Wipe-on Finish Applicators
I hang out in the cosmetics departments, don’t you? It’s a great place to find tools for creating miniatures. Lots of sanding, cutting, holding stuff. The things women do to themselves are often better suited to woodworking in my estimation (grin).
And I’ve used cosmetic sponges for applying pastels and some paints. I’ve also tried several cosmetic ‘pads’ that are either for piling on or scraping off make up. I’ve never been happy with most of them as they tend to leave fuzzies in my finishes… until now.
This little guys are great and very similar to pad you can buy at woodworking stores, though these are smaller and ideal for miniatures. They are soft, absorbant pads that are stitched around the periphery. This, I think, is the key. In any case, they cost a couple bucks for 50 of them and they work swell for applying shellac, my favorite miniatures finish. I’ve tried them with Polyacrylic and oil-based wipe-on polyurethanes and they work just as well for those finishes.
Here I’m applying a thin coat of shellac to the carcase of a bookcase. And yes, I know the face frames haven’t been added yet but I had to show you a picture of the pad applying something to something, didn’t I?
Cheers — Larry
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Nifty idea! I hang out in cosmetics areas too..but for a whole different reason
These look like they would work really well when trying to get finish or stain into tight areas on full scale items. As you know, Waterlox, is my finish of choice. The last couple of coats are always hand applied. Someone passed me a tip that I will pass on to others as it works REALLY well is to make a pad from the leg of Legg’s brand panty hose. I am sure other will work as well but I have had the best luck with Legg’s.
Doug