Does Steel Wool Last Forever?

The major problem with steel wool is moisture which causes it to rust. If you keep it dry then it has an indefinite shelf life.

-- With God's help all things are possible- even woodworking. Woodworking is not just a hobby, it is an (expletive deleted) expensive hobby.

It will load up with residue with use. Depending on how you are using it, it works best with some kind of liquid medium (like WD40 to clean rust off steel) to carry away the particles. So it gets pretty gross after a few uses. It also breaks down very quickly with use and doesn’t “cut” as well after just a little while. It is just like sandpaper. It is a disposable product. Why do you ask, is it very expensive in your corner of the globe?

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Here is a steel wool fun fact:

When you were a kid, did you ever take a piece and touch both posts of a 9-volt battery to it? (Hint: be prepared for fire.)

-- Charlie M. "Woodworking - patience = firewood"

I gave up with the steel wool about 3 years ago (for wood projects). The down side of the stuff is that it has a tendency to leave slivers behind, trapped in the wood. Not necessarrily a bad thing until that area comes into contact with moisture. When that happens, you have created iron oxide. Better known as rust. Not exactly the appearance most of us are going for in our woodworking. I purchased a carton of the purple scotchbrite pads instead. Now this stuff does seem to last forever. In the approximately 3 years I have been using it I have yet to consume the first half of the box. And….yes, I do use it constantly. It is my final prep before stain. My rub between coats of lacquer and my final rub out on the top coat when the gloss is just a tad too high.

Ed

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