Workbench Top

[BearTricks]

Hi.

The workshop is coming along fairly well. I'm basically doing an interior decoration of an old stone shed and I've probably used a few too many dirty shortcuts to get it done quickly but the aim was to do something I can take apart when I love out and something that will be ready before winter.

Anyway, the big thing was to make it a nice place to be since the dusty old shed was depressing me, so the whole thing is white painted brick, whitewashed timber walls etc.

I'd like to paint the top of my half built workbench white. It's my first workbench and I mostly turn however I do want to do a bit more hand tool work. The top of the bench is MDF as per the design I'm following. Is this worth it or will the work bench get dinged enough that it's just going to chip off, and would a coating to protect the paint defeat the point of having a softer top that might be a bit kinder on tools? (do chisels ever come in contact with the bench when using proper technique anyway?)

 

[Adam9453]

Whilst I personally wouldn't bother painting it as its supposed to take the abuse that a properly used workbench is likely to get, I can't see a reason why painting it white would do any harm. The only issue might be the white transferring to dark timbers but as you've said you'll varnish or finish it properly so it should be fine.

 

[custard]

You don't want a workbench top to be too slick and slippery or it makes securing the workpiece that bit harder. On the plus side, I like to sight down the plane of a sole when blade setting and have something white on the bench to help make the blade that bit more visible, I'm always hunting for a scrap of paper to use, but I guess with an entire white bench you'd be spared that palaver!