Micro Mesh with soap ?

[mallard]

I was watching a few clips on You Tube and see some people use soap and water when wet sanding with micro mesh.
Does anyone else use soap ?
Is there a benefit in using it ?
What soap do you use ?

 

[Pierre]

I dont wet sand with micromesh, I sand down to about 600 grit then apply sanding sealer and then sand dry with micromesh, water would in fact cause me problems.

 

[mallard]

I cant edit the original post !!!!
I would have thought using soap and water with Micro Mesh would not work very well just block up the mesh .....i use water when wet sanding with sanding pads but again i see people use soap with these as well.
Any benefit to using soap ?

 

[geordie0928]

Hi mallard, I must admit that I have never tried it.

 

[Penpal]

The basis of any soap could cause ingress in timber ,on the other hand plastics are pretty immune to this.

Any trend to polish and run with timber is doomed.

Peter.

 

[Bill Mooney]

I never use micromesh I’m afraid. I don’t need to use it.

 

[wm460]

I tried it years ago, on resin blanks, (it was the fad back then) using washing up detergent, didn't notice any difference but a lot of bloody bubbles.

 

[pittswood]

Only use micro mesh water with CA glue.
Kelvin

 

[Curly]

Micromesh was developed to polish scratches out of aircraft canopies etc and the soap and water helps wet out the surface of the plastic and micro mesh to keep it clean and cool. It cuts through any minor oil that might be on the surface. It was how I was taught over 45 years ago as an aircraft mechanic and it was not a new product then. You don't use a ton of soap, just a drop or two in a litre and if you are happy with using it without the soap then do so. Same goes for dry. I wouldn't use it on wood if you are only doing a few coats of thin CA but if going for the thick deep looking finish between centres so the ends are coated it works. I don't use micro mesh at all anymore, finding sanding to 400, followed by 0000 steel wool and then buffing to work better. The downside to working with water around your lathe is rust if you aren't fanatical keeping everything dry and protected.

Pete

 

[Rod S]

Good morning from Winnipeg,

I use a drop of liquid soap (AFTER I apply 6 -8 coats of CA glue) and work my way though to 12000 grit. As Peter points out, a little care is required not to 'wet the lathe bed' but other than that, the final product is quite impressive. I also follow the wet sanding with a treatment of acrylic fiction polish.

This is the process I learned when I first started and the practice has been reinforced on many you tube videos. I understand that CA provides a 'different' feel to the pen so perhaps the debate should be the efficacy of CA vs other.

Stay safe,

Rod