I am almost finished building a workbench in my garage. This is my
first wood working project and I am very surpised at how it turned
out. But I need help to finish it. Does anyone know of something I
could cover it with to protect it. Maybe some kind of rubber matting
or a paint that would keep it from soaking up anything or getting nics
and cuts. Thanks

On May 29, 6:48 pm, wrote:
I am almost finished building a workbench in my garage. This is my
first wood working project and I am very surpised at how it turned
out. But I need help to finish it. Does anyone know of something I
could cover it with to protect it. Maybe some kind of rubber matting
or a paint that would keep it from soaking up anything or getting nics
and cuts. Thanks

I'd use shellac to seal the wood (couple coats) and then use hardboard
to protect the top of the bench... that way you could replace it after
a couple years of abuse.

al

wrote:
| I am almost finished building a workbench in my garage. This is my
| first wood working project and I am very surpised at how it turned
| out. But I need help to finish it. Does anyone know of something I
| could cover it with to protect it. Maybe some kind of rubber
| matting or a paint that would keep it from soaking up anything or
| getting nics and cuts. Thanks

I have a piece of soft indoor/outdoor carpet the same size as my
benchtop that protects the stuff I work on at the bench.
Coincidentally, it offers a bit of protection to the bench - but that
isn't its primary function.

I also have a roll of rubber matting (made from recycled tires,
AFAICT) that started out under huge rolls of paper shipped in
semi-trailers. A trucker friend gifted me with about 80' after he
delivered the paper. It's pretty good for cushioning a working surface
(as well as the concrete floor in front of my bench and
frequently-used tools).

Tempered hardboard works well when you want a hard, slick working
surface. Just tack it in place and replace it when it becomes too worn
or scarred.

I've become partial to the indoor/outdoor carpet surface.

--
Morris Dovey
DeSoto Solar
DeSoto, Iowa USA
http://www.iedu.com/DeSoto/

wrote in message
oups.com...
I am almost finished building a workbench in my garage. This is my
first wood working project and I am very surpised at how it turned
out. But I need help to finish it. Does anyone know of something I
could cover it with to protect it. Maybe some kind of rubber matting
or a paint that would keep it from soaking up anything or getting nics
and cuts. Thanks

Keep it from getting nics and cuts?? You did say this was a "Workbench",
right??

"Stoutman" asked

Keep it from getting nicks and cuts?? You did say this was a
"Workbench", right??


That is funny.

That comment brings back memories of my "first nick" of my shiny new maple
workbench. I found a small maple workbench that was a retail model of a
much larger bench. It was missing a couple parts and wasn't as big as the
real deal, but it was maple and solid as a rock. I offered a low price and
it was accepted. I replaced the missing parts, made me some bench dogs and
was quite happy with my new find.

I did a variety of projects, always making sure I never disturbed the shiny
finish on the pretty maple bench top. I used hardboard, carpet and whatever
was handy to protect that surface of any kind of indignity.

One day, I was making some signs out of lexan (polycarbonate). I had a
little dremel rotary tool mounted in a baby router base. I put the lettering
underneath the plastic and foloowed it to cut groove with the baby router.
I would go over it later to deepen and widen the the groove.

I was tired and made a mistake. I set the depth to deep on the baby router.
I ended up routing a number of shapes into my bench top. I was devastated.
My pretty new bench now had an injury! I came out the next day to plan some
kind of repair when I had a revelation as to how ridiculous this whole thing
was.

The bench was sturdy and heavy. It did not matter how pretty the top was.
Besides, if you stand back and look at it it was still pretty. I was
embarrassed that I made such a big deal out of it. But it was the prettiest
bench I ever owned.

I would like to think I am more mature and rational now. But I will settle
for more pragmatic and cynical.

Lee Michaels

On Tue, 29 May 2007 16:48:27 -0700, ophelia_immortal1 wrote:

I am almost finished building a workbench in my garage. This is my
first wood working project and I am very surpised at how it turned
out. But I need help to finish it. Does anyone know of something I
could cover it with to protect it. Maybe some kind of rubber matting
or a paint that would keep it from soaking up anything or getting nics
and cuts. Thanks


So, you want your workbench and shop to look like a museum piece, never
touched and always in mint condition? Silly. A workbench is a workbench,
another convenience on the way to getting some work done. So what if it
gets nicked or distressed.

