What is Tack Cloth?
Tack cloth is material used most often woodworking and is simply a piece of sticky, or tacky, cloth that is used to wipe down the surface of a piece of wood before applying paint, stain, or sealer. Tack cloth works much better than a plain rag, but is a tool many do-it-yourself homeowners might overlook in the paint store. When crafting a woodworking project or restoring an old piece of furniture, tack cloth is used in a step between sanding and painting or varnishing. Tack cloth is only slightly sticky so that it will easily pick up small pieces of sawdust and debris left on the wood but will not leave behind any residue. Many expert craftsmen will brush a surface with a dry paintbrush and then go over the surface with tack cloth before painting or staining. Tack cloth is also useful between coats of stain or sealant. Because the project must be left somewhere to dry between coats, small pieces of dust or debris can land on the surface of your project during drying. Tack cloth can be
─ a specialized type of wiping cloth that is treated with a tacky material, and designed to remove loose particles of dust, dirt and lint that would otherwise contaminate a surface that is to be painted, coated, laminated, photoetched, or otherwise prepared for some finishing process ( more ─ see Glossary ).
