Paint or varnish...?
- Thread starter Scrumbag
- Start date
mastermind
CGN Regular
- Location
- SW Ontario
Varnish may hold up better to cleaning as needed and show less scratches.
Ghys_T3LSS
CGN Regular
- Location
- Sherbrooke, QC
I would maybe look into oil finish. Just like gun finish!
Prime and apply a few coats of good, exterior paint. This will show up little bits and pieces that you set down or drop and make them easier to find.
Before doing anything, replace the soft wood 2 x 4 block under the press with a piece of hardwood; if you use the press a lot, the softwood will compress, and the press will frequently become lose.
If the finish get's damaged, sand and repaint; good as new.
Before doing anything, replace the soft wood 2 x 4 block under the press with a piece of hardwood; if you use the press a lot, the softwood will compress, and the press will frequently become lose.
If the finish get's damaged, sand and repaint; good as new.
I love BLO for a lot of wood working but for tables like this I'd go with either polyurethane varnish or a good quality floor paint. Either finishes well with only two or three coats and both are rugged as nails to rubbing on things. And in the case of polyurethane varnish not much sticks to it. And it's tolerant of many harsh solvents. If you're also cleaning guns or parts on this table I'd go with three coats.
And ditto to the softwood block you have as your riser. If you don't replace it with a stout hardwood such as maple or oak then I'd say at least make the riser from vertical grain slices laminated so the grain faces up and down. Even softwood is far stronger in that direction.
And ditto to the softwood block you have as your riser. If you don't replace it with a stout hardwood such as maple or oak then I'd say at least make the riser from vertical grain slices laminated so the grain faces up and down. Even softwood is far stronger in that direction.
Stain is just stain. Much like BLO applied only as a couple of coats it will allow other liquids to soak into the wood. It does not seal at all. It is good on outer wood because it allows the wood to breath. Not something we want on a bench top where solvent and oil spills are inevitable.
BLO does seal if enough coats are used. But it's not all that durable against solvents or oils. Hell, it needs re-applications just to protect from water over the long term.
Varnish it to match your knob! (Please see first picture).
I would use a finish that creates a film. Varnish would be my choice. BLO is awesome but reloading is a generally dirty affair after a few years accumulation and it would look shabby. Varnish can be wiped off if the filth isn't ground in.
Of course a light paint makes it easy to find small components and can be reapplied with ease. Either way something that creates a film over your new bench top.
I would use a finish that creates a film. Varnish would be my choice. BLO is awesome but reloading is a generally dirty affair after a few years accumulation and it would look shabby. Varnish can be wiped off if the filth isn't ground in.
Of course a light paint makes it easy to find small components and can be reapplied with ease. Either way something that creates a film over your new bench top.
This might well be it. I had to touch up a few spots of window paint a couple of years ago and I think the primer and paint are still good. Also have some "yacht" varnish kicking around in the back of the garage somewhere so I think I shall go with that.
Thanks for all the input folks!
Scrummy
