How to finish my workbench

[SlimCookie]

I just finished building a workbench and painting it with leftover paint we had from our interior home.

The bench is painted in a latex Behr Ultra Premium finish. My bench is used for alot of different projects.

I am wanting to put a protective type top coat on the bench. What would you guys recommend?

 

[Ainsley]

are you painting the top with the latex? what material is it, ply?

 

[SlimCookie]

yes...the top has been painted with latex paint...and the board is 3/4 birch

 

[Falcon67]

I use porch and garage floor paint. Holds up well to most things, easy to renew later. If you've already put latex on there, then it's a little late for anything else.

 

[Ainsley]

My only suggestion would be putting a coat of polyurethane or clear acrylic over it.
The better bet would be getting some 1/8" hardboard and putting that on top with a few screws and if you want to get fancy a hardwood edge across the front face. That way when the hardboard gets too beat up just take it off and put a new piece on.

 

[Cyberbear]

The hardboard is a good idea, but I've always used 1/4" hot oiled Masonite (the dark brown type) smooth both sides. This allows me to turn it over once and the dark color hides any stains.

 

[Lassen Forge]

16-12 ga stainless on at least 1/2 of it. Yes, it's spendy, but you ever replace a sheet of SS because it's oil soaked or gouged?

The other 1/2, I like something like a redwood plywood, because it *does* have give and grab. Just make sure you wax the screws you attach it with so you can swap it out later.

Some people go for the yuppie exquisite looks... I rather prefer a bench I can use... and abuse... the H*** out of, and it begs for more.

 

[kelpaso1]

Cheapest "metal" top would be galvanized steel sheet used for house furnace ducts. I went to a furnace shop and bought a sheet of 12 foot galvanized sheet and had them bend it to my bench dimensions. Cost me 60 bucks total. Looks good, wont rust, fluid proof, nice straight corner bends and a back splash all in one piece. It will dent a bit but so will anything. I just used a few beads of silicon to glue it down.

 

[Paul1956]

My Dad's workbench has 1/4 Masonite on it as protection.

He also painted the Masonite.

He has been gone many years but that Masonite is still on
it... and the top surface of the bench is pristine. It was
built in the mid 50's.

The Masonite; however, has acquired some "character".

 

[SlimCookie]

Just a quick followup...

I applied 2 layers of paint/primer. Then roughly 5-7 coats of Polyacrylic and sanded in between the first 3 layers. The top is nice...although if I had to do any pounding or anything hard on the bench...I would recommend another solution (stainless steel!!)

I do use my bench..but I use it to reload ammo. If I need to cut/paint I pull out my mobile workbench.

 

[Davefr]

Use PVC garage floor tiles.

 

[katy]

Depends on what you're going to be using the bench for. Ifn you're doing any serious work I would suggest a metal top, at least 16 gauge (.0625"), preferably heavier. My main bench has a 1/2" steel plate top, but then it's used for everything from speedometers, to engines, to welding, to grinding, etc.