Cloth for French Polishing

[Sorehand]

I have been told that the proper cloth for French polishing is to use a trace cloth as the outer layer. Is this better than using an old cotton tee-shirt when making the pad?

[Ned Milburn]

I have no idea what a trace cloth is.

I use cotton T-shirts. But you must know that not all cotton is created equal. Some is thick-threaded, some is thin-threaded tight-weave. Some cotton seems to have harder fibres, some softer. Some is treated with chemicals, some not.

I try to get a fairly thick but tightly woven cotton. Visit a 2nd hand clothing thrift store and pick out half a dozen white t-shirts, try a few, and you'll find they have slightly different properties.

Here is an example of my FP, so you judge for yourself if T-shirt material is adequate:

[Sorehand]

Thank you Ned. I will be happy to end up with a finish as nice as yours. I have many old white tee-shirts that should find a new life as a French polishing cloth. Thanks for sharing your advice.

[Frank Ford]

Lately I've had really good results with microfiber guitar polishing cloth - no lint, nice and smooth, lasts a really long time.

[Sorehand]

Frank, are you using the micro fiber cloth as the outer cloth for applying French polish or as the wad inside?

[Frank Ford]

Outer cover - inside I just use those blue paper-like "shop towels" that come on a roll.

[Aubade Acoustics]

Hey Guys and Gals,
I have a large supply of trace cloth if anyone is in the market. I paid around $10 a pound with freight. A 5 lb box will last me 10-15 years. I would be happy to sell small lots and mail it in a Manila folder or small box if anyone needs some. Email or PM for details if interested. Michael.

[Alan Carruth]

What is 'trace cloth'? I've never heard the term.

I found that old T-shirts and sheets tended to shed 'way too much lint when I was learning. I've had my best results using linen or, in a pinch, a linen-rayon blend as a cover. I also really like to use wool for the pad: call me old fashioned.

[Sorehand]

From what I have been told, it is a very tight weave all cotton cheesecloth. The couple of pieces I used had a body kind of like a light linen.

[Rodger Knox]

Mr. Carruth, you are old fashioned.

I've never gone wrong listening to Al's advice.

[charles Tauber]

http://www.woodcentral.com/woodworki...j/trace-cloth/

http://mohawk-finishing.com/catalog_...asp?ictNbr=326

[Ned Milburn]

Originally Posted by Alan Carruth

What is 'trace cloth'? I've never heard the term.

I found that old T-shirts and sheets tended to shed 'way too much lint when I was learning. I've had my best results using linen or, in a pinch, a linen-rayon blend as a cover. I also really like to use wool for the pad: call me old fashioned.

Yes, I've tried wool, too. I'd like to get a batch of non-bleached non-chemical coated wool. For now, I use cotton balls for the core.

Some cotton shirts shed, but others won't at all. Not all cottons are created equally.

[Aubade Acoustics]

Trace Cloth is lighter and more porous than T shirt material. I use two layers over a Cotton Ball. Not sure where the term rubber came from but sure someone knows.

[Alan Carruth]

There's a craft shop down town that caters to spinners, weavers and knitters. They always have wool around, often raw wool that has not even been washed. The lanolin in it acts as an extra lubricant. All I have to do is walk in and ask and they'll give me a little bag of wool. I dropped off the scraps from a pernambuco guitar a while back in return, and they were happy to get them: it was used as a dye wood long before they made violin bows out of it.

[Ned Milburn]

Originally Posted by Aubade Acoustics

Trace Cloth is lighter and more porous than T shirt material. I use two layers over a Cotton Ball. Not sure where the term rubber came from but sure someone knows.

Rubber: something you rub with.