Coating masonite workbench surface, options?

[HotrodHR]

I never knew how much I didn't know about hardboard. I found myself at the Lowes website reading the product reviews! This thread draws me back everyday or two to check on all the comments. I'm just sitting here thinking about uses for hardboard aka Masonite; if I could only come up with a project...

I haven't used or been around this product in years, I need to go to Lowes and check out the smell, just curious, that's all. I'll have to come up with an "essential" reason to go out since we've all been ordered by the Governor to stay home...

 

[57plymouth]

I'm probably going to use poly on the bench top. I have 2 partial quart cans on the shelves that I will mix together and use. I hope it's enough since the bench is 30 inches deep and 20 feet long. I found an old can of old fashioned paste floor wax. I may put a couple of coats of that on top of the poly as well just for good measure.

I end up using scraps of masonite for lots of smaller projects. Since my bench is more than 2ft deep, I end up with lots of scrap when I replace the top. This time around I'm making a sandpaper organizer out of the scrap. I also want to make a larger woodworking style table for my drill press. I'll make the top out of masonite, and I'll cut down a stack of sacrificial inserts to go under the chuck. That spot gets lots of holes fast, so I will make a stack to keep in the cabinet under the drill press.

 

[eastbaysubaru]

I'm in the exact same situation as I'm about to finish modifying my garage cabinets (after roughly 12 years of deciding what I really need/want) and am almost ready to put down the masonite/tempered hardboard. Was wondering whether I should coat it with anything and from the looks of this thread, poly seems the way to go.

-Brian

 

[Alchase]

I will be honest, my hardboard bench tops are fine, but, some of these ideas have my mind going.
And seeing as we are in semi-lockdown, and I have already completed most of my honey do's, this might be a good time to experiment on bench top coatings.

So, "if" you were to put a coat on your hardwood bench top, which do you think would hold up to everyday use, without having too worry about it?

Part of me says a few coats of Poly. But the ideas of using oil has me intrigued!

 

[ZRX61]

This time around I'm making a sandpaper organizer out of the scrap.

Mine has full size & half size masonite shelves. Found it at a yard sale.

 

[Falcon67]

So, "if" you were to put a coat on your hardwood bench top, which do you think would hold up to everyday use, without having too worry about it?

Part of me says a few coats of Poly. But the ideas of using oil has me intrigued!

I used regular garage/porch/floor paint from Lowes. Had it mixed to a gray color, just a tint I liked. The bench is going on 9 years in use with cylinder head work, carb rebuilds, wood work, misc stuff. Nothing much "nice". It's seen plenty of Berrymans, pump fuel, race fuel, methanol alcohol and all kinds of stuff spilled on it. Haven't had to repaint it yet. It looks used for sure, but not nasty.

90% of bench work takes place here. Some of the top would look new, if you could move all the junk off those places LOL.

 

[RegeSullivan]

I use tempered hard board (Masonite) on a lot of jigs and tool tops (drill press, band saw, router table) because it is cheap, easily replaceable non-marring and if fairly durable. I usually give it a couple of coats of Johnson Past Wax. Not so much for aesthetics but to keep glue sticking sticking and projects gliding easily over the surface. I have never had to replace any because it looked bad or swelled only from errant chisels blades or bits and the occasional "longer than I thought" nail or screw.

 

[eastbaysubaru]

So I bought a gallon of spar urethane to coat the masonite top of my bench (as well as a few other projects). I haven't settled on an application method though and I'm wondering if anyone has any firsthand experience putting it down. From the research I've done it looks like either a wide foam brush or a wipe-on application are the least likely to introduce air bubbles. The wipe-on seems to be a bit more foolproof but requires more coats to achieve the same relative thickness.

There's a good chance I could be overthinking this as the research rabbit-hole has certainly derailed me previously. Hoping some folks on here can put an end to this. TIA.

-Brian

 

[ZRX61]

So I bought a gallon of spar urethane to coat the masonite top of my bench (as well as a few other projects). I haven't settled on an application method though and I'm wondering if anyone has any firsthand experience putting it down. From the research I've done it looks like either a wide foam brush or a wipe-on application are the least likely to introduce air bubbles. The wipe-on seems to be a bit more foolproof but requires more coats to achieve the same relative thickness.

I used a 3 or 4in brush, it's just a workbench

 

[eastbaysubaru]

I used a 3 or 4in brush, it's just a workbench

I know, I'm unfortunately very ****/OCD and only want to do it once. If there are air bubbles in the finish that I may have to stare at for the next 40 years (Lord willing!), it'll be back to the drawing board.

-Brian