Need Countertop Color Advice

[bobbyd]

Working on finishing a faux butcher block countertop on my back bench. It's made of pine 1x4's split in half, planed and glued up. I want to stain and then put a polyurethane or epoxy protective top coat on it. This isn't my heavy duty bench or fabrication bench, more of a tinkering and final assembly type area. Also attached a couple of overall pictures so you get a feel for the space. You can see a little about the build here:

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=77715

I need a little input as to what color to stain the top. I'm leaning towards the dark but others have recommended the lighter or natural color. Aesthetics are important here and like I say, being able to see small parts, etc. is not all that critical.

Let me know what you think.

 

[rwhite692]

The dark is going to show every scratch in the poly, as soon as you actually use that bench.

Go with the light.

 

[cowboy73]

+1. Would go with the light stain for same reason.

 

[Coolabah]

Wow nice garage... I would tend to go lighter for 2 reasons:

1/ yes, I know you said seeing small parts is not an issue, but lighter surface does give you better reflected light, as your eyes get older it DOES start to matter, you will find it an easier working surface IMHO, regardless...
2/ You have given a lot of thought into the colors for your garage... isn't is a rule of thumb that respective surfaces respect ? ie light colored floor, light color benches, etc..


either way... you need to live with it. Myself ? I would stain it "teak" just 'cos pine responds well to this stain , and , well , I like Teak....

 

[machine_punk]

I personally like the lighter color sample which is closest to the wall...seems have the same orange tinge to it.

 

[NitroPress]

I'd just finish it in clear and let the wood age naturally into its color. I've gotten completely away from tinted stains except when matching other furniture.