Finish/stain for reloading bench ?

Pilotscrappy · Sunday at 4:45 PM

Hey guys , I moved a few years ago (to the humid south) and finally am getting around to building a new reloading/ work bench.

I have gotten a butcher block to be the top of my bench, but I'm not sure what I should finish or seal it with ? The block is unfinished so I will sand it and want to seal it with something that will withstand the humid climate.

Any ideas on what works best ?

John? · Sunday at 5:07 PM

Polyurethane is the easy button.

Rocketmandb · Sunday at 5:36 PM

If you don't seal it somehow, it will definitely pick up chemical stains. Not that it won't even if you do, but it will be less AND if you stain it, it will cover them up somewhat.

jetjock07 · Sunday at 5:45 PM

I would not stain it unless you want a more uniform color. I’d seal it with a water based top coat. Make sure you finish both sides to keep it from cupping or bowing over time.

Shoots 700's · Sunday at 6:00 PM

Oil based will soak in better

MK20 · Sunday at 7:38 PM

Mix 1 lb beeswax to 5 gallons linseed oil.

Heat the mix up in a cheap pot.

Paint it on.

It's a very, very good finish option for workbenches. It is absolutely waterproof, so humidity will not be let in. If you damage it, which you will, you can just touch it up.

secondofangle2 · Monday at 1:40 PM

typical butcher block treatment is mineral oil and beeswax

could also stain with any minwax you want and finish with layer(s) of acrylic or polyurethane like wood floors

Thump_rrr · Monday at 1:54 PM

I use Watco Butcher block oil & finish.
You can find it at Home Depot.

Whenever it gets a little dirty you can pass a scotchbrite pad of fine sandpaper over it and add a couple of coats.

I haven’t treated it in the last 5 years.

supercorndogs · Monday at 5:23 PM

I coated my wood bench top with polyurethane.

Pilotscrappy · Tuesday at 7:29 PM

Thanks for all the tips guys appreciate it, love seeing everyone's benches

Chris1972 · 2025-04-12T05:54:37-0400

I’ve had mine for 3-4 years and did not b treat it at all. It’s covered with stains. I don’t have a recommendation, but definitely do something.

demarpaint · 2025-04-12T06:19:03-0400

I'd use Marine Spar Varnish on the top and sides of it. Lightly sand the wood first, in the direction of the grain with fine sand paper to break the mill glaze. Thin the first coat with mineral spirits so it penetrates and seals the wood, when dry lightly sand it, get the sanding dust off and coat it with the product full strength. Sand in between coats to get the dust off. Two to three coats over the thinned coat should work fine. It comes in high gloss and a stain finish. Use either a hogs hair brush or pure bristle.

BuildingConceptsllc · 2025-04-12T08:29:24-0400

supercorndogs said:
I coated my wood bench top with polyurethane.

which is the best option. It handles the crap we use reloading best and is easy to apply. I can do any finish I want to as I have them all in my wood shop and am used to them all but water based poly is the way. If you need to do it quickly you can use a "sanding sealer" (de waxed shellac) for the first few coats , which dries very fast, then do poly for 2 coats with a super light sand in between and get a really good finish that is durable but just a few coats of poly is also very acceptable. Don't make this harder than it needs to be.

Search

Search

Download Gravity Ballistics

Finish/stain for reloading bench ?

Pilotscrappy

Winter is coming

John?

Sergeant of the Hide

Rocketmandb

Old Salt

jetjock07

Can I get a Mulligan

Shoots 700's

Sergeant

MK20

Major Member

secondofangle2

Online Training Member

Thump_rrr

Sergeant

supercorndogs

Ham Fisted Gorilla

Pilotscrappy

Winter is coming

Chris1972

Private

demarpaint

Private

BuildingConceptsllc

Don't Start None, won't be none.

Similar threads