DruBokkens Posted July 20, 2016 Report Share Posted July 20, 2016 Looking for an effective lint-free cloth for oil finishing, curious about your experience in this matter, gentlemen. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eric. Posted July 20, 2016 Report Share Posted July 20, 2016 T-shirts. Old, threadbare. Older the better. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DruBokkens Posted July 20, 2016 Author Report Share Posted July 20, 2016 Is there anything else at all that also works when I don't have any? Can't seem to find any definitive direction, other than old t-shirts, hence my question. Any thoughts on 50% cotton-50% polyester staining cloth? Utterly useless? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wdwerker Posted July 20, 2016 Report Share Posted July 20, 2016 50/50 blend is fine for water based finishes, oil ? Not so much. Soft used cotton., When I buy a box of cotton tee shirt scrap material for rags I run them through the washing machine a few times , it softens them up. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eric. Posted July 20, 2016 Report Share Posted July 20, 2016 5 minutes ago, DruBokkens said: Is there anything else at all that also works when I don't have any? Can't seem to find any definitive direction, other than old t-shirts, hence my question. Any thoughts on 50% cotton-50% polyester staining cloth? Utterly useless? I've never run out of t-shirts but if I did I'd go to Goodwill and buy the oldest crappiest ones I could find for a buck a piece or so. We actually have a Goodwill "outlet" downtown where you pay per pound for everything you buy. You could get ten years worth of t-shirts for 20 bucks. Honestly I've never found a fabric I like better for applying wipe-on finishes than old cut up t-shirts. Why get fancy for no reason? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DruBokkens Posted July 20, 2016 Author Report Share Posted July 20, 2016 9 minutes ago, Eric. said: Why get fancy for no reason? True and wise. I'll get some at a Goodwill or some thrift store. Thanks for the advice. Case closed swiftly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coop Posted July 21, 2016 Report Share Posted July 21, 2016 3 hours ago, DruBokkens said: Is there anything else at all that also works when I don't have any? Can't seem to find any definitive direction, other than old t-shirts, hence my question. Any thoughts on 50% cotton-50% polyester staining cloth? Utterly useless? Old whities or boxers if you want a glaze look. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhighlander Posted July 21, 2016 Report Share Posted July 21, 2016 Old whities or boxers if you want a glaze look. Oh, you did NOT just go there! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gee-dub Posted July 21, 2016 Report Share Posted July 21, 2016 13 hours ago, DruBokkens said: Is there anything else at all that also works when I don't have any? Can't seem to find any definitive direction, other than old t-shirts, hence my question. Any thoughts on 50% cotton-50% polyester staining cloth? Utterly useless? Lots of places offer "Bags of Rags". WalMart, Rockler, Amazon. As long as they're 100% cotton, even if not "lint free" a few trips through the laundry will take care of that. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DruBokkens Posted July 21, 2016 Author Report Share Posted July 21, 2016 Somehow I didn't think about simply getting some at Goodwill and such. That reminds me, the t-shirts don't have to be white, right? Color won't hurt anything? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted July 21, 2016 Report Share Posted July 21, 2016 I also use the bag of rags from the paint store or home center. This is all personal preference but I have had better luck applying oil finishes and wipe on polys with a foam brush. I will admit that I am an uncoordinated slob and the further the finish is away from my hands the better. Foam brushes are also easier to dispose of without fire risk. In fact, I dispose of oil soaked rags by burning them so that I have zero risk of spontaneous combustion. The key is light, even coats and you can achieve that with either a foam brush or rag, just depends on your technique and what works better for you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tpt life Posted July 21, 2016 Report Share Posted July 21, 2016 2 hours ago, DruBokkens said: Somehow I didn't think about simply getting some at Goodwill and such. That reminds me, the t-shirts don't have to be white, right? Color won't hurt anything? If you are worried, run them through bleach once and then rinse them twice. Most tees are already faded before they hit GWill. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DruBokkens Posted July 21, 2016 Author Report Share Posted July 21, 2016 But can the colored fabric have any impact on the oiling, or none at all? I'm asking from your guys' long-term experience. In other words, when you buy a box of those, you don't get only whites? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wdwerker Posted July 21, 2016 Report Share Posted July 21, 2016 I had some orange ones and after a couple of washes no color affected oil on maple. I get boxes of new gray cotton rags that are Tee shirt scraps. Look out for buttons ! Button holes and seams can affect wipe on finishes & leave streaks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eric. Posted July 21, 2016 Report Share Posted July 21, 2016 I've never experienced color bleeding into my finish. But I do try to use the oldest shirts I can find. If that means raiding my wife's or kids' drawers then I'll do what I have to do. I've used some shirts that were fairly new but never brand new. I'd do what Carus suggests - give them a wash or two - and you'll be fine. I find the lint that comes off of newer shirts to be more of a nuisance than anything. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DruBokkens Posted July 21, 2016 Author Report Share Posted July 21, 2016 I got an old, cotton white sheet at Goodwill, looks good, well-used and very little lint. Pretty big, should make a bunch of foot-by-foot rags. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wdwerker Posted July 21, 2016 Report Share Posted July 21, 2016 Tee shirt material is knitted, bed sheets are flat woven. Sheet material might work but Tee shirt material is far better. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DruBokkens Posted July 21, 2016 Author Report Share Posted July 21, 2016 Well then, I got an extra sheet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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