Official Luthiers Forum!

Hello all,
I am applying rock hard varnish with a brush on and wipe off method. I have used blue shop paper towels and old t-shirts but they have both proven still problems with lint. I go through great pains for dust and do not have bubbles either. I can see the lint that is left behind. Does a lint free cloth exist?

Best I've found for lint free is old restaurant white cotton tablecloths that get cleaned and sold as bags of rags at some paint stores.

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Howard Klepper
http://www.klepperguitars.com

When all else fails, clean the shop.

Hi Matthew,

I use the 5lb bag-of-rags from Woodcraft ($15.99). The label says "New white washed cotton jersey wipers, lint free cotton wipers...". I can attest that they are truly lint-free.

(click the pics to see full res)





You can order them from the Woodcraft website here (go down the page a bit and you'll see item #147130) or you can find them in your local Woodcraft emporium

Good luck!

Dave F.

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Cambrian Guitars

"There goes Mister Tic-Tac out the back with some bric-brac from the knick-knack rack"

Well worn white linen or muslin. Table cloths, handkerchiefs, fine bed sheeting. Are the best lint free cloths T-shirt material has a 3 dimensional weave to give the stretch desired in T-shirts. New material of any weave will shed microfibers left in the cloth from the original fabrication of the weave. Many washings are required to get rid of these microfibers. Well worn (well used) remnants make the best option. Linen and muslin are flat woven in most cases. Far better for padding.

I use Kimwipes; if they're good enough for the lab, they're good enough for me

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Bob Garrish
Former Canonized Purveyor of Fine CNC Luthier Services

Uhmmmm...Kimwipes?

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Carlton Macksam
Muskegon, Michigan

Well used linen table cloths are super. You can have one for a pittance on the 'Bay.

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Jim Howell
Charlotte, NC

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Bob Garrish
Former Canonized Purveyor of Fine CNC Luthier Services

[quote="Bob Garrishhttp://www.google.com/search?q=kimwipes[/quote]
Thanks Bob. I'd never heard of them. Looks interesting.

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Carlton Macksam
Muskegon, Michigan

Thanks for the replies guys. I will look into these.

I tried the Kimwipes. Not as absorbant as the others listed here but held enough for what I am doing. Wish I had larger ones.....the ones I had are from work....4"x4". I know they do come in larger sizes but could not wait to get my hands on some. Due to the lack of absorbancy (sp?) it put on a very thin coat. I missed a lot of spots on the sides which is frustrating.....my method and I need to practice.

The best think about it is was absoultly lint free!! Thanks for the great tip. Now all I have to worry about is getting the finish even with no skips!

Thanks for the advice!
Matthew

Matthew,

Not sure this is applicable, but have you looked into microfiber cleaning cloth.

Ken