A good epoxy paint or several layers of polyurethane will make it look
good, but even these will wear in time. You didn't mention the wood.
Have you considered oil such as Watco? Protects and looks good. Simple
to apply.

If you want to protect the top while you work, keep several materials on
hand to protect the wood: carpet, vinyl, laminate. Just about anything
will work.

franz frippl wrote in
et:



So, you want your workbench and shop to look like a museum piece,
never touched and always in mint condition? Silly. A workbench is a
workbench, another convenience on the way to getting some work done.
So what if it gets nicked or distressed.

*snip*

Workbench? I have one of those? Maybe if I get some of these tools off
it... :-)

Puckdropper
--
Wise is the man who attempts to answer his question before asking it.

To email me directly, send a message to puckdropper (at) fastmail.fm

Hardboard aka Masonite... cheap and replaceable. I also use carpet pad on
mine, more to protect the project than the workbench since mine all have osb
tops.

One thing you'll learn about this group, you can ask a simple question and
get a dozen replies that don't answer your question. :-) But that's what
makes it unique.

Welcome to the Wunnerful World of Woodworkin'

Will

wrote:
: I am almost finished building a workbench in my garage. This is my
: first wood working project and I am very surpised at how it turned
: out. But I need help to finish it. Does anyone know of something I
: could cover it with to protect it. Maybe some kind of rubber matting
: or a paint that would keep it from soaking up anything or getting nics
: and cuts. Thanks


Try a mix of equal parts linseed or tung oil; wax; and turpentine (the real
stuff). It's renewable; will repell other finsihes and spills; and
looks nice.

When the bench gets the occasional ding, think of it as adding character.
Keep the bulletproof finishes for the dining table.

-- Andy Barss

On 29 May 2007 16:48:27 -0700, wrote:

I am almost finished building a workbench in my garage. This is my
first wood working project and I am very surpised at how it turned
out. But I need help to finish it. Does anyone know of something I
could cover it with to protect it. Maybe some kind of rubber matting
or a paint that would keep it from soaking up anything or getting nics
and cuts. Thanks

Honestly, a bench is supposed to get banged up, it's a work surface,
not a piece of fine furniture. Pretty much no matter what you do,
it's going to end up scratched, scraped, painted and dented, otherwise
it's not being used very well.

On 29 May 2007 16:48:27 -0700, wrote:

I am almost finished building a workbench in my garage. This is my
first wood working project and I am very surpised at how it turned
out. But I need help to finish it. Does anyone know of something I
could cover it with to protect it. Maybe some kind of rubber matting
or a paint that would keep it from soaking up anything or getting nics
and cuts. Thanks

I finished mine with a bit of shellac, a few coats of thinned
polyurethane, then I rubbed in soya bean oil for a few days. The old
tale applies he

Once a day for a week
Once a week for a month
Once a month for a year
Once a year forever.

Though now I put it on at perhaps 2-3 times a year.

Nics and cuts ? That's what workbenches put up with!! There's no
point in having one without a few battle scars. The top on mine is
"butcher block" style 4x2 so nics and cuts will take several lifetimes
to weaken it.

Barry

wrote:
I am almost finished building a workbench in my garage. This is my
first wood working project and I am very surpised at how it turned
out. But I need help to finish it. Does anyone know of something I
could cover it with to protect it.

I sympathise with your feelings but I'd chime in with the others who
take the line "It's a bench, for working on; live with it". So here's a
compromise, which I propose to implement when I build my new bench
(which will be Real Soon Now).

I intend to make a hardboard (aka Masonite) top for it, cut to size and
possibly with some pegs or something to hold it down. That'll be when
I'm using it for scruffy things that don't need a "proper" bench (e.g.
mixing paint, degunking bike chains, plumbing with a blowlamp, etc).

But when I'm using it for proper woodwork - needing bench stops and end
vices and holdfasts and dogs and cats and all that sort of thing, off
will come the cover and it will be a real bench!

--

Henry Law Manchester, England

Henry Law wrote:


I intend to make a hardboard (aka Masonite) top for it, cut to size
and
possibly with some pegs or something to hold it down. That'll be when
I'm using it for scruffy things that don't need a "proper" bench (e.g.
mixing paint, degunking bike chains, plumbing with a blowlamp, etc).

