THE
TACK RAG
by
Al Carrell
Dust is maybe
the biggest enemy you'll encounter in furniture refinishing. After you've
applied the finish, and it has set up, any dust particles that were on the
surface of the furniture before you started are now sealed in forever. Sometimes
it can look pretty bad.
One of the
keys to a better finish is to use a tack rag. These are inexpensive to buy
in the paint store or paint department. However, making your own tack rags
is an easy project and can save a little money, plus the fact it's not always
convenient to leap into the car and go out for supplies when you're in your
grungy refinishing clothes.
For the rag
part, you need a well-washed lint-free cloth made of cotton. Diapers left
over from when you had babies are great. Old oxford cloth shirts are also
good, but make sure to remove the buttons first. Heavy cheesecloth is all
right as is any other old piece of cotton cloth.
The first step
is to cut the cloth into about men's handkerchief size. If you use pinking
shears to cut with, there's less likelihood of raveling. Now dip the rag
into lukewarm water and wring it out as completely as possible. Next you
must saturate the rag with turpentine. You can pour some turp into a bowl
and dip the cloth in. Again, ring the devil out of the rag.
Since it's
call a "tack rag", it's got to be tacky. This is done with a little
varnish. Place the rag out on a flat clean surface and drip varnish all
over the surface. Probably the easiest way to drip is to transfer some varnish
into a clean empty plastic container with a cap in which you've punched
a hole. Make the dots about every inch apart in an all over pattern. Fold
the cloth together so the dots face each other. Now roll it up and wring
it and knead it to spread the varnish around. Unfold and refold in another
direction. Wring and knead again. The idea here is to spread the tackiness
so it coats the entire cloth uniformly. Keep up the wringing and rolling
and folding until it is uniformly spread.
Test it to
see if it's right by running over a surface. The tack rag should be tacky
enough to pick up dust and hold it, but should not leave the surface tacky.
The time to
use the tack rag is just before you start to apply the varnish or other
finish. Work just a little bit ahead of the brushing.
When not in
use, store your tack rags in a tightly sealed far. IF the rag needs restoration,
add a few more drops of warm water followed by more drops of turpentine.
Wring it thoroughly.
Attack the
dust with your tack rag, whether you make it or buy it and your furniture
finishing will not be a hairy experience! |