Paper towels.

 

Paper towels.

- Woodknack

Every paper towel I've used has left lint. They're fine for cleaning stuff off your hands, or wiping oil off, etc. But, for applying finish it just becomes a battle… How long can you get away with using it and how hard can you scrub?

 

My wife cuts up old socks, shirts, towels, sweatshirts, and I have more rags than I could use in a lifetime.

 

Every paper towel I ve used has left lint. They re fine for cleaning stuff off your hands, or wiping oil off, etc. But, for applying finish it just becomes a battle… How long can you get away with using it and how hard can you scrub?
- Axis39

Yeah if you have to scrub for some reason they won't work, I thought you were just wiping on finish.

 

old t shirts

 

old t shirts
- corelz125

+1 to old t-shirts

Cheers,
Brad

 

What are you applying? I don't use the same method for all stains and finishes.

 

https://www.lowes.com/pd/Intex-30-Pack-Natural-Fiber-Blend-Cloth/1000126131
works good for me

 

Tshirt evolution….

Good tshirt → becomes kick around tshirt → becomes work outside with holes and painting tshirt → becomes shop rag.
By that time they're thin and tear easily into smaller pieces.

If you buy a package of tshirts you'll be replacing them before long and you'll have an endless supply of rags as you repeat the process.

Fruit of the loom and Hanes are good as they are all cotton. Polyester blends and nylons not so good.

Also, old sheets, torn up into strips makes a whole lot of shop rags.

 

Old T-shirts work for me. No lint.

 

https://www.lowes.com/pd/Intex-30-Pack-Natural-Fiber-Blend-Cloth/1000126131
works good for me

- torus

If I'm out of old T Shirts I have had good luck with those lint free rags offered at Lowes. The T Shirts need the lint washed out of them, literally, Old Granny rock pounded kinda laundry. New stuff is full of fibers just looking to raise hell with your finish.

 

Depending on what you need them for, coffee filters are lint free but not very absorbent.

 

well what are you trying to accomplish? i use scott rags in a box,there strong and very absorbent.i use em for everything in the shop.i use wipe on finishes and they work great.

 

Microfiber rags, washable and reusable too….

They're available at many locations and very reasonably priced.

 

Thanks for the suggestions guys. I will look into them all!

My current dilemma involves 1/3 BLO, 1/3 Poly and 1/3 MS. It gets sticky pretty quickly, and I have been getting lint showing up when I am wiping off the excess. None of it sticks permanently, and it's not like a cat has been laying on it shedding… But, the little fuzzes bug me.

I've got a few rags from old t-shirts and sheets and stuff. But, was just hoping for other suggestions because I don't have a lot left. As for old t-shirts… Most of mine that could be sacrificed to the cause have big, hard glue wipes on them, as well as paint spatters, etc. In other words, not a lot of virgin material left! LOL

I have a pile of the terry cloth towels you buy from HD and a bunch of what they call 'Painter's Rags'. The painter's rags still shed fuzz… Not so much when applying, but when wiping off the excess.

My wife suggested grabbing a couple of the mcirofiber rags she has laying around and I may give them a try… But, I will be honest, I hate touching microfiber cloths… My hands are always dry and the little snagging is irritating. First world problem!!! But, i'll get over it! LOL

Again, thanks for the suggestions!

 

https://www.leevalley.com/en-ca/shop/tools/supplies/project-materials/49422-absorbent-cotton-wipes

What I've been using for final finish.

 

The blue shop towels work fine for me when applying oils and rubbing out poly/lacquer.

"lint free rag" is a lot like "jumbo shrimp".

 

Bakery towels work for me. The ones you flour for breadmaking.

 

The blue shop towels work fine for me when applying oils and rubbing out poly/lacquer.

"lint free rag" is a lot like "jumbo shrimp".

- splintergroup

+1 for these:

I use them for wipe on poly and any oil or varnish. I also use them for CA finishes on the lathe. Wax finishes too. Basically if I didn't use a brush, I used these ;-)

 

I've got a few rags from old t-shirts and sheets and stuff. But, was just hoping for other suggestions because I don't have a lot left. As for old t-shirts… Most of mine that could be sacrificed to the cause have big, hard glue wipes on them, as well as paint spatters, etc. In other words, not a lot of virgin material left! LOL

< Public Service Announcement >

Give Blood. 15 minutes to save a life.

< /Public Service Announcement >

We get free t-shirts when we donate blood around here, and usually other goodies as well, like movie tickets or discount coupons. You can build up a pretty nice supply of t-shirts fairly quick that way, and you would be helping others in the process ;-)

Cheers,
Brad

 

Old t shirts work best for me. As for the dried glue and other stains, there is a lot of good rag material in the back and sleeves. Or just cut out the worst offenders and use the rest. You can also check out the local thrift store for rag materials. They seem to have tons of old shirts just waiting to be cut up into rags. I like to pick up old white shirts to wear around the yard. I really hate sunscreen, so throw away shirts are great. once they get too ratty for the yard, they go in the rag bin.

 

I've got a few rags from old t-shirts and sheets and stuff. But, was just hoping for other suggestions because I don't have a lot left. As for old t-shirts… Most of mine that could be sacrificed to the cause have big, hard glue wipes on them, as well as paint spatters, etc. In other words, not a lot of virgin material left! LOL

< Public Service Announcement >

Give Blood. 15 minutes to save a life.

< /Public Service Announcement >

We get free t-shirts when we donate blood around here, and usually other goodies as well, like movie tickets or discount coupons. You can build up a pretty nice supply of t-shirts fairly quick that way, and you would be helping others in the process ;-)

Cheers,
Brad

- MrUnix

I used to give blood all the time… Then was not allowed to for a while (exposure to stuff during time in the service). But, recently got cleared to be able to do so again. So, good timing!

In the short term, the better half ahs found a few old pillowcases she was going to chuck. So, I'm in luck!