hey guys,
first time poster here.
just getting ready to apply epoxy to my first rod build. is it ok to use a tack cloth lightly to remove any dust on threads & rod ?
i did some testing, and that dust really shows up.
thx, and appreciate any tips.
dave

Knock it off with a soft brush.

............

Hello,

I also use a bright light when removing dust.

It really helps to see things better, especially on black thread.

-chad

I build rods in my garage where I also turn grips and plugs on my lathe so I have lots of dust around. The last thing I do before I apply finish is go over all the wraps with blue painters tape and have never had any finish problems. I'm assuming tack cloth would be fine.

I do the same thing as Brian.
First, I use my air compressor with high pressure air to blow off everything that might be on the rod.

Then, I go over every wrap on the rod with blue painters tape as Brian does and there are no dust issues ever with the rods. Also, the low tack blue painters tape also does not cause any issues either.

Be safe

never used the tack cloth . but what is on the cloth ? will it affect the epoxy at all ? I don't know just asking

William Sidney
AK

If you use high pressure air do it outside of the finish room or take the rod to a clean room while you wait of the dust to settle that was certainly stirred when you used the air. Better off with the brush and blue tape. Tack cloth will possibly transfer the chemical in it to the wrap nd cause fisheyes. I never get to anal about dust . It really is a moot point

Freddwhy (Rapt-Ryte)

thx guys for all the great ideas. i'm good to go now.
not sure whats in the tack cloth. i always used them before i applied clear coat over stained wood products, works great to remove any debris.

dave

I've used a tack cloth for years without issue. Key is to use minimal pressure on the threads.

I use a lint roller. It's basically 6" wide masking tape. A couple quick passes down the blank and your ready to go in about a minute.

doug has it right, iMHO. Tack cloth combats static electricity which some options do not. Minimal pressure, as he says.

Another vote for the blue painters tape. I've had certain tack clothes that have had issues arise with some finished. Never tried it with epoxy.

Before I place the rod on the dryer to finish I spray water under where the rod goes and ALL AROUND the area Then place the rod on and blow it off Brush it off and even use a ( DAMP ) not wet paper-towel to wipe the threads off while turning Then also light heat to make sure the threads are -- DRY

Bill - willierods.com

Guess the first thing you would want to know is where the dust coming from.And I have found it unavoidable even though I have a purpose built room.
So for me i haven't worried about the dust if it has settled but much more if there is some sort of air movement which causes the dust to be transported in the air around the room.
If you are lucky enough to have an area where you can do the finishing and there are minimal flows you are one step closer to achieving a perfect finish.
Just my humble opinion.

Ray Balmforth
Figtree
NSW
Australia

Guess the first thing you would want to know is where the dust coming from.And I have found it unavoidable even though I have a purpose built room.
So for me i haven't worried about the dust if it has settled but much more if there is some sort of air movement which causes the dust to be transported in the air around the room.
If you are lucky enough to have an area where you can do the finishing and there are minimal flows you are one step closer to achieving a perfect finish.
Just my humble opinion.

Ray Balmforth
Figtree
NSW
Australia

Speaking about dust.

In between builds, it is not a bad idea to open all of the windows in the shop and put a couple of big fans in the windows. Orient one so that it blows into the room, and another fan in a different window so that it blows out of the room.

Then, take an air compressor with high pressure air, or a vacuum cleaner on the exhaust side and a crevice nozzle to increase the air velocity, and go over all of the surfaces in the room to get any dust into the air currents. Leave the fans blowing for a couple of hours and about 98% of any loose dust in the room will be blown out of the room.

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Several years ago, my wife and I took an extended trip where we were gone for a month. I had an acquaintance that did sheet rock work, plastering and painting. I hired him to go into the house and remove all of the cottage cheese or blown ceiling material from all of the ceilings from our home. He worked hard and did an excellent job. We had previously cleared all of the rooms of any thing in the rooms, except for the larger pieces of furniture. Then the furniture was covered with covers during the work period.

As folks know, when sheet rock is sanded down, the dust can be quite abrasive. When we came back we were well pleased with the results of his ceiling work throughout the home. He had also done a reasonable job to clean up after him.

But, as one would expect, there was still some sheet rock dust here and there throughout the house.

After we had gotten home and settled back in, but before we brought out anything back into the rooms, we did a good job of vacuuming everything. Then, one morning my wife went shopping for a few hours.
While she was gone, I opened all of the windows in the house. Then, I went into the garage and filled the leaf blower with gas and adjusted it so that it was running very well. Then, starting with the rooms that were furthest from the doors, went through the entire home, using the leaf blower to blow dust off of everything. Ceilings, walls, and objects. As I cleared a room, I shut the door behind me with the windows left open. There was a bit of wind blowing that day, so with the doors shut and the slight wind blowing, each of the room was cleared of fumes by the time that my wife returned home. The leaf blower worked very well indeed to remove all of the sheet rock dust form the home. Although we could have used a damp cloth to do the same thing, the sheet rock dust is quite abrasive and I really did not want to take the chance of rubbing any furniture or objects with the dust that would have damaged the objects.

This is certainly not a technique that is for everyone, but it certainly worked for me for this particular - DUST - issue. Obviously, one does not want to have any light object where you are blowing or the objects will sail out the window along with the dust that is removed from the room.

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In my rod work, I do all of the drilling and lathing in a separate building from the rod shop. Then, after doing any drilling or lathe work, I use high pressure air from the air compressor to blow off the grips and or blanks that have been part of the work. So, then, when the objects are brought into the rod shop, they are free of any dust that could contaminate the shop and end up on the finished rod.

Good luck