What's a good finish for workbench tops?

[AstroKeith]

So I've just replaced all the workbench tops with birch ply, there are five 'benches' each top being 1400*700mm and I try to keep types of work segregated (hand work, 2 for machines, metal working, electronics). But the old ones did suffer from oil etc getting on the wrong bench! Large areas of the hand working benches have now been drilled with a 96mm grid of 20mm holes.

I'm minded to finish the tops in a hard wax oil (Fiddes) which I use on floors and furniture in the house and seems to be extremely durable.

What do others do?

 

[mschmidt10k]

I've been using Rubio Monocoat on all my bench & work surfaces - it's a hardwax oil as well, so it's easy to apply & seems to be holding up just fine.

 

[leakyroof]

Oil is popular due to spilled glue from Glue-Ups being easier to wipe off the top than something else.

 

[Chris Cianci]

I use a 3-2-1 mix of 3 parts mineral spirits, 2 parts poly, 1 part boiled linseed oil....I’ve used it on my MFTs , any shop furniture and recently a utilitarian coffee cabinet for the office that patients ( the public ) open up and use many times a day. I even used it on the live edge top because I’ve been happy with the durability in my shop so far
Best