This is topic Homemade tac cloths? in forum Old Archives at The Letterville BullBoard.


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Posted by Suelynn Sedor (Member # 442) on :
 
Anybody make your own tack cloths? Wanna share the recipe?

Thanks,

Suelynn
 

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Posted by Jim Upchurch (Member # 209) on :
 
I don't make them but it can be done with cheese cloth and turpentine.
 

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Posted by Suelynn Sedor (Member # 442) on :
 
Thanks for the reply Jim. I'm thinking there is one other additive that makes the cloths sticky. Maybe linseed oil?

I can only find the small tac cloths around here and would like to make bigger ones.

Sue
 

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Posted by Gavin Chachere (Member # 1443) on :
 
Suelynn,its not turpentine in Tack Rags,its a resinated varnish and an anti static additive,and if you can find the right kind of varnish its difficult to get the ratio right so that you don't wind up with A)hard flat sheet of cheesecloth B) one thats too sticky and makes a grand crappin mess by actually sticking in places to the surface you wipe and breaking off into bits you have to sand off later C) one that doesn't work at all b/c it isnt sticky enuff . Also remember that even if you're rolling latex you may use some type varnish thats incompatible with that or with oil base paints,urethanes,whatever then you have a grand sized mess to deal with after the fact,not to mention what a pain its gonna be trying to store those things in a "clean way" so they don't weld themselves together,sit there and collect dust while you're not using em,stuff like that. Any commercial paint supplier (house paints) should be able to order you the bigger size and at prob $15(us) or so a box its cheaper in the long run that way.
 

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Posted by Bill Preston (Member # 1314) on :
 
Hi, Suellyn,

I would shy away from linseed oil on a cloth because any trace of it left behind might mess up the drying time of whatever oil-based primer you would use, and as far as water-based primer is concerned, it might not stick at all.

Maybe one of Roger's products sprayed on a paper towel would work better, or compressed air through one of those trigger gadgets.
 

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Posted by roger bailey (Member # 556) on :
 
Homade tac rags?????
How expencive can they be???

We used to buy them by the case, use one a few times before we threw it away, and still spent an insignificant amount on them.

Roger
 

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Posted by Joey Madden (Member # 1192) on :
 
This may be the wrong post for me to answer but I can't think of one reason why anyone would want to make their own tack rags and actually use them in the sign business.
I truly understand painting aspects and find that Gavin, a person who deals with paints everyday of his life, who BTW always gives 110% of his answers correctly to the questions on the BB. His answer is more like what exactly a tack rag is made with, and why you should be buying them rather then trying to save a few pennies while opening up a can of worms in the way of contaminents that can totally ruin your substrate to begin with.
Signmakers should be using sign supplies from suppliers who deal with what it is we all use.

With the influx of new additions from companies like Rapid-Tac who BTW sell their products to body shops where tack rags were once used are now using Rapid-Prep and chemical-free paper towels. But then again these body shops also have spray booths that are also contaminent free.

HAVE A NICE DAY
 

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Posted by Suelynn Sedor (Member # 442) on :
 
Thanks for the informative reply Gavin. Sounds like I better just stick to what I've been buying.

Roger and Joey,

It really isn't the expense that is a factor in my question. The hardware store in my town doesn't even carry tack cloths, so I have to stock up whenI go to the city. I have only been able to find the small ones, so I end up wadding two or three together.

I thought I had read something once about keeping homemade ones in a can with some sort of mixture in it. Then you could sort of keep "refreshing" the cheescloth. I just thought it sounded convenient.

I'm not working with a painted finish right now, I'm filling and sanding edges of raw mdo. I don't think a water-based product would remove all the dust that I need to remove before priming.

Thanks for the input guys,

Sue
 

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Posted by roger bailey (Member # 556) on :
 
The "tac rags" I always used(or have seen) were folded up at least three times, into a "hand size shape". spose you could re fold to a larger shape, how bigs yer hand?? He he he

I would always un-fold when they were pluged-up, turn in side out, re-fold to expose fresh portion

I'm thinkin 10 or 15 cents apeice, maybe online from "body shop suppliers".

Roger
 

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Posted by Jim Upchurch (Member # 209) on :
 
Sue, there sure are alot of self professed experts floating around here. Many woodworkers make their own but it seems to be too much trouble for the cost to me, but if you really are interested :

The Home Cabinetmaker by Monte Burch:

To make your own tack cloth, dampen a cloth with water and wring out all
excess water, then pour a bit of turpentine on it and wad and roll the
cloth around to assure that it is well coated with turpentine. Wring out
any excess. Then pour a bit of varnish on the rag and place the rag in a
plastic bag. Knead the rag in the bag until the entire rag is well soaked
and even yellow brown all over. Now place in a glass jar with a lid on it
and allow it to "age" for about a day.

To use the tack cloth, merely wipe it lightly over the wood surface to
remove all dust, dirt, sanding dust, and debris just before the
application of the finish. Don't handle the wood with your bare hands once
this operation has been done or you will leave fingerprints that can
prevent a good finish. Keep turning the tack cloth to provide a clean
surface, continually picking up material. Don't allow the tack cloth to
rest on the surface or you will leave a spot that won't take finish well.
 

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Posted by Curtis hammond (Member # 2170) on :
 
At one time I used to build certain items made from hardwoods. I would make my own tac rags using the above method. It works great because i used the exact same products to make a tac rag that i used to make a finish. Hence, no contamination. But, i cannot make a tac rag from acetone and vinyl. So, i use rogers stuff.
 

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Posted by Mike Pipes (Member # 1573) on :
 

quote:

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Originally posted by Jim Upchurch:
Sue, there sure are alot of self professed experts floating around here.

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