spec4 e4 Posted April 12, 2020 Report Share Posted April 12, 2020 I am almost finish rebuilding my firearms/reloading bench. What kind of finish for the top? I was thinking oil poly, about 10 to 15 coats. The glued boards are pine that are 1-1/4" thick. Suggestions? Thanks Rob Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spec4 e4 Posted April 12, 2020 Author Report Share Posted April 12, 2020 The old workbench. The top board's are warped because my roommate left the garage door open hours on end and moisture got to them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr.Hess Posted April 14, 2020 Report Share Posted April 14, 2020 Looks real nice. What work are you planning on doing on top of it? Reloading, auto repair, gun cleaning? I would think the finish would depend on that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
donmarkey Posted April 14, 2020 Report Share Posted April 14, 2020 I line my with 1/4” hardboard. And replace it when needed. That way you can drill into it or screw things down for jigs and economically replace it when it gets too beat up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spec4 e4 Posted April 14, 2020 Author Report Share Posted April 14, 2020 Gun cleaning, building gun and reloading. Thanks Rob Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr.Hess Posted April 14, 2020 Report Share Posted April 14, 2020 I would suggest something chemical resistant then. Some of the cleaning products can be hard on some finishes. Maybe a urethane or an epoxy? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spec4 e4 Posted April 15, 2020 Author Report Share Posted April 15, 2020 6 hours ago, Dr.Hess said: I would suggest something chemical resistant then. Some of the cleaning products can be hard on some finishes. Maybe a urethane or an epoxy? Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AzRednek Posted May 1, 2020 Report Share Posted May 1, 2020 The work benches I built when I had the uniform store I put a sheet of Formica on top. I belt sanded the top smooth then used a router to true up the edges. Far from a perfect looking fit like a kitchen counter top with rounded edges but the smooth surface was easy to brush clean. I kept the tops looking good by spraying on Pledge then wiping clean. I didn’t have to worry about wood dust, splinters or dirt getting into cloth material I cut. Probably wouldn’t work to well though if you might be hammering on it. I bought a used blind stitching machine with a Cedar wood bench top. According to the lady I bought it from. The rock hard wood surface she claimed was from her husband spraying on Thompson’s exterior deck seal. The finish was dull and cloudy but rock hard. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Downwindtracker2 Posted March 16, 2021 Report Share Posted March 16, 2021 Form my woodworking bench, I use polymerised tung oil. Same stuff I use to hand rub my stocks with. My reloading bench has either porch paint or a urethane, forgot which. If I was using oil based Varathane, nicer than the water based stuff,, I would do two coats wait for it to be completely dry, then sand with 220 grit and use foam roller or foam paint brush for the final coat. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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