Replies

1. 
   HowardAcheson | Nov 04, 2002 01:27am | #1

   Your buggers are probably not from something left on the surface. They come form things floating in the air, dust stirred up by your movements and/or that fall off of you when you apply the finish. Unless you work in the clean room environment, you will never stop this.

   It is risky to use a standard tack cloth if you are using waterbased finishes. Better to do exactly what you are doing except if you can get your vacuum into another room when you vac the project you will minimize the stirring up of dust in the air and room. Get a longer hose.

1. 
   Sancho | Nov 04, 2002 05:22am | #2

   Mr.Bill, Ive been doin just what your said wipeing it with a damp cloth its been work out ok for me.

   At Darkworks cut to size made to burn......Putty isnt a option

2. 
   noone51 | Nov 04, 2002 05:32am | #3

   Sir,

        Vacumm it off, blow it down with air then use denatured alcohol to get rid of any oil or grease left from your hands/fingers. Then apply your finish in a dust free environment to achieve the perfect finish. If the environment is not dust free then sand with 400 grit paper between coats and wipe clean with a soft lint free rag.

   
   

   ---

   Edited 11/3/2002 9:33:28 PM ET by no one

1. 
   Paul_Snyder | Nov 04, 2002 05:46am | #4

   Using alcohol will likely cause some problems with the finish - it will damage many finishes, especially before they've had a chance to fully cure. If you must use a solvent to clean a finish, use naptha - though it also can damage a few finishes.

   Paul

   F'burg, VA

1. 
   noone51 | Nov 04, 2002 05:54am | #5

   Paul, I apologize, I was assuming that adequate dry time would be available. So what is the chemical composition of Naptha that makes it so much different from denatured alcohol.. ?

1. 
   Paul_Snyder | Nov 04, 2002 06:14am | #6

   If I have a conversation with "no one" does that make me crazy? LOL

   No need to apologize, just wanted to avoid the potential for a ruined day. Alcohol will damage a number of finishes, even after they're fully cured. Go try it on a piece of your furniture - you'll see right away what it can do. (just kidding - you don't need to test for yourself - do a search on google.com for removing water rings from a finish and you'll find a technique using alcohol {with great care to avoid damage})

   Naptha and mineral spirits are harmless to almost all finishes - there are the rare oil-base finishes that they will cause to turn hazy so you should always test on a spot that's out of view. Mineral spirits evaporates slower than naptha so if you're trying to do something in a hurry, like apply another coat, naptha is the better choice. But for a water-base finish, a rag dampened with water makes a great "tack rag"; no compatibilty problems.

   Paul

   F'burg, VA