Paint or seal workbench

[Goose_NC]

About 2 years ago I build a nice sturdy work bench. I used 3/4 birch sheet for the top and a shelf. I figure it has dried enough now to seal and or paint it. I do mostly mechanical work and ewl with various motor oils, brake fluid an gasoline/diesel fluids.

Any suggestions on painting or sealing it?

Or look at perhaps a covering of sheet metal.

My bench top is 30x96. All my previous work bench tops were 2x what ever I found.

Suggestions?

 

[mxdev]

Clear poly wasn't an option, but my bench cleans up easy when covered in solvents or oils.

 

[laser3kw]

Clear poly wasn't an option, but my bench cleans up easy when covered in solvents or oils.

that's what I did to my plywood bench. When I clean it up, it still has the clear shine to it - 25 years later. I rebuilt many small engines on it, it has "character".

 

[Corndoggeh]

Re: Pain or deal workbench

If money is a constraint. Get a 1/8" sheet of hardwood ply at homedepot and cut to fit. Otherwise go with aheetmetal if you can afford. Something thick enough yo survive some hits.

 

[Farmall450]

Re: Pain or deal workbench

Used motor oil works good against weathering. I'm assuming it's inside though, and personally I like metal ones. 1/8, stainless if you can find it.

 

[lis2323]

I built my 16 foot long workbench almost 40 years ago for my farm shop. Two layers of 3/4” plywood capped with 16 gauge galvanized sheet metal with a formed backslash.



Easy to clean and maintenance free.

 

[laser3kw]

I built my 16 foot long workbench almost 40 years ago for my farm shop. Two layers of 3/4” plywood capped with 16 gauge galvanized sheet metal with a formed backslash.



Easy to clean and maintenance free.

that would be my choice also if I were to build another bench. The stainless steel would look nice - for a while

 

[Farmall450]

Re: Pain or deal workbench

Stainless is more durable the galvanized.

 

[lis2323]

Galvanized is within the farmer’s budget. [emoji3]


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[jesse72]

Stain gives a nice look, but steel will obviously last longer. Depends on what you are going to use it for

 

[zmotorsports]

Growing up on the farm we had several work benches all having the top made of plywood. Even my first workbench was a 4'x8' sheet of plywood spanning across two 55-gallon drums. I absolutely hated having the wood work surface and swore when I finally had my own shop it would have metal work surfaces. At my last shop I had 18-gauge stainless steel over 3/4" plywood. They worked well for the 25+ years I was in that shop with the exception that they were getting a little dished in the middle due to heavy transmission, small engines, etc. getting moved around on them. In my new shop I made the top out of two layers of 3/4" plywood covered with 10-gauge steel with a bent back splash at the rear. These are dead solid and I suspect they will be for the duration of my stay here on earth.

My vote is for metal.


My son on the other hand is getting ready to build an 8' work bench at his new home and he is going to go with wood completely as he will be using it for smaller home projects and a place to "tinker" on things, anything major he will be doing at my shop so I guess it would depend on your intended use.

 

[NUTTSGT]

I have no objection to a metal topped bench but mine is plywood. I merely painted it for what I'm doing. If I was doing .ore heavier work, it would have a metal top.

 

[fsae0607]

Galvanized sheet metal. My workbench is 3/4" plywood with a sheet metal top. Love it for automotive work. Easy to clean with denatured alcohol and a rag.

 

[sberry]

If it was free stainless would be ok but I like the galvs above. It cleans well, **** doesn't soak in. I got some galv on some rolling stuff someone gave me, its light, I don't pound on them, its good to be able to wipe up. The 10 ga would be forever, a guy could go economy at 12, even 14 and have it pretty sturdy.