Tack Cloth is a sticky cloth you can buy at the hardware store or on the internet for finishing paint and varnish projects. This cloth is used to remove dust between sanding stages when finishing a project. Ok….good information but how does this effect me? – If you ever get the hankering to varnish a door, you will want this cloth. This is the trick the professionals use to get a smooth streak less finish on all varnish projects.
Here is a quick how to varnish example that will help you later:
1) First, sand the wood with a fine sandpaper until it is smooth to the touch (you can use a sanding block or orbital sander, just be careful not to gouge the wood) Blow off as much sawdust as possible with fanning or use a shop vac. Rub down the door with the Tack Cloth to remove all excess sawdust.
2) Apply wood stain if desired with an old rag, be careful not to use too much. If you are staining a softwood such as pine or fur you will want to use a pre-stain this disperses the stain for a more even finish.
3) Apply varnish evenly over the wood surface with a varnish paintbrush. Use a wide brush and keep a can of mineral spirits handy to clean off the brush when you are finished. Allow varnish to dry.
4) Sand the door again to remove any imperfections in the door.  Use a fine sandpaper again, and if you are unsure of your skills with the orbital sander use a block sander or just the sand paper by itself.  Rub down the door again with the Tack Cloth.  Be sure to remove all sawdust, because it will show up on your finish.   Repeat steps 3 and 4 until the wood is to its desired finish. You will not need to sand the final coat, it will be smooth if you have sanded and tack clothed correctly.

****If I missed anything about tack cloth that you would like to add please feel free.

Luke

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