How bad did I screw up?

[Hutch]

So this weekend I got my kibler all fitted up and was starting in on the sanding.  Raised the grain and set it to the side.  I wasn't ready to be done working yet so I tossed the barrel in the vise and went to work drawfiling.  When I got bored of that I went to check the stock and realized it had a fine layer of metal dust on it.  I started my sanding and most of it went away, but next time I raised the grain it showed back up again.  Anyone ever run in to something like this? I have started putting the stock in another room when I do anything metal now 🤬

[J. Talbert]

Are you going to stain with aqua fortis?  I would if it’s maple.
I think if you just proceed normally it will likely all but disappear.

Jeff

[rich pierce]

You might get some speckles if it is maple and you stain with ferric nitrate. I don’t think many of us have a sterile field level of cleanliness in our builds. A light scraping should take care of any fine filings. I use microscope slides (Amazon).

I think Tallbear uses some kind of wood cleaner before staining. His finishes are flawless.

[smart dog]

Hi,
I believe Tallbear uses a product called "Kleanwood" to clean oils and other stuff off his stocks before staining.  I have used it too and it works pretty well.  I believe it contains acetone so use gloves and ventilate the area as much as you can.  Mitch's finishes are the best I've ever seen.  Hutch, a couple of things you can do.  Buy some carpet scraper blades down at the hardware store and give the stock a light scraping.  The other thing is that a pencil eraser will pick up most of the metal dust. 

dave

[tallbear]

Hi Hutch

It's a little tough to answer without having the stock in front of me.I scrape my stocks instead of sanding them which I know would take care of any problem before staining as it removes any metal dust from leveling and polishing inlays and such.Once scraped   I use Wilson's Imperial Cleanewoode https://d3ciwvs59ifrt8.cloudfront.net/652c5718-951b-441b-bfec-894993a2a359/ab24b3c3-5c4d-4999-bc73-9778ca58c688.png available at Ace hardware and other suppliers. This solvent removes any oils or other foreign matter that will impend the Nitrate of From penetrating's the wood.It is after all a water based stain .I don;t know whether the Cleanwoode will remove any fine metal dust that has been pushed into the pores by sanding. To remove that I would suggest lightly scraping your stock.


Mitch

[Hutch]

Thank you guys! Looks like I'm gonna be learning how to scrap lol! Yes I will be using the aqua fortis, or the kibler version of it anyway lol! I actually had a few spots like this on the last build and in the end it didn't affect anything, just trying to be cautious, this is an expensive piece of wood! Lol!

[WadePatton]

I'd scrape and use a magnet to pull filings. Alternate them maybe.

Also--a normal set of steel scrapers for woodworking are very cheap and last for decades. I prefer them now over all manner of "substitute scrapers", but they do require learning how to form and turn a burr for a proper edge. Paul Sellers, as well as many others teach this on YT. Folks do it differently, I do it the way that works best for me. I've also made scrapers from whatever scrap of steel or stainless that feels right and has a good shape (or make a new shape).

I just checked.  The set I bought was under 20 bucks and was not the Blue USA sets you'll find if you look.  Mine were from England (Sheffield of course) and may be a bit different than those "DFM" ones.  I'll likely get a set of those to try (more scrapers-less looking for the scraper!). I use them for so many things and so little sandpaper any more. Scraping uses a long-lived tool, cuts down on waste, and eliminates most of that fine wood dust that gets all over everything.

You've fine advice, I just wanted to throw in a bit of info. Good luck with it. 

[Hutch]

Cool I will so some checking for them.  So I take it American made is not what it used to be in this department as well? I've found early on that some of the best chisels are swiss made and not American.  I'm ok with buying non American as long as it isn't chineesium, but my first choice is always gonna be American.  Ok.  Off to YouTube for some learnin!

[Scota4570]

AF stain is corrosive to steel.  The tiny bits of metal will rust and disappear. 

[Hutch]

AF stain is corrosive to steel.  The tiny bits of metal will rust and disappear.

Isn't that what causes the polka dots? Little rust dots? I thought I saw that somewhere....

[rich pierce]

AF stain is corrosive to steel.  The tiny bits of metal will rust and disappear.

Isn't that what causes the polka dots? Little rust dots? I thought I saw that somewhere....

Chuck Dixon called them speckles. From steel wool.

[Craig Wilcox]

I made a cone device for my vacuum cleaner, and vacuumed the stock before starting to do the finish work.  Now that I've moved, I am going to have to make a new one.  And the shop vac is huge, compared to my old floor vacuum.  Probably suck the eyes out of bird's eye maple!

[WadePatton]

Cool I will so some checking for them.  So I take it American made is not what it used to be in this department as well? I've found early on that some of the best chisels are swiss made and not American.  I'm ok with buying non American as long as it isn't chineesium, but my first choice is always gonna be American.  Ok.  Off to YouTube for some learnin!

I didn't mean to indicate that the blue American jobbies were anything less than perfect, but that I have no idea.  All I know is they cost a bit more than what I paid for the Sheffield ones. A few years ago the blue ones weren't on the market. I only learned of them because this thread, and I have some Sheffield straight razors that shave better than any Solingen steel I've ever honed. But scrapers are not razors. 

[Frozen Run]

You will need to purchase a burnisher to sharpen scrapers, woodcraft sells a nice one I use quite a bit and isn't too expensive.

I've found early on that some of the best chisels are swiss made and not American. but my first choice is always gonna be American.

"Best" is a bit of a subjective word, a friend of mine makes some of the most beautiful rifles I've ever seen and he uses old allen wrenches he hammered out with a torch for chisels. Look into Ramelson or the old vintage wooden handled Buck Bros chisels. Both made in the USA and very high quality.