Newbie: steel wool question

[Duncan Potter]

Are there better/worse grades/brands of steel wool, or are they all pretty much the same. Using 0000 in between finish coats, using hardware store brand wool, it sort of disintegrates and leaves a lot of dust and tiny steel bits behind on the surface and in the grain.

Is this normal?

Thanks

[robert hainstock]

four 0 will do that. try two or maybe three 0. Something else you might try before the last coat is those green scrubby pads from the grocery store. They are mildly abrasive.
Bob

[Howard Acheson]

What you describe is normal with steel wool.

First, let me suggest that steel wool is not what you use between coats. What you want to do between coats is to flatten the finished surface. Flatness is the primary thing that gives the finish a professional look. For between coat sanding, you want to use 320 sandpaper mounted on a sanding block that has a cork or rubber base. This will flatten the surface. Steel wool or any other abrasive pad will ride up and down the irregularities and leave you with an uneven surface.

Second, if you do elect to use an abrasive flexible material, use a non-woven pad like Scotchbrite. Steel wool sheds little shards that become embedded in the finish. Sooner or later, moisture will penetrate and finish and you run the risk of the embedded shards becoming little rust spots. A non-woven pad will eliminate this potential problem.

[Duncan Potter]

Thanks

Good info and suggestions.

[Jim Becker]

BTW, do not use steel wool if you are using a water borne finish. Only synthetics in that case.