Violin Forum/Message Board

kubasa · Member Joined: 13 Sep 2007 Posts: 212

This isn't entirely violin related but I'm hoping someone here has a suggestion. I just finished making a new workbench. It has a solid wood top. I've been reading on different workbench forums and it seems there are two camps. One to treat it with an oil like tung oil and others that leave it "as-is". I will be using this bench entirely for violin making. Any suggestions or does it really even matter either way?

Thanks-
James

kjb · Super Member Joined: 06 Feb 2013 Posts: 385

I asked about this some time back on mn, like you say both camps out there, I ended up putting one coat of tung oil. man that stuff stinks! my wife nearly killed me, so I did nothing else to it. so the idea I got was it did not make much difference. you will probably spill stuff on it and that will stain it over time .

ctviolin · Posted: Mon Dec 01, 2014 8:57 am Post subject:

I have a large section of my bench top covered with white Formica.

Tradition? No, I do not think so, but I love the working surface provided. and the other half is a raw wood face. Both sides are chronically used by me.
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ctviolin · Posted: Mon Dec 01, 2014 8:58 am Post subject:

FiddleDoug · Member Joined: 08 Sep 2007 Posts: 227 Location: Hilton, NY

Just something to seal the raw wood.
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actonern · Super Member Joined: 15 Aug 2007 Posts: 444

sealing it with something like tung oil has the advantage of more easily scraping off dried glue drops and other "impregnables".

Depending on how thick your top material is, you'd also want to seal the bottom surface if doing the top. Just good shop practice, and tends to keep the wood from warping due to uneven moisture absorption/rejection.

kubasa · Member Joined: 13 Sep 2007 Posts: 212

Thank you everyone for the replies. I finally did find that thread on MN, kjb. I still haven't entirely decided what I'm going to do. My top is 3" thick so I should be able to plane it down every now and then if I need to! Here's a pic.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B_c364T3AaWmUUVRTU14dlpKcG8/view?usp=sharing

Michael Darnton · Posted: Tue Dec 02, 2014 5:01 pm Post subject:

I've never sealed mine--they usually seal themselves with all the varnish materials I spill on them. Every once in a while I'll spread on some boiling water, and scrape the whole thing down a bit, which keeps most of the. . . . uh. . . . . . patina.
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Will L · Junior Member Joined: 06 Mar 2011 Posts: 22

I remember when we got a new bench in the College of the Redwoods class. Boyd Poulsen immediately brushed some varnish on it to christen it. I know why, because when I bought a new bench it was hard to not treat it as furniture for a few days. Now it's finally getting to look like a serious bench.

Will L · Junior Member Joined: 06 Mar 2011 Posts: 22

I have no idea how this got printed twice, so I'll erase the content that is in the post above and tell my idea for new cars:
I think every new car should leave the factory with a big scratch put in the side; because the minute you get the first one it is not as likely you'll get another one soon.
I usually get about $800 worth of body work within the first 200 miles. It's uncanny. Very Happy

kubasa · Member Joined: 13 Sep 2007 Posts: 212

I ended up putting some Danish oil on it. I'm happy with out it turned out.

Will, I christened my workbench over the weekend. I set down a cordless screwdriver and left a nice grease smudge. I have no idea where the grease came from since I don't use my cordless around cars or engines but well, I'm glad that first ding has happened and I can move on!

James

Dave Chandler · Posted: Wed Dec 10, 2014 12:10 am Post subject: First ding