Serious woodworkers take finishing their project with great care. They will have measured twice and cut once, glued, pegged, clamped, and cleaned up. It’s almost time to paint or stain to make the project ready for use, but first, a good sanding, whether by hand or by a power tool.
You want that finish to be smooth before painting or staining, and so you take your time to make it so. But that sanding is going to generate sawdust, which is anathema to a perfect finish. That dust is going to stick to the finish, whether paint or stain and give your project a bad look and a bumpy wood surface.
That dust has to go, but the question is how? What’s the best way to remove it?
Is It Possible To Simply Blow The Dust Off?
In answer to the question “Can I be sued,” a lawyer friend once said, “Sure. Anybody can be sued for just about anything. The better question is, “Can I be sued successfully?”
The answer to the question about simply blowing the dust off your wood before staining or painting is “Sure,” but the better question is “Does it work?” That answer is no. Fine particulates are still going to be present, and they will interfere with a smooth finish and a clean look.
Well, then, how about using a shop vacuum or an air compressor? Same answer. There will still be particulates that will adhere to the wood after vacuuming, and blowing them off with an air compressor is only a little bit better than blowing the dust off yourself. There will be dust in the air that will invariably land on your project piece.
If you still insist on using your shop vacuum, be sure to attach a bristle brush to it. Just be careful not to mar the wood surface, or you’ll end up sanding again. Still, you won’t catch everything, and if you are a purist, there are better ways.
So, what’s a better process, you ask?
Options For Removing Dust From Wood After Sanding
There are several better ways to remove dust before you apply your chosen finish. They’ll prepare your piece for a smooth and clean finish without bumps or the need to sand again. Let’s review a few.
Can You Use Mineral Spirits To Clean Sanded Wood?
Yes, and it’s an excellent option. It will clean the wood surface, and it will also promote the easy absorption of your stain by the wood, providing a rich and handsome finish.
Pour a little bit of mineral spirits on a clean shop rag or microfiber cloth and gently wipe the wood slowly with the grain. Avoid circular or scrubbing motions, and switch to a clean part of the rag with each swipe to not simply spread the dust from one place to another. If your rag or cloth gets dirty as more dust is gathered, replace it with a clean one and continue until the cleaning is complete.
Be sure to allow the mineral spirits to dry completely before moving on to the next stage of finishing your project with stain or paint.
Microfiber Cloth. Speaking of microfiber, it is also a good choice.
If you don’t have mineral spirits, dampen the cloth slightly with water, and wipe the wood surface well with the grain.
Do not let water sit on the wood, though. A lightly damp microfiber cloth, not a soaked one, is the rule. As with mineral spirits, allow the wood to dry completely before applying paint or stain.
Microfiber is rather clingy, as those of you who’ve tried microfiber sheets on your bed have learned. Dust will adhere well to the cloth, and the light dampening improves good adherence.
Can You Use Denatured Alcohol to Clean Sanded Wood?
Sure, and it’s another good choice.
Denatured alcohol is ethanol or grain alcohol to which has been added chemicals such as methanol. These chemicals make it unfit for drinking (either bad taste or actually toxic) but well suited for, among other things, cleaning wood surfaces after sanding.
Using a clean cloth, pour a little undiluted denatured alcohol on it and wipe the wood surface, again with the grain. It will tend to pick up even the finest dust particles, and because it dries very quickly, it will not discolor your wood. It’s safe to use on surfaces where food might be present, too, like wood countertops and chopping boards.
If you’re concerned about the added chemicals, lightly dampen your cloth or rag with water and wipe the surface again. But it’s likely your finish will be a polyurethane, anyway, which will bury anything that lingers after drying.
How About a Tack Cloth?
Sure, that too! But what is a tack cloth, anyway?
It’s a specialized type of cloth that has been treated with a “tacky” material that will pick up dust particles, as well as dirt or anything else that would interfere with a smooth and clean finish on the wood surface. Nothing needs to be added to a tack cloth such as water, mineral spirits, or denatured alcohol since it’s already been treated with sticky stuff, if you will.
Just rub down the surface of the wood, and it will pick up anything it finds. Since what it finds will stick to the cloth, it will not be redeposited elsewhere. Wipe with the wood grain to let it dig deep for the sanding dust, and you’ll be fine.
Take these extra steps to finish the project you’ve worked hard on to complete. It would be a shame to have its finish be bumpy to the feel and especially a shame to have it look uneven.
Clean is good.
