How to Prepare a Garage Work Bench for Painting

Clean your workbench thoroughly before painting it.

Work benches receive a lot of use and abuse over time, as they're used to build, repair and tear apart various items, from wood construction to car parts. If you're trying to spruce up your garage for the year, consider adding a fresh coat of paint to your work bench to make it new again. While this task requires a little prep work due to the abuse your bench may have received, when you're done it will look like you just put it in.

Things You'll Need

• Rag
• Degreaser
• Sandpaper
• Mineral spirits
• Dust brush
• Wood putty
• Putty knife
• Paintbrush
• Primer
• Paint

Instructions

1. Clean the wood surface with a damp rag and a degreaser according to the degreaser's instructions. Work benches get a lot of use, some of which has to do with oil or grease. Remove as much of these substances as possible before sanding or painting the bench to prevent them from causing issues with the new finish. Let the surface dry out for a day.

2. Sand the work bench until the bench's surface is uniformly smooth. Remove any stains and spills, such as glue, that are stuck to the bench's surface and may keep the finish from being smooth.

3. Brush off the sanding dust, then wipe over the surface with a rag lightly dampened with mineral spirits to ensure that it's all removed. Let the surface dry for a few hours.

4. Fill deep gouges in the bench with wood putty, and level the filler flat with a putty knife. Let the putty dry for several hours, then sand smooth.

5. Apply a primer onto the bench with a paintbrush to cover deep stains and imperfections that couldn't be removed with sanding. Let the primer dry for several hours.

6. Paint the bench in your paint of choice. It's best to use a satin or low-gloss enamel paint so it can be cleaned easily. Allow the paint to dry completely before using the bench.

References

• The Family Handyman; How to Prepare Wood Trim for a Smooth Paint Job; 2004