Copper work bench - protective coatings?

[superUnknown]

I built a copper top workbench to do soldering and light duty stuff. Anybody with copper roof or similar have suggestions for keeping it shiny?

The whole build is here:http://www.instructables.com/id/Copper-Workbench/

 

[Xauterus]

Some beeswax or wood polish ?

 

[tomd]

Could you spray on clear coat?

 

[rockwithjason]

clear polyurathane spray works well. so does laquer

 

[garboui]

Don't forget to ground with a 1M resistor in series for ESD safety. If it is going to be intended to provide ESD protection I would also worry about coatings being too insulative. An oiled or waxed film would likely be acceptable.

 

[Paul1956]

Copper will naturally tarnish after some time and turn
a greenish color.

Those with copper roof generally leave them weather.

http://www.copper.org/resources/properties/protection/clear_finishes.html

 

[Bondo]

suggestions for keeping it shiny?

Ayuh,.... Polish, 'n buff monthly,......

When I rebuilt the bath in my rental house, exposed plumbin' couldn't be avoided for the shower,....
I hit the copper pipin' with a ssteel wire wheel on my grinder, 'n shot 'em all with Rustoleum clear coat, enamel,....
It's been 8 years or so, 'n they're still lookin' like the day I did 'em up,....

 

[-Brent-]

Wear long sleeves and gloves. Sounds silly but the oils on your skin will "stain" the copper.

 

[4307]

I keep my copper clean from tarnish with a half a lime sprinkled with salt, wait for salt to dissolve, rub lime on copper, wipe clean.

There are special clear coatings designed for copper, but they do not old up to high heat.

 

[Stuart in MN]

Assuming you want it to remain conductive, clear coats are out. I'd use whatever it is the local tavern uses to polish their brass rails and bartops.

 

[tarbellb]

Johnsons Paste Wax- cheap, natural, effective, can be reapplied.

 

[404]

Great thing about this is that there is always a conductive path between whatever energized electrical parts might be touching the copper.

 

[superUnknown]

Thanks guys!

 

[stafford]

Look up Wenol, it's a metal polish that works so easy you won't believe it. Probably shin that whole top in 5 or 10 minutes. Works great on chrome too brass as well.

 

[Davefr]

Nikolas #2105 is best for copper/brass but say goodbye to the surface conductivity.

http://www.finish1.com/page_products_2105.htm

 

[Radix2]

Maybe it is just me, but a conductive worktop for doing electrical work would be my very last choice.

it addresses low probability ESD damage by creating a high probability of shorts