But when I'm using it for proper woodwork - needing bench stops and
end
vices and holdfasts and dogs and cats and all that sort of thing, off
will come the cover and it will be a real bench!

My money says it will never happen.

About the 2nd, maybe 3rd time you put the hardboard back, it will stay
on or else it will come off and somehow, never get put back.

Why not just put some fiddles on the bench to keep the hardboard in
place and when it gets mucked up, replace it?

Lew

Andrew Barss wrote:

wrote:
: I am almost finished building a workbench in my garage. This is my
: first wood working project and I am very surpised at how it turned
: out. But I need help to finish it. Does anyone know of something I
: could cover it with to protect it. Maybe some kind of rubber matting
: or a paint that would keep it from soaking up anything or getting nics
: and cuts. Thanks


Try a mix of equal parts linseed or tung oil; wax; and turpentine (the real
stuff). It's renewable; will repell other finsihes and spills; and
looks nice.

When the bench gets the occasional ding, think of it as adding character.
Keep the bulletproof finishes for the dining table.

Seconded, my bench top is stained and waxed with a good hard paste wax
then buffed untily my arms fall off. Paint, glue blobs, oil etc either
wipe off or come of with a swipe of a plastic scraper aka ex credit card
things. Periodically, no more than once a year, only when necessary I
have at it with white spirit and a webrax pad and put some more wax on.
Dings look good, an undinged bench says this guy is a poser who simply
collects tools and never uses them.

Peter
--
Add my middle initial to email me. It has become attached to a country
www.the-brights.net

On 29 May 2007 16:48:27 -0700, wrote:

I am almost finished building a workbench in my garage. This is my
first wood working project and I am very surpised at how it turned
out. But I need help to finish it. Does anyone know of something I
could cover it with to protect it. Maybe some kind of rubber matting
or a paint that would keep it from soaking up anything or getting nics
and cuts. Thanks


A Danish oil finish works well. Cover it with newspaper if you are
using your workbench for finishing a project or for a glue up. The
newspaper makes cleanup fast and easy.

I keep a spare piece or two of 1/4 masonite to lay over my bench top when
I'm servicing the chain saw or some other nasty task. Keeps the top a lot
nicer that way.

Old Guy



"WHWood" wrote in message
news:tDg7i.3037$106.448@trndny02...
Hardboard aka Masonite... cheap and replaceable. I also use carpet pad on
mine, more to protect the project than the workbench since mine all have
osb tops.

One thing you'll learn about this group, you can ask a simple question and
get a dozen replies that don't answer your question. :-) But that's what
makes it unique.

Welcome to the Wunnerful World of Woodworkin'

Will

wrote:
Maybe some kind of rubber matting
or a paint that would keep it from soaking up anything or getting nics
and cuts.

Nicks and cuts are badges of honor to a bench. When necessary, simply
scrape or plane them out.

As for protecting from glue drips and finish spills, which can mar
future work with dents and scratches, I have a roll of rosin paper
hanging on a ceiling mounted pipe rack next to the bench.

The paper is cheap, reusable, very durable, and will prevent all but a
major oil spill from penetrating. My bench is also protected from grimy
bicycle or power tool parts, which often have substances on them that I
don't want on my work. I can usually get many hours of use from each
paper cover, and there's no ink to rub off like newsprint.

The rack is a simple section of 1" black iron pipe with caps on the
pre-threaded ends, like a toilet paper or horizontal paper towel holder.
The pipe is suspended from the ceiling with threaded rod, hangers, and
flanges. A strip of paper can be unfurled nearly to the floor, which
nicely matches my bench length, and sliced off with my ever-present
utility knife. To change the paper, I simply unscrew the cap on one
end, slide the pipe partially out, and replace the roll. Usually, as I
do this, my wife asks why I can't do the same with toilet paper, as I
always leave it on the counter.

The rack parts are all in the plumbing dept. of any home center, and the
paper is near the hardwood flooring.

Bicycle and appliance boxes, also make good, free protection. I often
cover finished flooring and counter tops with bicycle box sides to
protect them during installs. Large cardboard slabs and rosin paper can
also be shrink wrapped to finished work for delivery protection.