Finishing Laminated Beech Benchtop for Desk

[aussieadam]

Hi everyone.

I recently purchased a couple of "kitchen benchtops" (quotations because they aren't sold as benchtops!) from Bunnings to turn into a computer table.
Each piece was 2400 x 600 x 27, and I've biscuited them together and cut them down for a total table length of 1900 x 850 x 27.

Now I'm on to the finishing... The timber is laminated beech and in it's current state, is very light in colour. So my aim is to both darken it up and seal it, but I don't want a glossy finish.

Can anyone recommend what to do/use? I'm a real noob here and just building this table has been an eye opener :)

I'm going to take a bit of off-cut into bunnings on Saturday as well for advice, if that will help too.

Thanks!

[Master Splinter]

Darker but non-glossy - try an oil finish. Tung oil or Danish oil would work. For a bit more colour before the oil, try some orange shellac.

[aussieadam]

Hi Master Splinter, thanks for that.. I was thinking of a Danish Oil actually...
as for the shellac, forgive this question, but will that give the timber an.. orange tint?

I'd like to try and replicate a table like this:

[H]ard|Forum - View Single Post - Post Your Mac Setup! (http://hardforum.com/showpost.php?p=1039851481&postcount=1582) (ignore all that other computer paraphernalia :D)

[Master Splinter]

Check out some of the woodstains if you need that much of a colour shift. Try it out on the offcuts first to make sure you like the colour. Beech should take stain very well (shouldn't go blotchy). Note that end grain will usually pick up more stain and go darker, which is always a good reason to use a breadboard end...

[aussieadam]

Thanks very much. Do you recommend any particular stain?
hmmm.. breadboard end hey? I didn't know what that was until I reasearched 5 minutes ago.. looks a bit beyond my skillset, plus I'm not sure I like the idea of two different laminated panels facing different directions.
Might just have to put up with darker ends!

[aussieadam]

Okay, it's been very difficult to get a stain I like. Luckily, the Mrs really likes the look of the raw white-ish timber, so we're probably going to settle on that!

So what are my options?

Reading around the internet, I see:
- Danish Oil or,
- Waxing or
- Polyurothane

Waxing seems like the easiest, but will require maintenance down the line. Since this is going to be a high traffic table with PC equipment sitting on top, it might scratch easily and often.
Danish oil seems to be my favourite at the moment, but can someone confirm that there isn't any risk of oils leeching in future? I don't want oily computer equipment and papers :)
Poly is my last resort. I've tested it at home, and can't say it sings to me.

[aussieadam]

(sorry for the second post in a few minutes.. I want to edit the post I just made, but I'm waiting on a moderator to approve it)

After reading the thread on Cabot's Danish Oil not being so great anymore, has anyone got another recommendation for Danish Oil, or has anyone even used this "wood treatment oil" from IKEA?

BEHANDLA Wood treatment oil, indoor use - IKEA (http://www.ikea.com/au/en/catalog/products/00184674/)

[aussieadam]

So I didn't hear from anyone and went ahead with Danish Oil.. glad I did :)

Here's a pic after the second coat. Might do one more.

http://i.imgur.com/NEoAgXI.jpg

[Libertine]

Damn, that looks great! Well done.

just out of curiosity, what do Bunnings sell those benchtops as? I wouldn't mind one of those to use as a potting bench in my sunroom!

[Master Splinter]

Danish oil is a pretty good choice, especially as you can 'tart it up' every few years by wiping on a new coat.

[aussieadam]

Damn, that looks great! Well done.

just out of curiosity, what do Bunnings sell those benchtops as? I wouldn't mind one of those to use as a potting bench in my sunroom!

Thanks :)
They're sold as "project panels". They aren't on their website. The first Bunnings I saw them at, who eventually ran out of stock, had them in the pine/timber/door section, inside not outside. The second store, which I bought from, had them on a pallet still wrapped up and it literally took me an hour to find them as Bunnings didn't know what they were.

The biggest help I can give you though, is the product code, which is 8330028. Your local Bunnings will be able to track it with that. Each panel is $99 which is a bargain

[aussieadam]

word of warning - don't over oil this type of timber (laminated). My father, whilst I wan't there, decided to sand everything down to scratch because he saw "blemshes" and re do the oil. Now, in between many of the laminated pieces, the oil has really absorbed and darkened, so you can see almost black lines. It doesn't look too bad, but it slightly annoying as it looked better before. He knows now to leave it alone until I've had a look first!!