Alcohol wipedown

[Jerry Kitzhoffer]

Question: will a denatured alcohol wipe down raise the grain on birch plywood? Just finished a 220 sanding and want to wipe it down after vacuuming and prior to painting, but don’t want to raise the grain. Thanks in advance for your help.

[Richard Coers]

Depends on how much water is in the alcohol. I would use Naphtha if you didn't want to raise any grain.

[roger wiegand]

Probably not, but if you're using a water base finish you're better off raising the grain and knocking it back with a quick swipe of sharp sandpaper. On most pieces it doesn't take but a minute and eliminates downstream issues.

[Ralph Okonieski]

I follow Roger’s advice, raise the grain with water, sand lightly , vacuum, wipe with naptha then finish.

[Don Stephan]

After using a good vacuum to remove sanding dust, what is the reason to wipe down with alcohol or naptha? Every mention in the past I can remember used water to raise the grain, especially if following with water based finish or paint.

[Jerry Kitzhoffer]

Thanks all!