im just curious to find out what other people use for thack cloths. i have used those store bought ones and they work but are a pain to deal with and add up fast. for the last few years i have been spraying mainly reduced laquer. i spray a bit onto those blue lint free cloths and that works perfect. but with other types of finished that technique is not as effective (too sticky). is there some product i can make myself?
Tmaxxx
Urban Workshop Ltd
Vancouver B.C.
Now when i nod my head, you hit it.
Replies
I've had some adhesion problems when using tack cloths. Most notably with 2K urethanes and hydro based products. I vacuum and use compressed air to clean my surfaces. I've also used mineral spirits on clean rags but it doesn't pick up everything.
Beat it to fit / Paint it to match
I've been finishing professionally for way too many years, and I very seldom use a tack cloth. A rag dampened with water or mineral spirits has always worked fine for me.
Michael R
people use for thack cloths..
I use a high pressure air hose???
If you really want a true tack cloth, and you want to save money, go to the local music store. Ask the clerk for "bow rosin". It's the sticky stuff that violin players put on the horsehair of the bow.
Anyway, buy a chunk and take it home. Use wax paper to crush it, and put it in a jar, then add mineral spirits (or turpentine if your budget is big). When the chunks are dissolved, soak a piece of cheap cheesecloth in the soup, then wring it out.
Presto -- tackcloth that works great, and adds no color. And you can return the used cloth to the jar, waiting for the next time you need it.
Unless you're the lead dog, the view just never changes.
TM,
I used tack cloths for years, both store-bought and home-made. The usual home-made recipe is a little mineral spirits and varnish; moisten some cheesecloth with MS, let it dry a little and work a bit of varnish into it; then keep it in a sealed bag.
I don't use them any more because of some issues I thought might be attributed to them, such as specks, splotching, whatever. Now, I blow the dust off with compressed air with fans assisting the dust out the door. Then, if necessary, I wipe with a cloth moistened (not wet) with MS.
Regards,
Bill Arnold - Custom Woodcrafting
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Food for Thought: The Ark was built by amateurs; the Titanic by professionals.
Bill -- isn't there a chance of spontaneous combustion with the varnish method?
Jim,
It's basically the same way commercial tack cloths are made. In the sealed bag, the rag stays moist. It's the drying process with oils that creates the combustion issue.
Regards,
Bill Arnold - Custom Woodcrafting Click Here if you're interested in a good,inexpensive website host.
Food for Thought: The Ark was built by amateurs; the Titanic by professionals.
You're probably right, but I've never seen a warning on a commercial package and I've left plenty of them in an opened package. They must add something that makes them non-combustible.
I've been using the new micro-fiber tack cloths. Usually right next to the regular tack cloths in the store. Cost is about $4.00, but can be washed and reused many, many times. Seems to be great at attracting dust, without finishing problems associated with reg. tack cloths. I alway use compressed air before wiping.
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