applying wax with steel wool

[joseph84]

yes yes i know i have to stop asking so many questions relating to the same subject but as neil says in his book "the person who never asked a question never learnt"

so heres my question:

I have been applying 3 coats of wax over shelac using steel wool (000). when applying the last coat of wax should i apply it with just a cloth and not the steel wool so i wont lose shineness?

Hope my question isn't too silly

Joseph

[echnidna]

Yes.
Use stainless steel wool as ordinary steel can rust &\or react with some timbers which can deteriorate over time to give you a spotty foinish.

[derekcohen]

Use 0000, not 000 steel wool.

Regards from Perth

Derek

[ubeaut]

Use Steel wool for the first coat to help flatten out the shellac and make the surface more silky to the touch. There is no point in using it for subsequent coats of wax as all you are doing is cutting away the finish.

000 is fine for cutting in the first coat 0000 is even better, but not as readily available everywhere. Ordinary steel wool is fine no need for stainless as you are working on a surface coating and not on raw timber. (The wax will stop it from rusting however, if you are using it right it should be completely useless after applying the wax and end up in the bin so rusting won't be a problem.)

[joseph84]

Thanks neil

[Auld Bassoon]

Yes.
Use stainless steel wool as ordinary steel can rust &\or react with some timbers which can deteriorate over time to give you a spotty foinish.

Steel wool, preferably 0000 grade is ok, so long as the wood is tannin free (sih), e.g don't use it with Oak or such.

I usually only use steel wool for thge first application; thereafter use just plain lint-free cloth - and plenty of elbow grease