Bench Table Top

[Shawn Hermans]

I've recently completed a bench top that shares its use with a cross cut mitre saw. What type of finish or protection is best to use? My bench top is made from 3/4 poplar plywood.

Much appreciated.

[Peter (up North,makin fir]

Poplar plywood??? Can't seem to latch onto it anymore up here, and I like it. They tell me only one outfit in all of Canada makes it. Anyway...
I got two worksurfaces I use constantly, one is plywood (fir) which I painted and the other one I do like to use is plywood with arborite on it.
Like the arborite, especially when gluing. That surface is always clean and very flat/smooth.
Thought I'd mention it.
Peter.

[Stan Ochtabienski]

Shawn: My workbench top is a solid core slab door sandwiched between two pieces of baltic birch plywood (couldn't afford a solid wood top). I finished mine with a wipe on oil varnish. Glue doesn't stick and it cleans up easily. When it gets too grubby a light sanding and re-application of the oil makes it look almost like new. It's stood up for seven years now. LOL
Stan