replacing micromesh

[sachbvn]

Hey guys - just curious how many pens you normally get out of your micromesh set. I only use it on either plastic, stabilized wood, buffalo horn, and CA finishes. NEVER bare wood.

It seems like it is still working really well - but it made me wonder how often yall replace your MM. Do you ever try "washing" it - it does say it can be used wet - so I'd imagine it could be washed, but not sure if it would help.


Zac

[Ruffnek]

I don't use it a lot but I'm still on the first batch I ever bought. It's gotta be 3 or 4 years old. I put it inside a sock and tie a knot in it to wash it...a tip learned at ww.com.

[sachbvn]

Assuming you are absolutely serious about "washing washing" it - that is a really cool idea. I was thinking about just scrubbing it in the sink with warm water.

Cool....

Zac

[oakridgeboy]

I'm not sure just how long I get out of a sheet-at least 20 or 30 pens,and I use it on everything from bare wood to acrylics.I've also found that by using it wet on certain woods,such as lilac-that it gives a whole new look to the wood-almost making it resemble antler or horn.Just my .02.

Mike

[monty]

You can wash it like Cody suggests or you can just soak it in a little water and lightly brush it with a toothbrush. Don't use your SO's if you know what's good for you.
Since I do virtually all my pens with a CA finish, I wet sand everything with MM and water. Then just a light rinse with clean water removes the debris.

[sawduster]

I'm still using the first or two pieces of each grit I got in the kit. I've washed mine once using warm water and dish liquid, then rinsed and let it air dry. My is mostly only ever used on a CA finish and I've never tried wetting it. Seems to give a really good gloss dry, though I guess using it wet would help wash the dust out of the abrasive. May try that.

[Doug B]

Zac, hopefully you are talking about the foam MM and not the paper version.

I have 4 sets of MM that I use all the time. One set for sanding unfinished wood and another for sanding a CA finish or synthetics. Then I rotate the sets as they need to be cleaned. I just take the dirty ones to LOML and she can wash them at her leisure while I continue using the other 2 sets. And, I dare not try to tell her how to wash them...she just washes them in the sink with warm water and dish soap and puts them in a pie pan to dry.

I have been using them this way for a long time...maybe 2 -3 years. And I have been thinking it is time to get a new set now and work it into the rotation, replacing the worst set. I use the oldest sets for sanding the wood.

[triplefreak]

I guess you're not lucky like I am. My Dad left me all kinds of sanding mesh. Everything from 20 grit up to 1000 grit.
Already cut into 1/2 sheets for pad sanders.
I use it all the time for everything I sand.
Oh yeah, he also left me better than 10,000 sheets of regular sandpaper, including everything from 8000 grit Crocus cloth to 24 grit aluminum oxide sandpaper.

Thanks, Pop.

[sachbvn]

TF - you made out like a bandit, makes you wonder how he accumulated such a stock of sandpaper??

Thanks guys - so, I'm getting the gist that - MM can be used A LOT - like A LOT A LOT - and totally acceptable to, in some form, wash it, let it air dry - and reuse.

Doug - if I come out with some extra money from my first show, when I reorder supplies I may order a second set of MM just so I can have a back up in case a pad gets chewed up - and YES, I would only use the foam backed stuff!

I don't know about everyone else - but my MM is NOT marked by grit, only by color with a chart to show which is which, but the color chart doesn't match up the greatest.... I've got them in order now and store them in their bag that way, but it makes me think: You know what would REALLY piss a pen turner off? Mix up his set of MM and don't tell him.....especially the middle to last grits!

Thanks!
Zac

[Doug B]

Hey Zac, my MM is all gray - not color coded. They have the grit inked on each pad, but some of the older sets are no longer readable.

My wife came up with a great solution that is very effective. She used a permanent maker to make 2 lines across the foam edges of the MM. One straight and one at a 45* angle. The straight line helps to orient the pads so they are correctly oriented and the angled line gets them into the correct order. I tried to draw a picture, but it was not very helpful.

So, when I drop them on the ground and they get all mixed up, all I have to do is align the 2 lines and the MM is quickly back in the right order.

[sachbvn]

I DO understand what you mean Doug - that is a real handy hint! If I ever end up with the gray ones, I'll probably do something much like that. Thanks!

Zac

[triplefreak]

I don't know how he did it, but there's 3 Xerox boxes full of sandpaper in my basement right now.