They all require maintenance.
Best finish for wood workbench. Many are linseed oil or tung oil based. Varnish will probably offer the longest most durable life. Soft woods such as pine and birch are relatively inexpensive but are less durable than hard woods and no. Option 2 finish your workbench with a high quality wax.
Moisture and ultraviolet uv light. If you are really going to do actual work on that workbench top then it won t look pretty very long. For some woodworkers the term workbench refers to a set of sawhorses and a salvaged door slab. Most curing wipe on oil finishes are appropriate for a workbench.
You could also use boiled linseed oil. 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. Of course paint is unequaled at protecting the wood from its two biggest enemies. For anyone out there wondering how to spiff up a workbench the right way here s a little advice from two expert woodworkers.
In my own case i built my current benchtop more than 35 years ago. Hard woods such as oak and maple are more expensive but less easily damaged during the course of your work. For others no workbench is complete until it sports a beautiful high gloss finish. Best finish for plywood workbench top.
Outdoor finishes simple to super durable. What is the best wood for workbench tops. Outdoor finishes have one thing in common. Wipe on oils will give some protection without having a film appearance to make the surface slick like a brushed applied varnish polyurethane would.
Option 1 finish your workbench with polyurethane. It s a matter of personal style. Option 3 don t use anything to finish your workbenc.