wood top finish help

[PoorOwner]

I am working on a small piece of beech counter top.

I wiped on 4 coats of poly and sprayed on 3. Both techniques produce very thin finish but it looks fantastic..

This isn't going to be heavy duty just a place for me to put parts and wrenches when I work. But I think I want to get it sealed good enough so that I can just wipe off oil with a rag instead of staining the top.

This is a satin grade but since gloss coating has more solid should I get a gloss spray poly and do a few more coats? Also do you think some wax that will make it very nice and repel oily stains?

The gloss is a little exaggerated in this picture but it's not really that glossy at all

 

[Kevin54]

What about the bar counter stuff that is hard as nails and looks to be really thick? I can't remember right off what it is called but it gets brushed on and then it flows out smooth. I think it is about the same stuff they use for decoupage' (where they have postcards, cards, clippings, underneath the coating. The bar coating is available in paint stores I believe, the decoupage' stuff in craft stores.

 

[PAToyota]

For workbenches, I prefer a wipe on oil finish - I use tung oil. It doesn't get it as nice and glossy, but over time as it wears I can just clean it up and wipe on another coat. I can also touch up areas and it all blends together.

As you say, poly is thin and doesn't actually soak into the wood very far. So it is easy to wear or damage and recoating always shows up unless you take the whole finish down and redo the entire surface.

 

[PoorOwner]

since I have begin the work with poly I am just going to have to put more coats on to finish it up.. and not switch to another solution..
does anyone have experience with using foam brush to put on a slightly diluted can poly, it's a simple enough surface it should self level and look fairly good.

 

[PoorOwner]

It's finished.. I went and bought my favourite floor poly "Duraseal" which I put on my other MDF work tops that held up pretty good.

I applied 4 more slightly diluted coats of this new poly with foam brush on top the first coats that was wiped/sprayed on. Rubbed the finish down with steel wool, some car polish and a coat of carnauba wax.. It's kind of a "let's see what would happen" kind of thing as I go with a finer finish..
It looks too good to use and more suitable as a die cast cars display!! I think I just need to put a pen holder and phone now

I won't deny the first few pictures finish look more natural for a garage top but now the grease and oil has no chance of staining the surface as the fibers are 100% sealed, easy to wipe off.

 

[dps]

Well it looks great, and then yes, one runs into the problem of actually using it for its original purpose. Now you'll need to protect it with cardboard or something each time! Have same problem...