Replies

1. 
   Tao | Apr 18, 2005 06:09am | #1

   Stearated paper has been used for between coats sanding in production finishing for the 35 years that I have been doing it, with nary a complaint.  In fact lacquer sealers and, I imagine, oil based sanding sealers contain stearates to make sanding easier.

   I have heard some assertions that stearated paper causes some problems with waterborne finishes, but I don't give that much credence myself.  I strongly suspect that the cause is due to other forms of surface contamination, such as a failure to thoroughly remove sanding dust, or even the "wrong" type of tack cloth.  Even WB sealers have agents in them to make sanding easier.  I never bothered to look to see if they were stearates or something else.  In case you didn't know it, stearates are the basic active ingredient in soaps.

   Michael R

2. 
   forestgirl | Apr 18, 2005 07:55am | #2

   Being a sucker for warnings such as you mention, I've mostly stayed away from stearated paper, but it seems like a quick wipe-down with mineral spirits or Naptha would take care of any potential problem.  From the post above, really doesn't seem like there's much to worry about.

   forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
   Another proud member of the  "I Rocked With ToolDoc Club" .... :>) 

3. 
   Tao | Apr 19, 2005 06:07pm | #3

   I got to thinking, and checked my copy of Flexner's Understanding Wood Finishing.  He says zinc stearate is used in almost all sanding sealers, so I think that answers the question pretty well. 

   Michael R

   "You have to look for possibilities where there are none" Krenov

   
   

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   Edited 4/19/2005 11:09 am ET by Woodwiz