snip
I just finished my workbench. The top is an old bowling lane made of
southern yellow pine.
It turned out great!
It is the first time I have used SYP. Very hard and heavy compared to the
pine I am used to here in the north.

Best way to protect the top from dings?
I was wondering the same thing about a month ago. So I searched the wreck.
The answer is, you don't try and protect it from dings...it's a workbench,
it's going to get dinged.
You protect it from glue squeeze out etc that may drip onto it by coating it
with a 1/1 mix of boiled linseed oil and turpentine for a few coats (I did
about 6)
Then a mix of boiled linseed oil, turpentine and bees wax mixed 1/1/1 for
the top coat. (I did 3 of this). I melted the beeswax first, added the BLO
then the turpentine. Just wipe it on with a rag. I got the beeswax at an
apiary (and some honey) 2.5 lb block for about $6. I have a lot left over,
but that's the only size block they had. I didn't put the honey on the
bench, but it's great on toast
This turned out awesome. Nice wax top that has a little grip to it so your
work doesn't slide around. Plus, the wax top is easy to plane down, if in a
few years it needs to be resurfaced.
A hard surface, like polyurathane, would be hell on planer blades.
This is my first workbench, and I must say I am very pleased. I have the
wreck to thank.

"Keep your stick on the ice"
Tony