I have recently started using stains that are not oil based. Naturally
they raise the grain. Yes I have tried wetting the wood surface and
sanding before applying the stain but with less than desirable results.

Thinking about how I don't worry about dust and or the nibs that result
when using a gel varnish, I knock all those down and smooth the final
coat of varnish after it dries by rubbing a piece of paper, wrapped
around a block of wood, over the surface.

I tried this with the fresh stained surface that was rather rough,
smooth results.

I was given several gallons of different water based stains, when some company went out of business. I similarly use a very much crumpled brown paper bag or a piece of burlap to rub out for smoothness, before applying the finish coat(s).

The burlap works especially well on uneven surfaces, like curved chair legs & arms, turnings, etc., as when I touchup or refinish a piece that I'm reupholstering, no matter if using oil or water based stains. The burlap easily conforms to almost any curve, as you're rubbing (*fondling!) the piece.

*For those who appreciate "curved" furnitu
Like a good fetching woman, the mo curves, the mo betta!

Sonny

On 9/21/2012 6:18 AM, wrote:
I was given several gallons of different water based stains, when some company went out of business. I similarly use a very much crumpled brown paper bag or a piece of burlap to rub out for smoothness, before applying the finish coat(s).

The burlap works especially well on uneven surfaces, like curved chair legs & arms, turnings, etc., as when I touchup or refinish a piece that I'm reupholstering, no matter if using oil or water based stains. The burlap easily conforms to almost any curve, as you're rubbing (*fondling!) the piece.

*For those who appreciate "curved" furnitu
Like a good fetching woman, the mo curves, the mo betta!

Sonny



I am glad to hear my experience was not a fluke. ;~) Now if only I
could find some burlap.

"Leon" lcb11211@swbelldotnet wrote

I am glad to hear my experience was not a fluke. ;~) Now if only I could
find some burlap.

If my farm boy experience is an indicator, burlap is a common material for
animal feed. So just get some hog feed at your local farm store and you
will be set. And you can raise some pigs in the back yard and get some good
pork for smoking and barbeque. You kill two birds with one stone! Happy to
help.

On 9/20/12 10:11 PM, Leon wrote:
I have recently started using stains that are not oil based. Naturally
they raise the grain. Yes I have tried wetting the wood surface and
sanding before applying the stain but with less than desirable results.

Thinking about how I don't worry about dust and or the nibs that result
when using a gel varnish, I knock all those down and smooth the final
coat of varnish after it dries by rubbing a piece of paper, wrapped
around a block of wood, over the surface.

I tried this with the fresh stained surface that was rather rough,
smooth results.


That's what I started doing a few years ago and it works magic.
I get very, very smooth surfaces with the old brown grocery bags.
I posted something about it a while back and someone started a joke
about Festool coming out with $25 grocery bags.... :-)


--

-MIKE-

"Playing is not something I do at night, it's my function in life"
--Elvin Jones (1927-2004)
--
http://mikedrums.com

---remove "DOT" ^^^^ to reply

Burlap: A nearby upholsterer will likely have some scraps to give you. Also, your nearby sewing or fabric shop should have burlap, as they normally have some basic/DIY upholstery supplies.

*The old fashion brown burlap, not the new white synthetic burlap.

And I've used worn/used denim, also. It's course enough for some rubbing applications, as well.

Sonny

On 9/21/2012 6:31 AM, Leon wrote:
On 9/21/2012 6:18 AM, wrote:
I was given several gallons of different water based stains, when some
company went out of business. I similarly use a very much crumpled
brown paper bag or a piece of burlap to rub out for smoothness, before
applying the finish coat(s).

The burlap works especially well on uneven surfaces, like curved chair
legs & arms, turnings, etc., as when I touchup or refinish a piece
that I'm reupholstering, no matter if using oil or water based
stains. The burlap easily conforms to almost any curve, as you're
rubbing (*fondling!) the piece.

*For those who appreciate "curved" furnitu
Like a good fetching woman, the mo curves, the mo betta!

Sonny



I am glad to hear my experience was not a fluke. ;~) Now if only I
could find some burlap.

a small bag of rice (costco, chinese market) will come in a burlap bag.

On 9/21/2012 10:55 AM, Lee Michaels wrote:


"Leon" lcb11211@swbelldotnet wrote

I am glad to hear my experience was not a fluke. ;~) Now if only I
could find some burlap.

If my farm boy experience is an indicator, burlap is a common material
for animal feed. So just get some hog feed at your local farm store and
you will be set. And you can raise some pigs in the back yard and get
some good pork for smoking and barbeque. You kill two birds with one
stone! Happy to help.



+

LOL Yeah I know how to get burlap, but not by itself. Ill pass on the
pig farm. LOL

On 9/21/2012 11:55 AM, wrote:
Burlap: A nearby upholsterer will likely have some scraps to give you. Also, your nearby sewing or fabric shop should have burlap, as they normally have some basic/DIY upholstery supplies.


Hmmmmm Ill check with my wife, she is a quilter.




*The old fashion brown burlap, not the new white synthetic burlap.

Yeah the scratchy stuff.

And I've used worn/used denim, also. It's course enough for some rubbing applications, as well.




My worn denim tends to shred easily and is way too soft. :~)

On 9/21/2012 11:15 AM, -MIKE- wrote:
On 9/20/12 10:11 PM, Leon wrote:
I have recently started using stains that are not oil based. Naturally
they raise the grain. Yes I have tried wetting the wood surface and
sanding before applying the stain but with less than desirable results.

Thinking about how I don't worry about dust and or the nibs that result
when using a gel varnish, I knock all those down and smooth the final
coat of varnish after it dries by rubbing a piece of paper, wrapped
around a block of wood, over the surface.

I tried this with the fresh stained surface that was rather rough,
smooth results.


That's what I started doing a few years ago and it works magic.
I get very, very smooth surfaces with the old brown grocery bags.
I posted something about it a while back and someone started a joke
about Festool coming out with $25 grocery bags.... :-)




I typically rub down with the printed CutLists after I am finished with
them. Too stiff for curves and such but the burlap sounds promising.

Leon wrote:


I am glad to hear my experience was not a fluke. ;~) Now if only I
could find some burlap.

Home Depot, Garden Department. Usually outside where the garden edging
stuff is.

--

-Mike-

On 9/21/2012 2:12 PM, Mike Marlow wrote:
Leon wrote:


I am glad to hear my experience was not a fluke. ;~) Now if only I
could find some burlap.

Home Depot, Garden Department. Usually outside where the garden edging
stuff is.

I'll take a look next time I am in there

Leon wrote:
On 9/21/2012 2:12 PM, Mike Marlow wrote:
Leon wrote:


I am glad to hear my experience was not a fluke. ;~) Now if only I
could find some burlap.

Home Depot, Garden Department. Usually outside where the garden
edging stuff is.

I'll take a look next time I am in there

It's used to keep deer and birds off of flowers and shrubs.

--

-Mike-

In article , Mike Marlow
wrote:

Leon wrote:
On 9/21/2012 2:12 PM, Mike Marlow wrote:
Leon wrote:


I am glad to hear my experience was not a fluke. ;~) Now if only I
could find some burlap.

Home Depot, Garden Department. Usually outside where the garden
edging stuff is.

I'll take a look next time I am in there

It's used to keep deer and birds off of flowers and shrubs.

Up here where we have a real winter, I use it to wrap my less hardy
shrubs to prevent windburn.

Never used it for rubbing out a finish, will have to try it.

--
I used to like fishing because I thought it had some larger significance. Now I
like fishing because it¹s the one thing I can think of that probably doesn¹t. *
John Gierach