Finish/stain for reloading bench ?

[Pilotscrappy]

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?]

Polyurethane is the easy button.

 

[Rocketmandb]

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]

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]

Oil based will soak in better

 

[MK20]

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]

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]

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]

I coated my wood bench top with polyurethane.

 

[Pilotscrappy]

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

 

[Chris1972]

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]

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]

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.

 

[Pilotscrappy]

Finished the bench in the process of putting coat #3 of poly on it. Figured i would share some pics. This was my first attempt at building a bench (anything with wood really lol)

My carpenter skills are terrible ,but the bench is sturdy and it's level so I'm happy with how it turned out.

 

[Pilotscrappy]

 

[John?]

Finish on the top looks fine. Good work. Thanks for sharing.

Don’t disparage your work (others will do that for you). If it does what you need and your spouse will tolerate it you’ve done well. You can incorporate all you learned when you build the next one because this won’t be big enough (hi hi).

Seriously, well done using your talents to solve a problem and fill a need.

 

[Aftermath]

Finished the bench in the process of putting coat #3 of poly on it. Figured i would share some pics. This was my first attempt at building a bench (anything with wood really lol)

My carpenter skills are terrible ,but the bench is sturdy and it's level so I'm happy with how it turned out.

View attachment 8672157

It's not even finished and you have it collecting junk. This is the way.

 

[mtrmn]

Mine is stained with Hoppes #9, engine oil, carburetor cleaner, no telling what else. I don't have a problem with it.

 

[TylerN]

Finished the bench in the process of putting coat #3 of poly on it. Figured i would share some pics. This was my first attempt at building a bench (anything with wood really lol)

My carpenter skills are terrible ,but the bench is sturdy and it's level so I'm happy with how it turned out.

View attachment 8672157

That looks solid and functional, I'd be happy with that.

 

[BLEE]

Mine is stained with Hoppes #9, engine oil, carburetor cleaner, no telling what else. I don't have a problem with it.

Character marks

 

[Ronin22]

Dam sun! That is a beautiful bench. I would have recommended poly, with a bunch of light coats, to resist oils n such. The other is 100% Tung oil with 5-6 coats. Tung oil is like a poly but polymerizes from within the wood. My favorite.

 

[CaptNemo]

The last big project I did was satin oil based poly with two coats with a scotchbrite sand in between to get the dust, bugs and debris out followed by another light scuff w/ scotchbrite and more poly thinned about 25% with mineral spirits to put a thin coat that flowed out well to make it pretty.
I just built an engine parts working fixture with scrap plywood and had to remind myself "Fixture not Furniture".