I used to think a tack cloth was just for show before a final coat

For years, I'd just give a piece a quick wipe with a dry rag before finishing, thinking the tack cloth was overkill. Then last month, I was spraying a clear coat on a maple table and kept getting these tiny specks in the finish, like dust but stuck in the lacquer. My buddy came by, watched me for two minutes, and said, 'You're not using a tack cloth, are you?' He handed me his, I ran it over the surface, and it picked up a ton of fine grit my rag missed. The next coat went on perfectly smooth. I mean, it's such a simple thing, but it totally changed my prep routine. Anyone else have a basic step they skipped for way too long?

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2 Comments

paul_stone296mo ago

Man, I feel that! I probably sanded off more finish than I put on for years because I was too stubborn to use a tack cloth. My first "smooth" project felt like a miracle.

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park.wyatt6mo ago

Years without a tack cloth?

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