MM

Mark

08/12/2003 8:22 PM

Finish for Workbench ?


I'm fed-up with not having a proper workbench so I'm going to make one.
Since I just can bring myself to spend $800 for a solid maple top, I'm
going to make one with 3/4" sheets of birch plywood.

Question: Since durability will be important, I thought I'd apply a few
coats of Varathane or similar.

Anyone have other / better ideas ?

--
Mark
Mark@_Bite-Me-Spammer_HVWTech.com (remove the obvious to reply)


This topic has 5 replies

Sd

Silvan

in reply to Mark on 08/12/2003 8:22 PM

09/12/2003 7:09 PM

Mark wrote:

> As to the 2x4 approach, I had considered that but I'm concerned about
> getiing it really flat and smooth.

Not that hard if you have a hand plane or two, and all the various tidbits
necessary to handle their care and feeding.

--
Michael McIntyre ---- Silvan <[email protected]>
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http://www.geocities.com/Paris/Rue/5407/

ST

Steve Turner

in reply to Mark on 08/12/2003 8:22 PM

09/12/2003 3:28 AM

Junior wrote:
> "Mark" <Mark@_bite-me-spammer_HVWTech.com> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
>
> Do the same type of top but use a standard 2 ax 4 stud.

That'll work fine, but be sure to use yellow pine and not the (much softer)
white pine that is so prevalent these days. And I don't think a film finish
like Varathane is the best thing for a workbench. It won't hold up under all
the punishment, and a wax finish is easier to maintain and will keep glue from
sticking to the surface.

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To reply, change the chemical designation to its common name.

MM

Mark

in reply to Mark on 08/12/2003 8:22 PM

09/12/2003 9:23 PM

In article <[email protected]>,
[email protected] says...
> In article <[email protected]>,
> Mark@_bite-me-spammer_HVWTech.com says...
> >
> > I'm fed-up with not having a proper workbench so I'm going to make one.
> > Since I just can bring myself to spend $800 for a solid maple top, I'm
> > going to make one with 3/4" sheets of birch plywood.
> >
> > Question: Since durability will be important, I thought I'd apply a few
> > coats of Varathane or similar.
> >
>
> Think you'll be dis-satisfied after it gets dinged a bit and you
> cannot repair the finish. Try something like beeswax dissolved in
> turpentine -- a traditional workbench finish.
>
> > Anyone have other / better ideas ?
> >

Ah....now we're getting somewhere -a wax finish's resistance to glue is
something I hadn't thought of !

As to the 2x4 approach, I had considered that but I'm concerned about
getiing it really flat and smooth.



--
Mark
Mark@_Bite-Me-Spammer_HVWTech.com (remove the obvious to reply)

Jj

"Junior"

in reply to Mark on 08/12/2003 8:22 PM

08/12/2003 3:31 PM

"Mark" <Mark@_bite-me-spammer_HVWTech.com> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>
> I'm fed-up with not having a proper workbench so I'm going to make one.
> Since I just can bring myself to spend $800 for a solid maple top, I'm
> going to make one with 3/4" sheets of birch plywood.
>
> Question: Since durability will be important, I thought I'd apply a few
> coats of Varathane or similar.
>
> Anyone have other / better ideas ?
>
> --
> Mark
> Mark@_Bite-Me-Spammer_HVWTech.com (remove the obvious to reply)

Do the same type of top but use a standard 2 ax 4 stud.

Junior

MJ

Mark & Juanita

in reply to Mark on 08/12/2003 8:22 PM

09/12/2003 3:01 AM

In article <[email protected]>,
Mark@_bite-me-spammer_HVWTech.com says...
>
> I'm fed-up with not having a proper workbench so I'm going to make one.
> Since I just can bring myself to spend $800 for a solid maple top, I'm
> going to make one with 3/4" sheets of birch plywood.
>
> Question: Since durability will be important, I thought I'd apply a few
> coats of Varathane or similar.
>

Think you'll be dis-satisfied after it gets dinged a bit and you
cannot repair the finish. Try something like beeswax dissolved in
turpentine -- a traditional workbench finish.

> Anyone have other / better ideas ?
>
>


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