Methylated Spirits & Wood Cleaning

Discussion
1

I’m looking to clean freshly sanded wood before finishing and was recommended to use methylated spirit / denatured alchohol as it will be effective in wiping away all the dust.

However I am only finding purple methylated spirits and I am assuming this is going to stain the wood with the purple colour, which is not the desired outcome.

Any advice on where to find clear methylated spirits and/or alternatives for good cleaning after sanding would be appreciated.

Thank you!

–James.

2

white spirit would be an alternative?

3

don’t use white spirit it will leave an oily residue which will affect the final finish unless you are planning to oil it then it will be fine.

, meths will not stain unless it is a very pale wood, but will be fine with oak .
french polishing is done with shellac and meths.

if you are doing a water based finish probably best to go over it with a hoover or airline and then a tack cloth (get these from most hardware/painters merchants)
but be aware the grain will be raised more

let us know the wood and finish you are using and we can advise

4

I’m working with Sycamore and Purple Heart, making christmas tree ornaments, planning on using a sanding sealer and then a carnuba wax & beeswax finish for both woods.

I selected these woods for the contrast, with sycamores being so pale, thus why I’m worried about the dye that seems to be in all the meths I’m seeing for sale.

However, I will look for tack cloth as an alternative. What is the prevailing thinking in the space about using the air compressor to remove dust from a sanded piece? Is this considered taboo in the shop? This rule seems to vary from shop to shop.

5

wear a mask and let anyone around know you are about to do it.

try the meths on the sycamore, I doubt it will affect it.

the sanding sealer is a thin mix of shellac and meths anyway but this will also have the effect of stopping the wax penetrating the wood.
personally i would try meths on a scrap piece of sycamore then go straight to the waxing ,
the sealer seems light an unnecessary and ineffective step for waxes or oiling