Replies

1. 
   jazzdogg | Jul 06, 2005 06:07pm | #1

   I'd avoid the steel wool in favor of "Scotchbrite" pads if you're planning to use a water-borne finish; steel wool fragments under water-borne finishes tend to rust.

   -Jazzdogg-

   "Don't ask youself what the world needs. Ask yourself what makes you come alive, and go do that, because what the world needs is people who have come alive." Gil Bailie

2. 
   frenchy | Jul 07, 2005 05:37am | #2

    teepee

      Use Acetone,

     pour a small amount of acetone on the grease and wipe off with a clean rag.. Repeat untill grease mark is gone..

3. 
   mikegagne | Jul 07, 2005 08:06am | #3

   teepee,

   My solvent of choice is denatured alcohol. It is a nonoily solvent (unlike mineral spirits) not hot enough to spread oils further (unlike acetone), evaporates very quickly and removes skin oils, food oils, leaves no residue and a lot easier on your skin. Additionally, it wont soften most other finishes except shellac. Good luck with it. Aloha, mike

1. 
   frenchy | Jul 07, 2005 07:22pm | #4

   Mike

     when you call acetone "hot"  I assume you mean it has a fast  rate of drying.  It does which is why it doesn't spread grease  as you suggested.  I've found it to be the fastest, easiest, way to remove grease/oil without leaving anything behind..

      On the other hand alchohol doesn't disolve all greases or oils and when it does it takes more applications to be effective.  

     On the other hand,,..... ;-)  acetone is harsh on skin and bad for you.. It is easily absorbed thru skin and can attack your liver with prolonged exposure.. Alcohol is far more benign..

1. 
   cernunnos | Jul 08, 2005 03:42pm | #5

   Thanks to all for your responses. Denatured Alcohol did the trick on most of the stains, but I did find it necessary to use acetone on others. The really tough ones required several repetitions of wiping with acetone, then sanding. Very faint shadows remain from some of the stains but are not noticeable save under very close scrutiny. OK, back to finishing.