So, I usually just cut off a piece of an old t-shirt to apply stain (since they would wind up in trash anyway and work well). After I’m done, I then usually just throw it out. However, I am running out of old t-shirts and am wondering what people use. Also, is there a more ‘green’ solution, something reusable maybe?
Same question in regards to finishes like a wipe-on poly, any reusable options?
If not, then what is your preferred applicator for stains and finishes that are of the wipe-on variety?
Thanks.
Replies
An old coton Irish T-shirt.
I breed angora rabbits and use their fur for applicators. Either that or old tee shirts.
I almost never use stain. I use a brush for shellac, and a different brush for poly. I clean the poly brush in the sink after use. The shellac brush sits in alcohol in a storage container Rockler sells.
For wipe on finishes I use this method to create an application pad. I store the pad after applying a coat in a glass jar with a sealed lid for reuse on subsequent coats until I complete the project. This serves two purposes 1. reusable pad and 2. oily cloth safe from spontaneous combustion. Soft white cotton works similar to linen / cheese cloth materials in the video.
https://www.finewoodworking.com/project-guides/finishing/tips-on-making-a-shellac-pad
Note: I don't uses stains or dyes. I've used this with shellac, wipe-on poly, and Tried & True.
Well it looks like the lead article on this site today is about brushing wiping varnish. I never seem to run out of old clothes to use for dying and staining. I prefer old socks. I dont see that as less green than throwing the old clothes out.
I have never tried socks. Hmmmm... (goes digging in the garbage for the pile of socks)
I hear you on the question of trying to avoid throwing things away unnecessarily. One thing that I came to realize is that there is also a calculation to be made with respect to how much pollution you generate while trying to make something clean enough to use again. Less significant with soap and water cleanup, but when solvents are involved it can be a different story.
I use rags for shellac. Or I make pads for french polishing.
I spray some stuff...
But, I also discovered a new method for spreading polyurethane. I cut up a piece of tile sponge. I really like this method. No lint, no brush marks, nice, even, smooth coats. It seems to work better than a foam brush as well, as you get a better feel for the pressure you're using.
More green? No clue. My shellac rags go in a mason jar and wait for the next time I need them. The cut off sponge is sitting in the mason jar of poly (I never work out of a can of finish, if I can avoid it)... So, maybe I'm reducing and reusing?
I bought a 5 or 10 lb size of essentially t shirt cutoffs at Lowes that is sold as rags. it looks like cutoffs from those making t-shirts. Not free but pretty green considering it is a waste product from another industry. I've never priced t-shirts on discount days from a thrift store but that might be a good value.
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