What makes tack cloths tacky?

[Penners]

OK - this is a bit trivial, but...

I've just used up the last of my current batch of painter's tack cloths. They're a ludicrous price to buy, so I wondered whether anyone knows what they are impregnated with to make them tacky. Obviously it has to be something that the dust will stick to, but which won't transfer itself to the work surface.

Any ideas, please, so I can make my own?

 

[Gervase]

Try getting some lint-free cloth and rubbing it against a warm piece of beeswax. I know that cloth that I've used for buffing up beeswax polish is slightly sticky and that dust will stick to it like snot to an oven door.

 

[Nemesis]

Gervase - just what do you do in your kitchen?

No - I know I may regret that question...

 

[Gervase]

Sorry, it's a particularly graphic phrase I inherited from my father, who could make a stevedore blush and a sergeant-major blench with his colourful language. The other stock simile for stickiness was, 'like sh!t to a blanket'.

 

[Nemesis]

Ah - in these parts it's a shovel...

 

[Penners]

Thanks Gervase - that's several recipes you've given me. After some reflection I think I'll go for the cloth-and-wax one.

Anyone else got any ideas?

 

[Me!]

Ah - in these parts it's a shovel...

Around here the expression "Like sh1t off a shovel" means to move very fast!

Anyone else got any ideas?

Have you tried a second hand dwile after a good flonking session?

 

[Penners]

Have you tried a second hand dwile after a good flonking session?

Absolutely no use whatsoever. All the beer gets sucked out, so it's bone dry.

 

[NT]

Hi

I'm not sure about beeswax, expect it would transfer to the workpiece. I think resin is used in the receipe I've got, but I cant access it from here. ISTR its something along the lines of dissolve pine resin in white spirit and apply to cloth. I think.

In a pinch I've used sellotape before, just press it on your clothes etc to give it just the right amount of tack reduction, then its good for use. Just dont forget to reduce the tackiness first,


NT

 

[Penners]

In a pinch I've used sellotape before

Thanks NT, that's rather a good idea. Maybe masking tape would be good, too, as the adhesive is supposed to stay on the tape rather than transferring to another surface.

However, I'm not absolutely sure whether these methods would work out cheaper than tack cloths in the end. But I'll see how I get on.

 

[NT]

Sellotape wont transfer its stick when it doesnt stick. Pressing it onto clotghes etc coats it with a fine layer of fine general muck and fibres, thus it will only stick weakly to anything other than itself. So that at least you dont need to worry about. Not the worlds best tack cloth, but can be handy.

I'm reasonably positive about the resin, and that would get you what you really want..


NT

 

[Penners]

I'm reasonably positive about the resin, and that would get you what you really want

There are so many different types of material called resin - can you tell me what type you mean, NT? Are you talking about raw pine resin straight from the tree?

 

[NT]

Yes, pine resin. Quite easy to extract if you wanted to

I dont remeber the solvent though, I dont know if white spirit would work - but its easy enough to look it up or try a few.

One things for sure, thy'll be the best smelling tack rags you ever had!


NT

 

[Penners]

Can you buy pine resin? I imagine white spirit - or turps - would act as a solvent, as you suggest.

 

[Gervase]

(wanders off in reverie)
I remember as a kid on holiday near Bordeaux, seeing the pine trees all tapped for resin; a diagonal strip taken out of the bark and a little metal cup at the bottom of the strip, held in with a metal spike.
(/reverie)
Maybe that's a use at last for all those bloody leylandii? :twisted:

 

[Nemesis]

Resin - or rosin - used by dancers to put on pointe shoes, to stop them slipping.


The scent of eau de leotard mixed with pine ... ah me. Once I was thin, lithe and could do double entendres with impunity.

 

[Penners]

Sounds exactly like tapping rubber.

 

[Penners]

Sounds exactly like tapping rubber.

Nemesis - I must hastily explain that my response was to Gervase, not you. Contrary to appearances I am not some sort of perv.

I must remember to check whether posts go over the page!

 

[Nemesis]

One day you too will be able to do double entendres with impunity.

Just don't wear a leotard.

 

[NT]

Pine resin aka rosin is also used for musical instruments. Buyable, but I think overpriced. Extracting your own is quite simple, just direct a lot of heat at some scrap pine, and out it all oozes. Do it indoors if possible

BTW the bought stuff has had the turpentine driven off, so its a hard solid, and thus harder to work with. Heat extracted is a pliable stuff, rollable into balls, and thus easier to dissolve.

The cost of ready bought may be not bad considering that so little is needed per cloth.


NT