[ATM] shop tip

[mackenzieconsulting at sympatico.ca (Ellen Mackenzie)]

Scotch Brite is the best, the biggest problem is the type of plywood. Steel
wool on fir or birch plywood will have the tendency to pick up small ends of
the wood grain and "snag" causing a worse situation. I have the good fortune
of getting tips from a high class professional cabinet maker. For the Dob
box or anything else that you want to put a super finish or laminate
melamine to he uses nothing but a Poplar plywood. It is a softwood but
extremely fine-grained and doesn't use second grade veneers for fillers
internally. The grain of Poplar wood isn't long so if you try to sand it
does "fuzz" so you need to prepare the flat sides with a thin penetrating
urethane or epoxy ( I prefer the epoxy we use on aircraft which needs the
zinc chromate primer on any aluminium surface, it's just like water in
consistency which allows it to penetrate very deeply before curing) I allow
about a week between coats. As Keith says, you can get a mirror finish with
the Scotch Brite.


-----Original Message-----
From: atm-bounces@atmlist.net [mailto:atm-bounces@atmlist.net] On Behalf Of
Keith Taylor
Sent: Monday, February 09, 2004 2:02 PM
To: atm@atmlist.net
Subject: Re: [ATM] shop tip


When using steel wool, you have to be very careful as minute particles of
steel will remain stuck in the grain of the wood, and eventually will rust
and ruin the finish if not thoroughly removed. Also, some steel wools are
made from scrap from machining processes, and contain quanitites of cutting
oil. Before using on wood, check to make sure it is not contaminated with
oil, or soak it in a thinner to remove any remaining oils. To avoid all that
fuss, I now use Scotch-Brite hand pads exclusively for any situation where I
formerly used steel wool. Scotch Brite will also give a beautiful brushed
apearence on Aluminum such as 6061-T6 grade used in aircraft work. For a
nice brushed look, I use the medium (maroon) hand pads and light pressure.
For a highly polished look, the White Fine grade works as well as 0000 steel
wool, and leaves no small particles that can rust and mar the finish.
Keith Taylor     Jefferson, Maine
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Bob May" <bobmay@nethere.com>
To: "atml" <atm@atmlist.net>
Sent: Monday, February 09, 2004 1:39 PM
Subject: Re: [ATM] shop tip


> Steel wool tends to act as a whole bunch of small scrapers and makes a 
> somewhat really fine scratched surface that can be waxed and made very 
> smooth. Bob May
> http://nav.to/bobmay
> bobmay@nethere.com
> NEW! http://bobmay.astronomy.net
>
>
> _______________________________________________
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