Reloading Bench Top - Paint or Varnish?

[WartHog]

Picked up a free Wooden work bench top on CL today. It is akin to a solid core door that someone made into a 60" x 32" working surface. Surface was painted but paint is cracked/weathered but underlying wood surface seems in good condition. Would it be best to use a belt sander to remove old paint then repaint or Varnish? Type of paint or varnish to use?

['ol shooter]

I'd sand it and glue a sheet of Formica to it.

[Pardini]

Linoleum.

[ORNGXTC]

I used varathane. The finished product looks really nice. I think I still have your number I can text you a pic later. I used butcher block top that I got from Friedman’s for mine. It is only about a inch thick. It looks great. I just wish it was a little more beefy, maybe thicker, or better supported. You can feel a little flex in the top when running the 650. Also I have a belt sander.
John

[JackEllis]

A lot of people attach a sheet of masonite to their workbenches with (countersunk) screws so it can be replaced when it get beat up enough. Much easier than flooring but it is pretty slick.

I would make sure the bench has at least one width-wise beam in the middle to keep it from sagging.

I have my reloading gear set up at the end of a workbench I picked up on CL for nothing that doubles as a table saw outfeed table and an assembly table. I installed threaded inserts in a couple of places so I can quickly install and remove my reloading tools. If you do the same, drill the holds that will receive the inserts a bit larger than the manufacturer calls for.

[edgerly779]

Commercial low knap carpet

[rice_man]

I would go laminate sheet or tempered hardboard. Both have already been discussed.

I guess it depends on now nice you want it to look and what your budget is. The hardboard is pretty cheap and as JackEllis pointed out - replaceable when you need to.

[baih777]

Sand it first. See what's left.
All options above sound good.

[ironhorse1]

Why waste your time with paint or varnish. Home depot sells a thin white plastic wall board.

It is lightly textured, cuts with a knife, can be glued in place and only costs $26.97 for a 4'X8' sheet.

The best part is you will have left over material. Use the extra under a sink or place in the bottoms of your kitchen drawers.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/1-16-in-x-4-ft-x-8-ft-Plastic-Panel-63003/202090190

irh

[WartHog]

Thanks guys for all the tips/suggestions!

The tempered hardboard sounds like a good idea being it's cheap and easily replaceable. This will also be for working on my firearms etc. so the idea of a thin layer of indoor/outdoor carpeting would be nice. I need to search for design ideas for the supporting structure as I definitely want the bench to be sturdy and would like to incorporate a storage shelf underneath.

[dmy]

Whatever material you choose, I recommend making it white. It makes it really easy to see small objects on your bench and reflects light which is always helpful. I tacked a piece of glossy foam board to mine which has, so far, stayed pretty clean despite the occasional powder droppings.

[OpenSightsOnly]

The inline fabrication press mount sits on top of a plain-jane 1/2" plywood that has a light coat of linseed oil and turpentine.

So far so good for 9 years

[Whiterabbit]

Only your options? Varnish.

I used paraffin wax for mine. Melted in by heat gun and carded smooth when cool. Linseed would have been great too.

So, belt sand, then linseed. Or general finishes outdoor oil. It is that awesome.

Skinning is a waste of time. Go with what is quick and chemical resistant.

[tonyjr]

I have painted , varnished , tried the hardboard stuff and rubber conveyor
belt .
So far the rubberized paint has worked best . Mine is a work bench - not
just for reloading . [ drill press , pipe vise , 6 inch vise , vibrator , sonic ,
tumbler , case prep machine , key machine + ]
I agree - stick with white .

[MarikinaMan]

Linoleum.

I like this. My reloading table does double duty as a work bench as well and linoleum is heavy duty and easy to replace.