In the past I have skipped painting benchwork even when I knew sealing the woodwork would stabilise it just because painting takes so long and is such a hassle. Not any more.

With the latest layout I am using cheap 45x20 pine battens so it seemed even more important than usual. Here's some tips to make painting easier and quicker:

1. Save up woodwork until there is enough of it to warrant the extra effort of using a roller. Roll everything, even long thin pieces, then touch up with a brush. Much faster than brushing.
2. Buy cheap paintbrushes and rollers - throw them away after use. if you feel guilty about the waste, read this and then do it for Africa. Cheap brushes and rollers don't do such a good job and they use more paint, but most of us are time poor and almost everything I paint is just undercoating because I...
3. try not to paint important visible surfaces. use prefinished materials such as veneers or plastics where finished surface matters
4. Where finsihed surface needs to be painted, use a mottled paint in a can so that surface does not need to be perfectly prepared. I use "spray stone": expensive but not compared to the time I save.
5. Hang smaller pieces from wires so you can paint the whole piece in one go, not just one side at a time.
6. rest larger pieces on two thin sticks. After painting all but the underside, turn them over wet to finish, and don't worry about missing painting those two patches
7. ...which is why you should buy a whole box of disposable latex gloves so you can handle pieces freely and fast, and washing up is that much quicker.
8. When you pull off your gloves, put the paintbrush inside one of them and seal it up well. It may well still be good next time you paint.