I bought these "Forge" brand cabinets and workbench at a closeout at Home Depot last year... the cabinets are pretty, but the benchtop is just a piece of pressboard/compressed sawdust kinda stuff, and i sat down a rag with some oil or something on it, and it made a big 'ol stain on the surface, and ive tried everything this side of sandpaper to remove it. The workbench surface is sort of smooth, so sanding it down isn't an option, as it would remove this slick top layer... anyone have any ideas? I know its just a workbench, but i just finished the garage and i at least wanted everything to look nice for a LITTLE while! PS... the attached pic was taken BEFORE the stain...just giving you an idea of the material in question. Thanks in advance for any advice.
Removing stains on cheap pressboard benchtop
- Thread starter camarojoe
- Start date
Toolmaann
Well-known member
Here's what I would do. Wrap your current pressed board top with some real wood: Pine, Oak, Birch... Whatever's cheapest in your area. Finish it, paint it... your choice. Leave the edging 1/8' proud of the bench top. Now go get some 1/8" hardboard (Might be called something else where you are). This is the pressboard that has a tough, somewhat glossy surface. Cut it out to fit within the dimensions of the top. Bang-o, new looking top, and when it gets roughed up a bit (like bench tops always do) flip it over and you're good till the next oops... Cheap enough material that you could probably get quite a few tops from a 4X8 sheet.
That top is made of mdf (medium density fiberboard). As far as the stain you will probably never get it out. To prevent stains in the future I would brush on a few coats of clear wood finish. That is what I did to my tops, which are also made out of mdf.
alankulwicki7
Active member
You could always buy a piece of laminate and cover up the bench in that. It sells for $30 for a huge sheet of it at the local Menard's. They stock it in about 8 different colors so you could find one that matches your theme. I'm sure Home Depot and Lowe's carry the same stuff....
4t64rd
Well-known member
Get a sheet of aluminum or steel and get someone with a sheet metal brake to make a cap for it.
Rickster said:
I took your advice, but i think its looking more like Wayne Newton... now I'm really in trouble.
Seriously though,thanks for the replys so far...I'm thinking i may put a piece of formica on the top and just paint the edges to match. For right now, i've found that a strategically placed Hot Rod magazine hades the stain pretty nicely.
JohnHenrys48
Well-known member
Bradley Miller
Well-known member
Oh good gravy . . . drop a greasy ****** and ding that puppy up. You really need a hole in the wall also from a tool or two. I'd almost be afraid to fart on those purty stools. (grins!)
Now if it just looks like some type of religious figure . . . put it on EBay and get another bench!
Now if it just looks like some type of religious figure . . . put it on EBay and get another bench!
I started using inexpensive laminate flooring on my workbench tops...use only the smooth kind (no grain)...it is a great benchtop surface for everything except real severe chemicals and holds up to most abuse. Rim the edge with oak doorstop strips, and it looks great and is functional. Easily replaced if you ever need to.
roger55
Well-known member
I used vinyl tile and made a checkerboard pattern.
Easy to do, cheap and it would be easy to repair if messed up by just replacing.
Roger
You can see the rest of my shop pictures here:
http://hotrodders.com/gallery/showgallery.php?cat=500&ppuser=17782
Easy to do, cheap and it would be easy to repair if messed up by just replacing.
Roger
You can see the rest of my shop pictures here:
http://hotrodders.com/gallery/showgallery.php?cat=500&ppuser=17782
roger55
Well-known member
Joe,
It's the 1/8" tile that you glue down.
I tried the thin sticky-back tile once and it didn't work well.
Roger
It's the 1/8" tile that you glue down.
I tried the thin sticky-back tile once and it didn't work well.
Roger
roger55
Well-known member
Here's a couple of more photos that show the benchtop better:
