Metal handle pin streaking

F

FlyingKiwi

Joined
May 9, 2010
Messages
154
How do you guys prevent black streaks coming off metal (brass) handle pins on light colored wood? I use a belt sander for rough shaping, but during hand sanding, with finer grits, metal removed from the pins always ends up getting pushed into the grain by the sandpaper, leaving dark marks. It also happens when I'm buffing by hand with compound on a rag.

Is this simply not an issue when buffing wheels are used?

Thanks.
 
Stabilized wood makes it a virtusl non issue. For a lot of streaks from greasy fingers and such, a simple gum eraser like you use for pencil will clear up most stuff. Depends on how deep it is and whatnot.
 
This has got to be one of my biggest problems .Here are some things that have helped , though I still struggle with this issue a lot.
Try clearcoating the handle with something(poly,crazy glue epoxy etc. )then dont sand all the way through until the finish sanding.
Make sure your hands are clean (mine never are)
Use only light colored sandpaper
Try masking off any areas that youre not currently sanding on with masking tape (I use the blue painters tape, it wont leave too much gummy residue)
Try sanding in one direction only from the wood part toward the metal part(pretty hard on pins but works on bolsters , guards etc.)
Sometimes a good sharp blast of shop air will "pressure wash" the dirt out if the wood is not too porous.
Also Ive tried washing the dirt off with carb cleaner and it works sometimes , but that can be harmful to some handle materials.
 
Wear some latex or nitrile gloves while handling your unfinished wood, that way there will be less oil from your hands for dust to stick to.
 
I had fewer problems with that for some reason when I started wet sanding and using less pressure. I still get streaks, but they seem to wipe off if I've impregnated the wood with oils and such first. YMMV, since I could also imagine the oil getting into the grain. But I wipe the handle with oil and then sand, and wipe periodically with a rag or shop towel, and I don't get too much in the way of streaking. If you don't push as hard, you won't force metal dust into the wood grain; it will stay on the surface, and be easier to wipe off.
 
What crimsonfalcon said about not pushing too hard and forcing metal dust into the grain is good stuff.
Reminded me to say , always use fresh sandpaper regardless of the grit , as new paper cuts with less pressure.
 
In fact , always look at your paper to see if its collecting too much dirt and keep moving to a fresh portion of the paper.
 
In my experience all metals will smear on wood. The best way I've found to remove the smears is in the final finishing. I use a lot of Beech and Boxwood, and whisker the grip before applying finish. Wet, dry with a hair dryer, then whisker the surface with OOOO steel wool. Three times. For me, there is little to no smear left behind. I do not use brass pins or rivets, but only because I make early period knives, and brass rivets or hardware was very rarely used.
 
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