Paint or protectant for workbench?
 

Well, my wall/workbench thing is progressing reasonably.

I'm going to make a workbench/shelf here:


http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1246729156.jpg
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1246729166.jpg


I'm going to put a nice thick piece of plywood up there, and maybe run it up the wall a few inches, backsplash-style, and I'd like to:

1. Either treat the wood or paint it with something chemical-resistant,

or

2. put some kind of laminate or something on it.

to protect from carb cleaner, brake cleaner, etc. etc.


I'd rather do option #1, because it's easier. Does anyone recommend or know of any kind of finish I can put on bare plywood to protect it from garage chemicals? I don't need style-points, just functionality.

Thanks!

If you could get a piece of steel bent to use as a top. Have it bent to hang down in the front and bent up to make a nice lip in the back. Then you have a chemical resistant top that can be cleaned with a razor blade or scotch brite pad.

Not sure what your trying to protect it from. The beauty of a plywood top is that it is cheap and replaceable. You could rub some tung oil on it to allow any spilled liquids to puddle long enough for you to wipe it up.

Oil it up, use it for 20-30 years, then replace it with a fresh piece if the mood suits you.

I like to use a couple of layers of 3/4" so it doesn't bounce when you pound on it with a bfh.

The other trick is to simply flip the top over when it gets nasty.

Personally, I like the laminate tops that they sell at Home Depot. They have a small (4") back splash curved into the top and you just cut the top for the correct length. You could add a sheet of plywood underneath for strength. They have a variety of styles/patterns and you could get something that looks industrial for the shop.

Door...
 

I'll soon be making a small bench in my temporary garage.
By small I mean a solid wood blank door from Home Depot on a 4"x4" base.
Bench stains give character & tell stories. ;)
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I like to keep big sheets of cardboard around for benchtop cover on messy jobs.
Tung oil...good idea...thanks.
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Happy Benching.

Me too, but those all measure about 25-26" deep, and my spot here is only about 22", so it's gonna need to be a DIY thing.

Funny, I thought of tung oil too. Not real tung oil, but just the can stuff.

I have a piece of masonite covering my bench top. When it gets too worn, it can be replaced. Cheap and easy.......

+2 on Masonite - I put 3 or 4 coats of varnish on mine. Oil won't stain or soak in and lasts for many years......

Piece of steel will last forever.....

I'm 37, Sidney. I only need it to last 30 or 40 years. :)

Well it will do that plenty well. It makes such a nice smooth clean surface. Easy to clean and nothing ever soaks in.

Just make sure its big enough for a sleeping bag too! You know the routine "are you ever coming up?"

No. No I don't.

That sounds like a pretty awful routine.

laminate glued to plywood with contact cement. Then, use a router with flush trim bit to clean overhanging laminate. This is very cheap, durable (not affected by chemicals), and very easy to clean.

you can buy galvanized sheet steel from a heating/ductwork supply house. It is not expensive.

I vote for the hard masonite over 3/4 ply. A couple of coats of Watco oil, it looks terrific, and cheap and easy to replace. I had some oak strips about 1.5 x 3/8 laying around that I wrapped the edges with, and it looks just great and wears like iron.

Really, really like the copper overlay that Thom (widebody) used in his workshop. Looks great and nice to have at least part of the bench being metal. Grounds, works while welding and so on. Did I say it looks GREAT?

+1....and if you measure the screw holes carefully. no need to do any measuring/redrilling when you flip the top over.