Finish for Laminate WorkBench Top

[Arry]

This may seem odd lol however I have made a workbench and then used 3mm laminate for the top as a sacrificial top. I really wasn't thinking when I did it as the top is too smooth for my liking.

Question: I was finishing the solid wood sides with BLO, Varnish and Turps and decided to wipe it on the laminate.

The finish just beads on top.

I am presuming the laminate does not require a finish?

I would like to make it a bit more durable, is there anything that can be used?

Cheers

[West Oz Binder]

I made a workbench with a sacrificial top some years ago. I used MDF rather than laminate (not exactly sure what you're calling laminate) but sanded and finished with Feast Watson 'Floorseal'. It's a highish gloss finish but as tough as old boots.

Cheers

Mal

[soundman]

If ya talking about 3mm laminate in terms of "laminex or formica" type laminate.

Hell.....that stuff is used in place of a finish....it is a paper composite of mostly Phenolic resin.....that stuff is hard and pretty well nothing sticks to it.....and slippery.....if you give it a rub with some wax or silverglide.....its slicker N snot off a door knob.

If you try and sand it....progress will be incredibly slow and it will chew up abrasive like it is going out of style

Just about anything you get on it will come off with either a thinner wipe or scrape of easily with a sharp chisel.

Not my choice for a general purpose wood work bench.....but just fabulous for a glue up bench or an outfeed table for a saw bench.

cheers

[Bob38S]

One of the "best" sacrificial tops IMHO is a sheet of Masonite.

Can be over coated with eg Floorseal if you wish, I would get the light coated one just leave it.

Easily replaced, cheap enough to do "regularly", slippery enough to work on without being too slippery.

A little late if you have in fact already used laminate, especially if you have glued it on with contact glue. Should you choose to remove it - the only real way is with a heat gun and a wide scraper, then, of course, you need to remove the glue.

Just a thought.