The great microfiber dust rag test - opening salvo

After this week's discussion about tack rags and dust cloths, I
decided to do a test this weekend with one of the "high tech" dust
rags currently being sold and woodworking finishes.

Meet the players:

The dust cloths: Fort James 29600 "Dust-N-Clean" yellow microfiber
cloths. (50) 12x17 cloths are ~ $7 at a local janitorial supply
house. Fort James says these are "Coated for superior performance."
They don't specify the coating, hence the test. <G>

(4) oak plywood panels

** My favorite barrier - Zinnser Sealcoat
** One of my favorite waterborne lacquers - M.L. Campbell Ultrastar
Sanding Sealer and M.L. Campbell Ultrastar Satin top coat
** Deft gloss solvent lacquer in a spray bomb. Lacquer is affected by
lots of chemicals and HATES silicone, this is more of a control mainly
to check for silicone.

Each panel was sanded to 180 grit with a ROS and rubbed as clean as
possible with a new Dust-N-Clean.

So far, I've applied full-strength Sealcoat to one panel with a foam
brush, sprayed another panel with Ultrastar Sanding Sealer with a
Critter, and sprayed another with boxed coats of Deft from the spray
bomb. The last panel was left alone, as it will get three coats of
Ultrastar without any sanding sealer.

After the Sealcoat, US SS, and Deft initial coat, there are no signs
of fish eye or any weirdness on any of the treated panels. This is
good!

Tomorrow morning, I'll add one coat of Ultrastar to three of the
boards, and another coat of Deft to the forth. Tomorrow afternoon,
I'll scuff them all with 400, dust them again with the Dust-N-Clean,
and spray the final coats.

The Dust-N-Clean cloths are cheap and work GREAT cleaning the car and
the house. If they work under finishes, especially the finishes that
don't tolerate oiled tack rags, they may possibly become an excellent
shop tool.