Re-finishing a workbench??

Re: Re-finishing a workbench??

Curt Putnam

1/3 BLO, 1/3 varnish, 1/3 MS. Dissolve as much beeswax as you can into the mix (melt in a double boiler). Flood the newly flattened top and let sit for about 1/2 hour or so and wipe off the excess. Let sit overnight and repeat. Done

Re: Re-finishing a workbench??

Tom Norton

So as for prep. Give it a good sanding/scraping?

Re: Re-finishing a workbench??

Dick Coers

A good straightedge and depth of stains will tell you how much work is necessary to flatten or just cleanup. Last time I had a little hollow in the center of my bench and had to bring out the hand plane first. If you used BLO, sand paper will usually gum up. Scraper will reduce that

Re: Re-finishing a workbench??

John K Jordan

I occasionally use a card scraper on mine to remove some stains, glue, and scratches, then dope it Watco "danish" oil which I think has some BLO. (Mine is hard maple)

I don't get too carried away since it's a workbench, used for everything from laying out woodturning designs to surgery on a chicken to installing windshield glass in the excavator to tuning up the chainsaw to assembling a 3D printer.

JKJ

Re: Re-finishing a workbench??

Tom Norton

Yep I have a number of stains from various tasks! I think in will give it a good scraping and sanding then re-oil.

Also going to add leather to my vise jaws. Going to a Amish harness shop today.

Re: Re-finishing a workbench??

Derek Cohen (in Perth, Australia)

Tom, my workbench is a tool. The surface needs to be flat to aid in hand planing, shooting edges, and as a reference surface.

This was shortly after the last occasion I planed it ...

After flattening, the surface was prepared with a toothing blade in a Veritas LA Jack. This creates a slightly roughened surface for a little better grip.

The last thing I would wish for is a slippery surface, and I avoid films. The bench received a single coat of Danish Oil ... just enough to prevent glue penetrating into the wood.

Regards from Perth

Derek

Re: Re-finishing a workbench??

John K Jordan

>>>Also going to add leather to my vise jaws. Going to a Amish harness shop today.

Might be a good place to get leather scraps. I go to a leather shop at a Mennonite community in TN. He once sold me a large box (2.5' cube) full of leather scraps for $8. Another time he made me a 3-piece girth strap for my miniature donkeys, complete with buckles, well made - charged me $3. A genuine leather hat for $10. A complete harness set for a mini-horse cart for a ridiculously low price.

I buy all my farm-related hardware there too at less than 1/2 the price of anywhere else.

JKJ

Re: Re-finishing a workbench??

Tom Norton

Bench is prepped, leather is installed on my vise after my visit to the Amish harness shop. Oil is being warmed up in a bowl of hot water!

Re: Re-finishing a workbench??

Tom Norton

Done!

Re: Re-finishing a workbench??

Mark Nowicki

Not yet.

Now splatter some paint, spill some coffee, leave an oily rag overnight.

Done.

Re: Re-finishing a workbench??

Mark

Plus over drill a couple of boards and a few nail throughs...done!