Replies

1. 
   Gretchen | May 09, 2006 02:44pm | #1

   Don't bother with a tack cloth. Just use a cloth very lightly moistened with mineral spirits to wipe down your work.

   Gretchen
1. 
   SteveSchoene | May 09, 2006 02:51pm | #2

   Concur.  If a tack rag is sticky enough to work, then it can leave "stuff" behind, if not, it won't work well. 

2. 
   Hermes | May 09, 2006 11:10pm | #4

   Thanks Gretchen.

3. 
   Dave45 | May 10, 2006 03:34pm | #6

   If I use a tack cloth, I just buy them - they're about $1 at my local ACE hardware store.

   If you use the mineral spirits wipe down method, make sure you do it evenly.  I just finished a birch china hutch that wasn't stained - just wood with a water-based poly finish.

   If the light is just right, I can see some very faint "lines" in the top which I pretty sure were caused by my mineral spirits wipe down.  Fortunately, I'm the only one who sees them - lol.

   Mineral spirits evaporates quickly, but it does leave a residue which affects the penetration of stains and/or finishes.

2. 
   tmaxxx | May 09, 2006 05:43pm | #3

   if your spraying, you can lightly spray a lint free cloth (like the blue shop coths) first and use that.  its tacky, works great and the only residu it leaves is what your about to put on anyway.

   Tmaxxx

   Urban Workshop Ltd

   Vancouver B.C.

   cheers.  Ill buy.

1. 
   Hermes | May 09, 2006 11:12pm | #5

   Great method, I'll give it a try. I wish I still lived in Richmond, Vancouver was a place where I really felt at home. Hope you enjoy it too.

3. 
   forestgirl | May 10, 2006 07:01pm | #7

   TAck cloths are a PITA, IMHO.  Naptha-moistened cloth is another option.  Dries faster.

   Recently, I tried one of those micro-fiber dusting cloths.  Ran that over the piece first, to get the bulk of the dust, then followed it with damp Naptha cloth.  Worked great.  Those cloths can catch on just about anything though, including rough finger skin, LOL.

   forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-) 
   

   
   

   ---

   Edited 5/10/2006 12:02 pm by forestgirl

1. 
   Gretchen | May 10, 2006 09:50pm | #8

   They are really good but they really feel strange.  Sam's or Costco had a huge bag of them for a pretty good price.Gretchen

1. 
   forestgirl | May 11, 2006 03:18am | #9

   "...but they really feel strange."  They do, don't they?!  They're really weird if you've just finished doing some detail sanding by hand and have roughed up your fingertips.....forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-) 

2. 
   Hermes | May 11, 2006 02:05pm | #10

   Thanks, after reading your reply I tried the moistened microcloth and it worked really well.

1. 
   forestgirl | May 11, 2006 06:00pm | #11

   "moistened microcloth "  Whoa, whoa, whoa.....where did I say anything about moistening the microcloth?!  Nowhere, I hope.  Now, granted, you may have found a new technique, but you take the credit, OK? <grin>  I wipe with the microcloth (dry) and then follow with a damp-with-Naptha regular cloth.

   forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-) 

   Edited 5/11/2006 11:01 am by forestgirl

4. 
   frenchy | May 11, 2006 06:22pm | #12

   Hermes,

     Don't use new tack cloths.  Use them on the backs etc of things untill some of the newness wears off..   before you accept the idea of wipe downs etc.  ,  try it on a clean piece of glass..   Makes you think doesn't it?    Fine flawless finish comes not from the enviornment but rather the finish sanding..   Finish sanding requires the use of tack cloths, new tack cloths less a residue however once you've used them a bit they still pick up but stop leaving residue..

         Doubt me?

     Go to a body shop where they spray $2200.00 a gallon paint and notice they use tack cloths..

5. 
   frenchy | May 11, 2006 06:25pm | #13

   Hermes,

      How hard do you rub?  You are aware that all that is called for is a light  dusting aren't you?