Oil-free steel wool – necessary or just nice to have?

[Tyler Bancroft]

I'm about to try linseed oil-based finishes for the first time, and discovered that oil-free steel wool is something that exists. Will it make a significant difference in the quality of my finish if I use regular old 0000, rather than oil-free?

[Ralph Boumenot]

Ive had good luck with rinsing oiled steel wool with mineral spirits before using it.

[Jeff Roltgen]

The oil-free variety is a specialty item targeted for specific finishing processes. It is offered as a solution for buffing in between coats of lacquer, avoiding finish contamination via residual manufacturing oils. Liberon is the only brand of it that I've seen, and it is a high quality cut of wool, giving superior results as you rub-out that final satin sheen on a cured topcoat. In that regard, you still may want some purely for the higher quality satin sheen it produces.
As you are using linseed oil, you may enjoy it's refined texture, but certainly not necessary.

[John TenEyck]

You don't need it if you use oil based finishes.

John