Hi,
I have a problem with dust and skin flakes deposited on wraps. I use dark thread most of the time and after I wrap they have a pretty good deposit of dust/skin. Latex gloves are a pain.
Does anybody know if I use a can of comnpresed air will it leave a hydrocarbon or any other residue that wolud inhibit the finish?

Or - how do the rest of you deal with the prob.?
Sometimes I wipe down with a dry coffee filter and that helps but I am looking for a better way.
Thanks,
Herb

I suspect there are others who do much the same, but I use 3M brand Scotch #2080 (low-tack) blue painter's tape with good results. Be careful though. There are several other higher-tack 3M blue painter"s tapes that I would not recommend for the purpose as they are too tacky and will lift thread fiber fuzzies and even loosen wraps.

~Bert

Herb

If you do use a can of compressed air don't shake or move the can while you are spraying. It will squirt the propellant on your wraps and may leave residue.

I just use a 1" to 2" piece of blue painters masking tape to form a loop - sticky side out. Stick the loop to your finger and lightly tap the wraps while turning the rod slowly. This will pull off any fuzzies and flakes. It doesn't seem to leave any residue for me.

Rog

I use blue tape to wrap to protect blank under rollers when I turn cork. But I was afraid to use it on wraps because I thought it might leave a residue of adhesive. I will try it lightly.
Thanks to both.
Herb

I use the tape method. If I raise any fuzzies they get hit with a quick swipe from the torch before finish

Walt Davenport
"Roadhouse Rods"

I just blow on them while brushing them with a wide soft paint brush.


.......................................

Better to have and not need than to need and not have.

I'm with Matt as far as the brush goes, and in MN right now we have very dry skin and a lot of static to make the problem worse. If I can't get it off with a brush I will use the low tack #M2080. [www.rodbuilding.org] . I don't push the tape into the wrap very hard, and I don't twist or rub. Just a light touch to get off a stubborn klingon. I'm assuming the dry skin flakes are from your hands. You might try a shot of 100% aloe on your hands before doing threadwork. I have used it and not seen any affect on the threads. Wash well, dry, put aloe on your hands and wait until they dry.

Chuck,

You're WAY more brave than I am. :-) I wash my hands with Alcohol before touching anything rod building, I'd never consider aloe ever. I use the tape, lightly and quickly touched to needed areas. If it's real bad, I'll do the canned air 1st, then the tape.

DR

DR, if I did that it would hurt. My hands are cracked and bleeding. I use superglue to mend the cracks in my fingertips. I work outside in this crap!

Herb,
I use a tack cloth that I get from Lowe's paint dept. Looks like a piece of cheesecloth and it's got some harmless stickem on it. You don't need to press it down or rub it or anything, just lay a corner of the tack cloth on the wrap and turn the rod. The weight of the cloth provides enough pressure. Usually does a good job of picking up dust and such and doesn't leave any residue. Store in something like a peanut butter jar, after you've eaten all the peanut butter. They have a tendency to dry out if you leave them exposed to the open air for an extended period.

Hey - thanks to all.
Herb