Replies

1. 
   forestgirl | Jul 23, 2009 09:06pm | #1

   "...but I'll end up in south east Asia with someone reading the label instructions...."  Too funny (not!).

   I can't help you with the TSP question, Sinsin, but someone knolwedgeable will.  My contribution will be to caution you to find a way to try your stain out in a small area before commiting to an entire door.  Finishing, especially staining, is always best tested, to prevent excrutiating frustration at an unexpected and possibly intolerable result (you know how I came to learn this, right?)  Not sure how you'd do this on scrap unless there's a door you don't need, but perhaps a part of a door that's less visible than otheres.

   forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-) 
   
2. 
   SteveSchoene | Jul 23, 2009 10:43pm | #2

   I can't say that the TSP  is necessary, but the manufacturer is signaling that having a very clean surface is necessary.  Sanding doesn't always remove dirt very well, in some cases can even drive it further into the the wood. I'd use naptha to make sure there isn't any oil soluble grime remaining.  Then I'd finish with the TSP just to be sure that no water soluble grime is left.  Is it absolutely needed, I doubt it, but after all the vast amount of work you have done so far, why take any risk, especially since the manufacturer recommended it.