Finishing Hardboard

[cbrown]

I am finishing up work on a workbench--I'll post some photos when it's really done. It's made from dimensional lumber and the "cabinet grade" maple ply that HD here was selling for just a bit more than the good fir ply, with a maple front and vise, but the top is a "disposable" sheet of tempered hardboard ("wet" process with a rough back). I'm planning on using Danish oil to finish, then waxing the top with Butcher's wax, but I wonder whether there is any point to putting the oil on the hardboard, or whether I should just wax it?

Thanks,

--Christopher

[JoeyGee]

I use HB on almost all of my workbenches and work surfaces. I've never finished it. It's plenty tough, and when it get's ugly, I just toss it and put a new one down--which has never happened since I don't mind an "ugly" top...it's a narrative of all my past projects

[Tom Miller]

I put a "floating" hardboard top on my miter saw bench, and applied Johnson's paste wax without first applying a finish. I've come to the conclusion that hardboard is a black hole for paste wax. No matter how much you put on, it'll soak up more.

I don't do any gluing on it, so I can't tell you how well glue pops off when it dries, but it doesn't really look or feel any different that bare HB. GLue pops off very well from my mdf-topped workbench that has poly and wax finish.

But, I'm afraid if you apply a finish first, you may get some buckling from differential moisture absorption on a piece of hardboard.

Regards,
Tom

[newbie2wood]

I would not bother to finish the hardboard or even apply a wax. Applying a finish will not prolong the life of a hardboard substantially. Hardboards are easily scratched and damaged. They are great for the protecting the top of a workbench because hardboards are cheap to replace.
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