Oiled hardboard.

[Andrew TinsleyParticipant @andrewtinsley63637]

I have had little luck with finding the old style oilcloth, that was used for surfacing workbenches of yesteryear.

Several people said that they used oiled hardboard these days. Now I am not too sure what oiled hardboard is unless it is bog standard hardboard with oil poured upon it?

Is this what is meant by oiled hardboard? Or is it a little more subtle? Any particular oil and how much?

Why should one use oil anyway, I would have thought that dry hardboard was just as good??

Regards,

Andrew.

[Andrew TinsleyParticipant @andrewtinsley63637]

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

Try searching for tempered hardboard, this is treated with linseed oil, then baked.

[KWILParticipant @kwil]

We did not use oilcloth but heavyweight flooring lino, about 1/4" thick strong enough for workshop use but soft enough to be gentle on things placed upon it. Talk to a local flooring contractor.

[DustyParticipant @dusty]

Andrew, try a local flooring contractor, they still use lino for jobs like Hospital floors. You may be lucky and they can supply an offcut. I was fortunate in a friend ran his own flooring company and I obtained some at a reasonable rate, no not free but some adhesive was thrown in. Workshop floor and bench top done. A wipe with a little paraffin and it comes up like new. Kwil beat me to it, great minds think alike.

Edited By Dusty on 30/01/2018 15:15:14

[egaParticipant @ega]

I have found oil-tempered hardboard to be an excellent topping for workbenches. The product is harder and smoother than standard hardboard and more resistant to staining from oil and paint spills.

My impression is that it is less readily available today than some decades ago but someone did point out that it can still be had from large stockists.

I didn't know that the oil concerned was linseed or, indeed, that it was baked – thanks, Neil.

Edited By ega on 30/01/2018 15:16:25

[Andrew TinsleyParticipant @andrewtinsley63637]

Thanks guys,

I have tried all the local flooring companies with no joy. I did mean lino, not oilcloth as I first said! As for oil tempered hardboard, I shall have to start googling for a supplier, it is something I have never come across!

Andrew.

[Martin KyteParticipant @martinkyte99762]

If you are really lucky you can find hard lino with pre embedded swarf designed for non slip flooring for bar areas. Saves all the time embedding it yourself.?

:0)

Martin

[David Standing 1Participant @davidstanding1]

An alternative could be the 3mm triple layered self healing plastic craft cutting mats, available up to A1 size.

Lots of suppliers on eBay, this is what I am going to cover my bench in.

[Clive FosterParticipant @clivefoster55965]

Heavyweight flooring lino, what our transatlantic cousins call "battleship" lino I believe, is indeed excellent bench covering material. Especially when minuscule softness as opposed to property hard surface is desired. Our electronics and general workbenches at RARDE were covered with the normal heavy duty flooring grade lino whilst the mechanical ones used the heftier stuff with "bits" in it. Lasted for decades and resistant to all but the most gracious abuse.

Considering readily available materials I like the waterproof, green, coloured chipboard underfloor material for bench tops. Its tougher than hardboard and has a slightly rough texture which greatly slows down small parts making a bid for freedom. Needs a strip wood or alloy angle edging because its pretty much impossible to produce a smooth, hand safe edge all along the basic material. Jury is out on whether a tiny lip is better than flush finish for the edging.

Clive

[MichaelRParticipant @michaelr]

Posted by Neil Wyatt on 30/01/2018 15:00:48:

Try searching for tempered hardboard, this is treated with linseed oil, then baked.

As Neil says above, Also a search for Maysonite tempered hardboard. Mike.

[Martin WParticipant @martinw]

A supplier of this product can be found here.

Cheers

[larry PhelanParticipant @larryphelan54019]

That tempered hardboard was indeed around,years ago and was ideal for bench covering,and for many other things.

Is it still made ? have not seen or heard or heard of it for a long time. Was great for making templates,something like MDF. Worth looking for.

[David Standing 1Participant @davidstanding1]

Larry

There's a supplier linked right above your post

[Martin WParticipant @martinw]

A quick trawl on the web will list many more suppliers, the one in my previous post was given just as an example and certainly not as a comprehensive list .

Cheers

[“Bill Hancox”Participant @billhancox]

On this side of the ditch it is most often referred to as Masonite. FYI

[“Bill Hancox”Participant @billhancox]

On this side of the ditch it is most often referred to as Masonite. It is normally available as two types. Tempered ( oiled) and plain. FYI

[Jeff DaymanParticipant @jeffdayman43397]

This material is called "Masonite" in North America and is still available here. Several of my benches are faced with it. It's supplied in 1/8" and 1/4" thicknesses, also a perforated Pegboard variant of it is available here too, just FYI, and lots of kinds of clips to hang things on.

Link to some Wiki history is below.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Masonite

[Russell EberhardtParticipant @russelleberhardt48058]

I built my workbench about 30 years ago. Two layers of the thickest chipboard I could find and finished with bog standard 1/4 in hardboard. It's now turned into oiled hardboard!

Russell

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

I line the ceiling of my workshop with hardboard – I hate the stuff!

I would rip it out, but as I sometimes hear the pitter patter of tine feet up there I dread everything getting deluged by nesting material, droppings and even dead mice…

Neil

[Martin WParticipant @martinw]

Neil

Why not drill a few holes in the hardboard and then inject it with polyurethane foam. This should sort the problems out, not only that but you will have created a time capsule of life in the roof for future reference .

Just a thought

Martin

(edit) PS

It might be interesting enough for a future article maybe not in the engineering mags but perhaps in something like 'Pest Control for Beginners' 

Edited By Martin W on 31/01/2018 16:54:48

[john carruthersParticipant @johncarruthers46255]

Old conveyor belt makes a superb work top and shed floor covering, (doesn't like hot weld spatter)

[Kiwi BlokeParticipant @kiwibloke62605]

A thin layer of smooth-surfaced MDF is worth a try. It can be replaced cheaply. With a rag, rub in well-thinned poyurethane varnish. Rub until the surface seems dry. De-nib with fine abrasive paper. Anoint with as many coats as it takes until the surface doesn't absorb any more – or until you get bored. This waterproofs and hardens the surface. It's possible to get the most beautiful, silky-smooth surface, should you want to.

[Brian HParticipant @brianh50089]

My workbench top is made from redundent shuttering made of multi-layered ply covered with a plastic finish so that the concrete does no adhere. Mine is printed with the name PERI which is a makers mark for PERI Formwork but I'm sure there will be other makes.

Mine came from a local woodyard that does new and secondhand timber.

Brian

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