: Might I ask... How do you make your own tack cloth?

It's easy. There are lots of recipes. The main thing to remember is that you don't wanna make 'em outa something that's gonna mess up the finish that will be applied to the surface. To do that, you make it sticky by using components compatible with your finish. We use varnish so I use varnish to make my tack rag.

I use a lint free rag such as an old tee shirt (a pain to make) or I use gauze/cheese cloth (easier to make). I saturate the cloth with a little turpentine or mineral spirits ... you can even use water. You don't want it wet ... just very lightly damp. I then saturate the cloth with a little varnish in the same manner ... you want it slightly damp. As the varnish dries it will get a little sticky. Store it in a closed jar. You will prolly have to add a little extra varnish every now and then to keep it sticky. My tack cloths don't feel very sticky ... they feel stiff and just ever so slightly sticky.

In use I wet sand and dry off with paper towels followed by the tack rag. I don't press the rag onto the surface ... I just glide it over.

Ken Blanton