What is reclaimed wood and how do you clean it is the riddle that we are trying to solve and somehow preserve some of or enough of the character of the reclaimed wood and still be able to make beautiful furniture with it. Essentially the challenge is to get down into the dips and grooves and clean them out so we can use the wood. Before starting any project, it is best to run over it with one of the brushes on the Restorer just to kind of see what we may be working with. Now let’s go through the best available options for cleaning up old wood.
How to Clean Dirt Buildup on Reclaimed Wood?
- The WRSS01 stainless steel wire brush is the most aggressive way to get in and clean and rip out soft fibers and clean out stubborn dirt. On reclaimed wood it is really able to get down into the cracks and clean up all the dirt exposing any saw marks and character but will tear out some soft grain and leave some lose fibers exposed creating a slightly rough surface.
cleaning really old wood
How do you Preserve Old Wood Texture?
2 The WRBW80 80grit nylon brush which is a little less aggressive than the stainless-steel wire brush. If the reclaimed wood is moderately dirty and you need to clean a moderate amount of stuff you need to clean up and some texture, you want to add then this is the brush you are going to want to use. And since it is nylon, it will tear out less of the soft fibers and create a smoother surface. It is also able to get down into the cracks better as the nylon is more flexible.
burnishing old wood
How to Sand Old Wood?
3. Next you have the WRFW12 120grit sandpaper flap wheel that has a row of sandpaper pleats that is more of a surface planer and floats along the surface as it is not able to get down into the cracks and grooves of the wood and only sands the top surface of the reclaimed wood leaving some of the dirt and grit still on the surface. This roller is great to follow the stainless-steel brush and 80grit nylon brush to get a smooth top surface.
How to Sand Uneven Surfaces?
4. Finally, the WRPW12 120grit profile flap wheel consists of tiny strips of sandpaper that are almost like little sanding fingers that swipe over and are able to go down and individually clean in the dips and cracks of the surface. This roller is able to prep and clean the top and lower surface of the wood to a smooth finish. This roller is best used in conjunction with the other rollers as it is more of a finishing roller.
smooth old wood
How do you clean reclaimed wood? Now these are the rollers that I would suggest using to prep and clean really old reclaimed wood that are specifically designed to expose the character, getting it nice and clean leaving a smooth surface finish.
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Credits go to Dusty Lumber