool or those green scrubbing pads I suggest you do not leave them soaking in too much water as thesewere probably stck together with hide glue an might come apart if got too wet.

The aim IMHO is to just clean up the dirt but retain the Patina ie the dings and wear etc then refinish in something other than polyurethane maybe Tung oil others can advise

you're absolutely right. i only want to clean them up, i won't be sanding them to death.

also, how can i tell if woodworm is current or if it has been treated?

I would recommend that you put them away for at least one year. Do not touch them at all! At this stage yoy lack the appreciation of what is appropriate or not to do. You will thank me later for stalling any premature efforts. Come back to the tops when more experienced - they will still be around.

Regards from Perth

Derek

Originally Posted by derekcohen

I would recommend that you put them away for at least one year. Do not touch them at all! At this stage yoy lack the appreciation of what is appropriate or not to do. You will thank me later for stalling any premature efforts. Come back to the tops when more experienced - they will still be around.

Regards from Perth

Derek

I agree with Derek with one proviso. When workbenches are in use, they are flattened every now and then using handplanes, so the top surface is often smoother and newer and has less patina than the rest. So an acceptable clean up (when you decide on it) could involve that planing of the top surface.