Thread: Finishing for work benches

Welcome to the forum.

I do not have a work bench so I am a little limited to what finish to suggest. What I do use for my hand tools is boiled Linseed oil. The wooden handles on my chisels and garden tools get a coat of BLO. I do not expect it to be durable or impact resistance but it does offer some protection.

I got this from Bunnings in the 1 liter container.

I Love to use BLO - protects the timber, easy to repair. Nothing will really provide a hard surface but the oils will protect and if the suface will cop some hard use this is all you really need.
For the side table one - use something else like a shellac, or better still check out the books by UBeaut Finishes A Polishers Handbook - Polishers handbook.

Yup. An occasional wipe of BLO for the workbench. Basically just something to seal the grain so any spillage of glue, etc. is easily wiped off without staining.

For the second... do you intend to sand the surfaces flat again? Or do you intend to keep the slightly distressed look? Danish Oil - or similar products such as OrganOil - would make the grain & colour "pop" but by the same token will make the surface appear 'blotchy' if you only sand the high points. :\ A true Danish Oil finish takes a bit of effort - and coats - to apply the first time, but is easily repaired in case of scratches/dings in the future. (A light sand to flatten the damaged area and just slap on another coat over the sanded area.)

Shellacs also work very nicely, but can take even more effort for a novice to apply and tend to be more susceptible to water/heat damage. Ya got anyone there who tends to leave hot coffee cups lying around in 'convenient' - to them - places?

For long term durability, a polyurethane based finish works well. These include most 'off the shelf' products in any HW store. Clear Estapols for timber & flooring, etc. But they can be a right PITA to repair when damaged. Usually necessitating a complete sand of the offending surface & recoat, rather than a spot repair.

I'll agree with Enelef that the UBeaut handbook is worth a read. Lotsa good finishing advice in there, even should you decide not to take it.

Originally Posted by kenty13

The second i am going to use as a large side table in a warehouse conversion, so I am looking for a finish that will bring out the colour in the hardwood. This will be more of a display piece, so much less wear and tear. Any suggestions are greatly appreciated.
cheers

Looks kinda familiar ...

If you are prepared to wade through waffle, I strongly suspect your workbench is the same Oregon pine as the one I collected off the roadside. (https://www.woodworkforums.com/f213/o...kbench-158196/)

The timber is very nice underneath the aging if you want to go down that path ...





Cheers,
Paul

Over the many years I've been doing wood work I don't think there is a forever lasting durable (no maintenance) finish for a work bench. Some just finishes last longer that others.

What I go for on a working bench is a finish that's easily maintained .i.e easily cleaned and the finish reapplied. No painfull preps like a strip and sand.
BLO or wax or both are my choices. On my current (just built) work bench I put only a wax finish on it. (Glue doesn't sitck to it and it easy to reapply).

One the first bench I'd give it a good clean (wipe over with metho or wax and grease remover) then put a coat of wax on it. When it starts to look a bit shabby, another clean and wax it again.

One the second bench, a good clean then as Skew says a coat of BLO (just to seal it up) and I'd put a coat of wax on it. Since it's not going to be used then the occasional recoat of wax and a buff up should keep it looking good.

Originally Posted by enelef

I Love to use BLO - protects the timber, easy to repair. Nothing will really provide a hard surface but the oils will protect and if the suface will cop some hard use this is all you really need.
For the side table one - use something else like a shellac, or better still check out the books by UBeaut Finishes A Polishers Handbook - Polishers handbook.

You are right - I should definitely invest in this book, Im Just being lazy and cheap
Figure theres always someone whos come up with a solid solution on the net...
And thank you, BLO looks like the way to go for the work bench, I'm still considering the one that will become a sidetable.

Originally Posted by Skew ChiDAMN!!

For the second... do you intend to sand the surfaces flat again? Or do you intend to keep the slightly distressed look? Danish Oil - or similar products such as OrganOil - would make the grain & colour "pop" but by the same token will make the surface appear 'blotchy' if you only sand the high points. :\ A true Danish Oil finish takes a bit of effort - and coats - to apply the first time, but is easily repaired in case of scratches/dings in the future. (A light sand to flatten the damaged area and just slap on another coat over the sanded area.)

I havent decided yet, I'm grabbing it from the storage shed on sunday, so I will have a closer look and decide on sanding. My first thoughts were to leave it, as its ultimate destination is against a dark (rough) brick wall in a high ceiling room. If anyone knows the woolshed/paddy markets unit conversion in Brissy...thats the spot.

Originally Posted by Skew ChiDAMN!!

Ya got anyone there who tends to leave hot coffee cups lying around in 'convenient' - to them - places?

Where theres a work bench...theres bound to be a tool with a coffee cup!

Originally Posted by pmcgee

Looks kinda familiar ...

If you are prepared to wade through waffle, I strongly suspect your workbench is the same Oregon pine as the one I collected off the roadside. (https://www.woodworkforums.com/f213/o...kbench-158196/)

The timber is very nice underneath the aging if you want to go down that path ...

Cheers,
Paul

Very nice find Paul, certainly a good argument for working it back. When I get it on the weekend, I might hedge my bets a little and remove the top, sand the underside and see what it comes up like then compare top and bottom to see which is going to suit the space best. I'll get some pics up when done.

Thanks everyone for the replies, it is greatly appreciated. I picked up the first work bench this morning and have given it a tidy up. Discovered some damage (see pic), so I need to do a little maintenance before going any further. Interestingly the work bench has revealed a little history/character:
Stuck to the back is a news headline "spring is suicide season" and a "Coffin Price List" with specs etc. Made a call...turns out this work bench was the start up bench for small coffin and casket manufacturer. So needless to say, Im going to keep the clipping and pricelist on it. Another talking point to bore my guests and kids with

Originally Posted by kenty13

Very nice find Paul, certainly a good argument for working it back. When I get it on the weekend, I might hedge my bets a little and remove the top, sand the underside and see what it comes up like then compare top and bottom to see which is going to suit the space best. I'll get some pics up when done.

Are you a hand-tool worker?

The weathered wood on mine was kinda soft ... I don't know how it would go sanding.
I'm not sure if even an electric planer would do well on that stuff.

A scrub plane - or approximation - ripped through the weathered stuff easily to get to down to the nice wood underneath.
It then got some hand-planing and finally the thicknesser.

Cheers,
Paul

Originally Posted by kenty13

..... Interestingly the work bench has revealed a little history/character:
Stuck to the back is a news headline "spring is suicide season" and a "Coffin Price List" with specs etc......

Do you think the sticker under the bench is a type of bumper sticker?

Originally Posted by kenty13

.......... Another talking point to bore my guests and kids with

It's like fishing, you cast out the story and see who bites. Those that have heard it before are having to listen to the story again. Some stories have been told several times that some people know what I am about to say. I had one story retold so many times that I allowed another person to tell it.