Exterior oil exterior varnish and an epoxy sealer with an exterior varnish topcoat.
Best finish for a woodworking bench. Concerning the finish i assumed the bench was going to be exposed to sun and rain all year round in which case no finish will hold up for more than. Soft woods such as pine and birch are relatively inexpensive but are less durable than hard woods and no. It seems like everyone i have talked to has a different opinion on what kind of finish they like to put on their workbench. You can finish the other surfaces of your bench however you like with whatever finish you prefer.
High quality formulations have finely ground pigments that block uv rays while allowing the grain to show. Prior to applying new finish scrub the surface with a cleaner containing an oxidizing agent such as bleach. Teak would be even better. Varnish will probably offer the longest most durable life.
For a shop workbench i would put on a thinned coat of polyurethane varnish. They shed water for a year or so before requiring reapplication. Not much will stick to poly and you will certainly have spilled glue oil nondescript goo and other things on the bench over the years. It s a matter of personal style.
Many other jungle woods would also but most are very hard and difficult to work. If you are really going to do actual work on that workbench top then it won t look pretty very long. What is the best wood for workbench tops. Which makes sense because it s their workbench.
If you want the wood to show through on your outdoor projects you need a clear finish. For anyone out there wondering how to spiff up a workbench the right way here s a little advice from two expert woodworkers. This means they can design it to look any way they would like as well as finish it with any substance that they want. There are three basic clear finishes for outdoor furniture.
When you ask 10 different woodworkers what the best finish for a workbench is you ll probably end up with 10 different answers. If you have installed some big dents or surface distortions over time you can renew the surface by planing it flat provided the surface is thick enough then put the oil finish on once more. For others no workbench is complete until it sports a beautiful high gloss finish. Hard woods such as oak and maple are more expensive but less easily damaged during the course of your work.