Technique for Applying Wipe-On Poly?

You might want to look thru this link, you may find what you're looking for in there.

-- As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another. (Proverbs 27:17) †

Thanks for the link Steve, but I meant for this to be a sort of survey to see if everyone applied the poly pretty much the same way or if anyone had any tricks or tips they’d like to share.
-JJ

For pens I use cotton balls, easily disposed of but you need to be careful with the stray bits of cotton.

-- Grumpy - "Always look on the bright side of life"- Monty Python

Thanks Grumpy. I’ve used different fabrics. Trying to find what may be best and not leave those bits and pieces.
-JJ

I use old t shirts, 100% cotton.

-- My favorite piece is my last one, my best piece is my next one.

Most of the time I have just used lint free 100% white cotton.On large flat tops I have used lamb’s wool and that works well(it holds more poly so you don’t have to “reload”as often)

-- Scott NM,http://www.shangrilawoodworks.com

I follow Flexner’s technique of mixing high gloss poly with mineral spirits and wiping it on with a clean cotton rag. I buy the rags at the store. They look like tee-shirt material. Be sure to sand with 220 paper before reapplying.

-- Thos. Angle, Jordan Valley, Oregon

That’s one thing I learned pretty quick Thos. If the stock isn’t smooth, it picks the material really bad. So far, I’ve had pretty good luck with cotton. But I’ve noticed that the material soaks up the poly like a wick. Wondering how much I’m wasting….. Thought about putting a tight rubber band over part of the fabric and see if it keeps it from doing that.
-JJ

If you really want the wood to pop out with wipe-on poly sand it to at least 600 grit or higher. Wipe-on poly is is very thin and will readily soak into wood that is almost sanded to a polish. I sand to a minimum 600 grit when using oils. Many times I will go to 1500 grit after some coats. I have a sample in the shop that I show to clients that has a super wipe-on finish. They usually go nuts when they rub their hands on the sample. It feels like silk. I just use old socks to apply the material. I go to a high quality lint free cotton when applying the final finish.

-- Oldworld, Fair Oaks, Ca

Cotton t-shirt material is probably best. But for intermediate coats, disposable blue shop towels (the kind that are essentially just heavy-duty paper towels) work just fine.

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

John and Charlie, that’s what I’m looking for. Thanks.
-JJ

I am with CharlieM. I use cotton cloths and/or paper towels, sanding lightly between coats.

-- Challenges are what make life interesting; overcoming them is what makes life meaningful- Joshua Marine

600 thread count cotton sheets work better than T-shirt material IMHO, as there is not such radical absorption.

Go

-- Go http://ncwoodworker.net/pp/showgallery.php?cat=500&ppuser=730

I have found that using a standard Staining Pad (Terry Cloth Staining Pad for applying stains to all surfaces) soaks up the wipe-on Poy or Tung Oil and allows me to apply the wipe-on with less trips back to the bucket of wipe-on poly or Tung Oil. I then use cotton T-Shirts to wipe off access.. The Staining Pad is available at any Home Center (i.e., Home Depot, Lowe’s, etc…).

-- DonFaulk0517@gmail.com

Tee shirt material is great; they sell bags of the stuff at Woodcraft.

-- Adapt, improvise, overcome