Tip #41
Finishing Touches
Part 1 of 6 - Preparing the Surface (continued)
Printer friendly version of Tip - (PDF)
Help with Downloading PDF Files

Removing the Dust

After sanding, brush or vacuum most of the sawdust from the surface of your project. Then give it a thorough rub-down with a tack cloth to remove any remaining dust, dirt or abrasive particles, leaving a perfectly clean surface. Tack cloths are inexpensive and are readily available at hardware stores and home centers. Or, if you prefer, you can make your own by soaking a piece of cheesecloth in a mixture of varnish and turpentine…or by sprinkling some of the actual finish you're planning to use on a piece of cheesecloth until it becomes “sticky”.

Whenever you perform touch-up sanding during subsequent finishing operations, always be sure to wipe your surfaces with a tack cloth. This simple practice -- keeping your project clean and dust-free as you go -- is perhaps the most important step to achieving a high-quality, long-lasting finish.

Continue to Filling the Pores
Back to Scraping and Sanding