Epoxy Bench Top?

[CarlGeorge]

Has anyone put a mix & flood epoxy top on their reloading bench? The result looks intriguing. The process of getting it done looks like a project more than trivial but not terribly complex.

I put polyurethane on my bench top a couple of years ago. Worked well for a while....now it's yellowing and I generally just don't like it.

Any experience with the flood stuff?

Thanks.

 

[Dusty Stevens]

Its more of a decorative surface rather than a working surface but it sure looks good

 

[Oso]

Yes, I did one on my reloading bench. It is bullet proof and nice....think of a very high-end bar. It is not a work bench for banging a hammer or slamming down machinery. The epoxy can chip if really abused. My reloading bench has always been a dedicated surface. I don't bang out bullets with a kinetic hammer on the bench so no big deal to me.

I have attached a link to my build thread. It was the first time I used this type product and I experienced the worst and best results. If I had more experience or if someone had told me to inspect the epoxy resin and make certain it hadn't started crystalizing then I would have easily sidestepped any issues. Read the thread and don't be intimidated. It is really straight forward. Regardless of type of wood (porous/non-porous) you will need to apply a thin seal coat (creates a barrier that limits amount of bubbles that can precipitate out of the wood and get trapped in the final heavy/thick flood coat of epoxy.

https://forum.accurateshooter.com/threads/reloading-bench-build.4003907/page-2

 

[Nick_Mansfield]

I epoxy coated mine..use cheap brush for trim out...use Winnie roller for big areas and to even out epoxy...back roll it couple times...

 

[Shinbone]

I use epoxy formulated for finishing wood on my bench top. It is just about the most durable spreadable/paintable finish you can apply to wood, short of something exotic. Plus, it penetrates and strengthens the wood. I've been super happy with the results.

TotalBoat Traditional 5:1 Marine Epoxy Resin Kits

5:1 Marine Epoxy Resin Kits include epoxy resin, hardener, and mixing pumps so you can tackle epoxy repairs and fiberglass projects.

www.totalboat.com

 

[Timberyote]

I painted my bench in a white enamel and that was 1990. It has a few chips on it but I still don't need to repaint it - yet!

 

[JEFFPPC]

No slick top for me. Short nap outdoor carpet keeps things from rolling off. That is an important consideration for us mature folks.

 

[CJ6]

No experience with the "flood" surface. But the Formica surface I have has stood the test of time.

 

[F Class John]

My buddy did one using ProMarine brand and loves it and my wife works with resin for a living (albeit not on counters). Like others have said, it's very durable but you don't want to abuse it with hard impact. They will also scratch pretty easily. You wouldn't want to put a box on top and slide it because it'll probably scratch, no matter how little. Here's my friends as an example. He has color tinting in it.

 

[Tommie]

Here’s a bench top made of 100% epoxy. Other than being cruddy from tree sap, it still going strong after 30 years.

 

[riverside jeep]

Fun to work with and they look outstanding when done. A few coats of a good car wax a couple weeks later will help clean up. Down side is it scratch's easy.

 

[Ol Thumper]

Personally I wouldn’t even consider using it on a reloading bench, it looks amazing until it gets a little use and then it’s scratched up something awful. You literally have to treat it like a golden apple and we all know things happen on a bench top. I’ve had a few things done in it like an office reception countertop that see‘s nothing more than papers, people’s hand/arms on it and within 3 months it was awful looking and had to be replaced. A bench top wouldn’t last that long I bet with much use. It’s a decorative piece not made for use IMO, the only thing that’s held up is a bench that no one uses. They look cool but the durability is pathetic.

 

[CarlGeorge]

Thanks all. Really excellent perspectives and feedback.

I thought for sure I was going to go the Epoxy route but now I think not. My current bench is quite small, but my previous bench top (which was even smaller) was a topped with a remnant laminate countertop. It did hold up really - as pointed out above. I may just either buy a small laminate sheet or look for a remnant someplace.

Thanks very much. Great comments.

 

[Ol Thumper]

Thanks all. Really excellent perspectives and feedback.

I thought for sure I was going to go the Epoxy route but now I think not. My current bench is quite small, but my previous bench top (which was even smaller) was a topped with a remnant laminate countertop. It did hold up really - as pointed out above. I may just either buy a small laminate sheet or look for a remnant someplace.

Thanks very much. Great comments.

I’ve had the best luck using butcher block countertops, throw some stain or sealer on it and you can literally beat the crap out of it and it still looks amazing. Their pretty cheap to, not much more than the counter top your referring to. I just bought one that’s 8 foot for my new bench and it was around $200. Just a thought

 

[skeeljc]

If you want something you can maintain use polyurethane spar varnish. It will fill in imperfections and when it becomes dinged and scratched just hit it with an orbital sander and re-coat it. It dries fast and can be sanded after 24 hours.

 

[LVLAaron]

If you want something you can maintain use polyurethane spar varnish. It will fill in imperfections and when it becomes dinged and scratched just hit it with an orbital sander and re-coat it. It dries fast and can be sanded after 24 hours.

Yep. Personally, I'd go with an oil based poly. Much easier.

 

[nakneker]

I did, used carbon fiber cloth and then applied four coats of epoxy. I'll take pictures and post it, came out nice. I think its a great surface, the carbon fiber adds to it. It does scratch or show wear, pretty minor stuff and a guy could resand and apply a another coat every few years if he wanted. It was more involved than I estimated but still very doable.

 

[SSL]

Years ago (late 80s) I had a loading bench 6 feet long made of two layers of 3/4" plywood. A nearby company built a new 400-yard long warehouse and coated the entire floor with an industrial grade epoxy to hold up to constant forklift traffic. I was installing a telephone system there at the time and the crew gave me a small canister of some of the excess. I coated the top of my bench with it and it not only looked great with a kind of golden color, it was nearly impossible to scratch and anything spilled on it would wipe off without sticking. When my son moved out I took over his bedroom and built a new bench down one entire wall (16') with two layers of 1" MDF and gave the epoxied bench to him for his garage. It even held up well to his dropping engine parts on it. Unfortunately, when he moved to a new house he left it for the buyer.

 

[Dusty Stevens]

My main bench has hardboard on it. You can just replace it easy. My newer portable table has frp on it and i love that for a surface

 

[piie]

What about pouring a top with cement and then give it a rubberizing/sealer coating (the stuff you use for waterproofing) - re-coat if it gets worn.