If you like to work with wood and churn out great projects, you must also like to end up with nicely finished results. Have you started a new project? If you are reading this, you must have done the carefully measuring, cutting, gluing, etc. parts. You have finally reached the stage where you have to finish up the cleaning before you can stain or paint. Also, you have to do the sanding using either a tool or by hand. Without sanding, the finishing won’t be smooth but it will produce a lot of sawdust. However much you get irked by this impediment in the cleaning process, sanding is necessary. You must know how to clean sawdust off wood before staining. Otherwise, the residue will stick on the surface and will look bumpy once you are done with staining.
Equipment or tools you’ll require:
Sawdust can be of different types and have different fineness. But that is irrelevant when you are thinking about cleaning. What’s more important is preparing the place you will work at by gathering the tools and supplies you need. Before you collect them, first select a place where you can work undisturbed. For safety reasons, it should be a place that is not accessible to kids or pets. Start at a clean spot where there is good ventilation.
Now, these are the things you’ll need to know how to clean sawdust off wood before staining:
- Cleaning Brush
- Air compressor or Vacuum machine
- Unsoiled fabric – A clean terry cloth towel
- Microfiber cloth
- Tack cloth
- Denatured alcohol or mineral spirits
Step-by-step instructions on how to clean sawdust off wood before staining:
Step 1: Vacuuming or blowing off the surface
The first step involves vacuuming the smallest crevices and corners to get rid of the sawdust. You can first use a cleaning brush to brush the surface. If you are using an air compressor, combine it with a blower nozzle. This step helps in removing both bulk and residues of sawdust. The best tool to use here is a vacuum because it will remove even the tiniest of specks. For the best result, buy a vacuum fitted with a good quality filter. We would recommend you to get a shop vacuum that comes with a trap attachment instead of a regular vacuum. It will give a great blow-off without leaving any exhaust dust.
Step 2: Wiping the surface with a terry cloth towel
Take a soft and dry terry cloth towel and wipe the entire surface. Choose a white towel to see how much dust you have wiped off. You should give a good wipe, so if you see the towel becoming too dirty while wiping, change it. Don’t forget to wipe off the sawdust from all the corners.
Step 3: Using the tack cloth
A tack cloth is the best cloth that you can use for wiping to remove sawdust. It is a loosely woven cheesecloth. The surface of the cloth is such that it picks up small dust particles too which other fabrics cannot. If you wipe with a tack cloth, you are guaranteed to get a clean and smooth finish. It has been treated with a sticky substance, beeswax to be specific, so you do not need any other cleaning agent, not even water. A tacky cloth will pick up dust and dirt that the vacuum and the terry cloth couldn’t. Cut the tack cloth into small pieces. Gently wipe the entire surface area. Check the square piece in your hand intermittently. Once it becomes too dirty, you must change the piece.
Step 4: Cleaning with denatured alcohol or mineral spirits
Take the microfiber cloth and put some denatured alcohol on it. When grain alcohol or ethanol is mixed with chemicals like methanol, it is called denatured alcohol. This alcohol is toxic and not for drinking but perfect for cleaning wood.
The cloth should be moist. Microfiber is clingy and that is why dirt attaches excellently to it. You should not make the cloth completely wet. Pour enough alcohol to make it damp.
Denatured alcohol is the best cleaning substance because it dries quickly and also picks up the minutest dust particles. It doesn’t cause any discoloration. Denatured alcohol is a safe product that you can use for a surface that you are going to keep edibles. But if you are still concerned about the chemicals, you can give a wipe using a cloth damned with water.
Mineral spirits is also an excellent choice to clean sanded wood. The benefit of mineral oils is that they will help the wood to absorb the stain while painting. It also gives a beautiful finish. When using mineral spirits, remember not to clean using circular motions and let the wood dry completely before you start staining it.
Conclusion
Now that you know how to clean sawdust off wood before staining, you must take some precautions while working on your project. Protect your eyes with safety glass so that sawdust doesn’t enter them. You must be very patient while doing each step given above. After you finish making a beautiful product, it will also display your personality.
It is extremely important to know how to clean sawdust off wood before staining because if you don’t clean properly, the entire look of the project will be dissatisfactory. Any sawdust which manages to remain will spoil the whole look after staining. This is why we advised you to clean the sawdust off nicely and with a great deal of patience. The steps might feel repetitive or unnecessary but each step is vital for having a great look and finish.
After you are done with cleaning, do not start staining the wooden object immediately. Check for any loose holes, joints, and cracks. And do not also keep it in direct sunlight. This may cause bubbles while painting. The cleaning process will already heat the surface.
Hopefully, all these tips will help you achieve a great result.!
