Cleaning up my act on the dye bench

[UKRay]

Is it just me or does anyone else get dye on their bench top?

I have been using the current MDF (Medium Density Fibreboard) worksurface for about a year now and it is black with old dye spills, over-rubs and general splashing. This means that when I dye a nice clean piece of work it sometimes gets dirty marks on the back from the old dye.

Okay, I can hear you say "Why doesn't the fool just get himself a clean bit of MDF?" and, you are probably right. However, somebody out there in leatherland may have found the solution to cleaning up the dye process and if they have, I need to know about it!

Before we start, I have tried cleaning the top after each use. That lasted about three days. I'm in a hurry and have production work to finish and need to get on with it - I don't need to get all picky with dye spills and splatters.

I contemplated using sheets of 'butcher's paper as a surface. Has anyone done this and does it work? (Do you guys even get butcher's paper in the US?).

I wondered about using a roll of wallpaper lining paper and pulling off a new bit each time a job needed dyeing? Has anyone done this?

I thought about using paper towel on a roll - the blue stuff you see mechanics using. I suspect it would be too absorbent but maybe someone has found a way to use it?

I even thought about using the masking paper that gets used in bodyshops... would this work?

Whatever I use has to be absorbent to mop up the spillage - what else is there?

All I want is a clean work surface every time.

Hope you have some good ideas,

Ray

[Luke Hatley]

Ray......me being a Retired Meat Cutter.....of course i use Butchers Paper.

To protect my bench from the Dye.

[UKRay]

Ray......me being a Retired Meat Cutter.....of course i use Butchers Paper.

To protect my bench from the Dye.

I've seen your bench, Luke - best use more paper... LOL!

[BWL]

Yep, been there, done that. If I could put it my $ .02 (two cents), I use the local free papper. If I can put a visual picture together for you. I split in half a wooden closet pole

(2" dia.) and screwed it back together after inserting one end of the newsprint. I use about 15 sheets at one time, this prevents bleeding through. After I'm done I roll it up for next. After using it for awile a can eather tear off the top sheets or replace them. I hope this is helpful.

Michael

[Suze]

freezer paper might work as well

it is waxed on one side -- If you put that side down it might prevent bleed through

of course for small projects just use an old magazine.... when a page gets icky - flip till you get a new one that is clean.

[JRedding]

one guy I know used a pine 1x12 unfinished to lay over bench tops when they got nasty he'd grab a hand plane, take a few swipes and have a clean new surface, and just replace it when it got thin

[Timd]

I use a full section (10-15 sheets) of the newspaper. Since I have 2 papers a day delivered, I'm never without a supply.

[8thsinner]

Could you not just use a bin liner?

Or tarp even, just keep it rolled up ready to unroll when you need it, It should wash down easily after each job and would protect the bench from spills.

Just a thought.

[leatheroo]

i just use newspaper, but how about cling wrap?

[pancho47]

i use the cardboard that comes with my HO, also i use a small piece of 2x4 i cut out some slots for the little dye bottles to fit in ,this has elimenated spilled dye bottles