I use them for a while, just refold it to an unused portion.  I doubt washing/rinsing would have much effect.

Thanks, everybody.   This is most helpful.

Joe Ed Pederson

I keep mine for a while and try as hard as I can to keep it from touching anything other than a surface I'm about to paint. then it goes back in a ziploc bag.

I tend to do it last thing before shooting paint, so prep wash BEFORE you tack rag then gently drape the tack rag over the surface to pick up and fluff or dust from the prepwashing.

 More good advice. 

The use of tack cloths appears to have originally come from the furniture manufacturing industry where most finishes are petroleum-based as is paraffin wax found on tack cloths. The iron on covering procedures recommend thoroughly vacuuming using a soft brush with no mention of using a tack cloth. Is there a concern the wax in the tack cloth could rub off onto the surface preventing good iron-on heat adhesion? Additionally, I don't recall seeing much mention of using tack cloths by the model paint manufacturers even though the paints contain solvent-based thinners. Will Acetone break down and emulsify the wax affording the perfect adhesion we want? It sounds risky especially after putting hours in preparing the perfect surface for the finish. I know everything is about technique but a risk is a risk. Thoughts???

Steve

 

Additionally, I don't recall seeing much mention of using tack cloths by the model paint manufacturers even though the paints contain solvent-based thinners.??

Steve

 

I found a reference for using a tack cloth in the old Top Flite produced video on applying Monokote.  It is as the 7:22 minute point on the video.



Now, that's Monokote and not paint, but I also found the suggestion to use a tack cloth prior to spraying the color dope at the very top of the first column on page 10 (counting the front cover as page 1) in the Finishng and Painting Your Airplaneby John Brodak which they sell for $10.99.

It was on the basis of these two references that I bought a tack cloth.  I can't remember any other references.

It would be interesting to have guidance from the Randolph Dope company, since I've read that Randolph actually makes the dope for Brodak and Sig.  Perhaps Randolph does give guidance in its instructions for use of its certified dopes on real airplanes.  (I can't imagine using a tack cloth on the entire wing of a Piper Cub, though.)  I'll check Randolph's website later to see if they post any instructions on the use of their dopes.

EDIT:  I found the book Procedure Manual 101 for Ceconite in the list of things you would need on page 5 near the top of the second column it reads • "Tack cloths - for cleaning just before painting."   In the list of things you would need are Randolph Nitrate and butyrate dope.   https://www.conaircraft.com/download-manuals.

Here was something else in the manual I thought interesting:
"Each Coat is Applied as a “Cross Coat”
Because dope is so low in solids, it needs to be sprayed as a cross coat. A cross coat is simply two passes of the gun 90 degrees to each other. Said simpler, one coat north and south, followed by another east and west. That makes one cross coat. The time between the two passes is not particularly important; if one dries before the other, no big deal. A dope cross coat is about equal to the thickness of one pass of other paints; so don’t get hung up on weight or thickness."


Joe Ed Pederson