I am looking for answers as to what is the best type of protection for my workbench when doing glue jobs. I have tried sheets of tempered hardboard and tried putting down wax paper. Does anyone have any "secrets" on how to protect my workbench top from the mess of glue when doing joints. Thank You !!!
Personally I do not bother. I just clean it up while it is pretty soft or wait until it has setup a bit and scrape it off, or for those bits I overlooked, scrape them off with a chisel.
Of course by taking this route, I need to ensure that the workbench top is completely glue free before I start putting workpieces on it. That isn't a big deal and something I am fairly consistent with.
Sometimes I use wax paper. A lot of the time I take Greg in Maryland's approach. Now if I had a workbench that could be mistaken for a fine piece of furniture, like some guys have, I just wouldn't use it for gluing.
Paste wax… Makes surface slick though.
I use sign vinyl in a spot where I get glue drips but it wouldn't be durable for a work surface.
Once it's dry the glue pops right off.
But yeah another "what Greg said" here. My strategy is to get the glue on the piece and on nothing else. If it does get on anything else I'll let it dry and scrap it off later.
I tend to keep large pieces of cardboard on hand and lay them over the bench before I glue up. The can
be reused and then discarded when no longer useful.
I used to let the glue dry then scrape it off but the last few glue ups I tried what I had seen a few "pros" do which is to get a wet rag and wipe the glue clean right off,and I kinda like it this way now b/c there's not glue residue to deal with and I don't have to worry if any of the wood stain not covering the smudged areas.
For most glue-ups I just wipe it up with a wet rag or use a paint scraper afterward. For messy glue-ups like cutting boards, sometimes I throw a sheet of rosin paper on the bench. I have a roll of it mounted on the end of my bench which is mostly used for finishing, but occasionally use for glue.
I usually just wipe it up or scrape it off. Recently I have been using a silicone glue up mat as I think it cleans up easier and ends up saving me time but that is only useful for small things.
I picked up a Mainstays Vinyl floor protector at Wally World in a clearance isle for under 5 bucks. It is 2 feet wide and 6 feet long smooth on one side and slight texture on the other. I want to see about affixing affixing it to a spindle/crank set up and slide it into a housing on the end or underside to essentially create a blind set up and pull it out to cover the bench then wind up when finished.
This is what I made for that purpose, among others. I'm currently using it to refurbish my jointer parts since I'm using Evaporust, Soap & Water, Spray paint, etc. It's a Rosin paper holder.
Disclaimer: This is not an excuse to take the shower curtain down, use it and then try to put it back with glue stains. That will most likely lead to a argument and might end with, castration or loss of some body part, possibly even death by your significant other.
I bought a couple yards of the heavy vinyl they use for shower basins, under tile and such. I can lay it over my cabinet saw table and not be concerned with water or glue getting to it.
I also have a couple of the pull down vinyl window shades and they work well too.
About 5-6 coats of poly, and a wet rag…..That should just about do it…..
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