Tack Rag ?

[Happy Home]

I'm installing some birch veneer doors - 2 coats stain - 2 coats polyurethane. Its been several years since I've stained slabs like this.

After install - sand lightly with #220 if needed - vac surface - wipe down with min spirits with white cotton rag. Then tack rag - then 2 apps of stain. 1 coat poly - sand #220 - tack again - 2 nd coat poly.

Question - there are tack rags in the store as well as just cheese cloth. The tack rags in the sm packet will be too expensive I think for the whole job. IIRC I can use cheese cloth with what kind of linseed oil.....? Can't
remember....regular or boiled. Does it make a difference ?

What do you guys do to make up tack rags ?

Should I use a cotton rag with min spirits for the initial wipe down after install ?

Any other pointers for this straight forward stain and poly job ?

Addl - what about the life of the tack rag ? I've been wiping in one direction, then turning , using a new area of the tack rag. Is this too cautious - should I just ball it up and wipe away....?

[topcoatfinishes]

Re: Tack Rag ?

Steve

You can buy a whole box of tack cloths for like $8. They arent very pricy, and if you fold it over itself correctly, you can get quite a bit of use out of it.

What are you using for stain and poly? I can never advise on steps without knowing. Product always drives process in painting.

I strongly advise that you get them hung and swung, bored and anything else you need to do, then pull them and do all finishing horizontally.

[Happy Home]

Re: Tack Rag ?

In all honesty Scott - Minwax. I know, I know...its p*ss. But I have to move along with it on this job. I looked on the net last night and realized a lot of things about stain and these birch veneer doors. Next time I will do different.

I'll check SW and Glidden for the tack rags. Years ago I just recall there was a fair amt of info on the two types of lin oil.

[topcoatfinishes]

Re: Tack Rag ?

Curious as to why the two coats of stain. What color are you going for with the stain? Reason I ask is because minwax penetrates like crazy and birch blotches like crazy. Usually we do an overstain process on birch to prevent these issues. Gel stain is a really good option for birch.

[SteveC]

Re: Tack Rag ?

If you're really serious about a dust free finish......
http://www.usatoday.com/tech/news/te...dust-rag_N.htm

[Happy Home]

Re: Tack Rag ?

Minwax Colonial Maple - I'm leaving on until almost dry. Its darker with 2 coats. You're right - a new approach next time. So far ok with these birch doors. But yes on the net last night - a lot of potential problems with bv.

What is overstain ? That's a conditioning coat ? Of what ?

I just looked on google / shop.....I think I need to stick with ready made tacks. 18" x 36" solves the problem. The big boxes have smaller ones - too small.

Thanks

[Happy Home]

Re: Tack Rag ?

If you're really serious about a dust free finish......
http://www.usatoday.com/tech/news/te...dust-rag_N.htm

Lol.......I just saw that on my goog search.....

[Happy Home]

Re: Tack Rag ?

If you're really serious about a dust free finish......
http://www.usatoday.com/tech/news/te...dust-rag_N.htm

Maybe after tonight I can go to Japan and help with the rebuilding effort.......

[SteveC]

Re: Tack Rag ?

Maybe after tonight I can go to Japan and help with the rebuilding effort.......

Let me know before you go so I can buy stock in the company, cause you gonna need a lot'a rags !!!!!

[topcoatfinishes]

Re: Tack Rag ?

Minwax Colonial Maple - I'm leaving on until almost dry. Its darker with 2 coats. You're right - a new approach next time. So far ok with these birch doors. But yes on the net last night - a lot of potential problems with bv.

What is overstain ? That's a conditioning coat ? Of what ?

I just looked on google / shop.....I think I need to stick with ready made tacks. 18" x 36" solves the problem. The big boxes have smaller ones - too small.

Thanks

Overstaining works especially well with wiping stains. Seal the surface with sanding sealer, I know guys who use Murdochs Hard Oil as the base too, do multiple coats, smoothing off each round until its fully sealed and smooth, then wipe stain over that. Its almost like graining. Stain takes about forever to dry, then you start building up poly or tung oil coats over it. It takes some practice, kind of an advanced technique and you can make a mess of it if you dont practice. I learned on stair treads years ago.

The stain becomes more like a toner. You can get some amazing depth with the poly coats, but it is especially difficult to get darker tones. A few years ago I did my entire living room using this technique and Hancock Oak wiping stain from Carlisle. It has aged remarkably.

Not that your goal in life is to be a stain expert, but its a great trick to haul out when needed.

You should be fine with the Minwax though. Just give it plenty of dry time and make sure you do not sand or do ANYTHING prior to first poly coat, and lay that one on heavy so you can sand.

[tjbnwi]

Re: Tack Rag ?

I like the Norton Microfiber tack cloths;

http://paint-and-supplies.hardwarest...th-108678.aspx

If you are using water poly you can dampen the cloth and wipe down.

Tom