I read the post below about using a buffer for removing stain with a lot of interest. The outfit I worked for did almost no staining, but since I plan to use mostly waterborne uerthanes, I think I'd better learn as much as I can about it.

The posts below mentioned using towels for hand wiping stain, and removing it with a buffer. What kind of towels do you use? It seems like they need to be pretty tough, fairly lint free, and cheap. Thanks in advance for any help....Pete

Your distributor should sell rags priced by the pound. Mine has a choice of terry cloth or cotton(t-shirts) I get terry cloth-more absorbant.

Home Depot sells 14" x17" terry cloth towels for $6.98 for a pack of 2 dozen. With tax that comes to 32 cents ea. I use these for wiping stain because they work and are readily available. They are NOT lint free and you cannot wash the stain out of them. You must dispose of stain rags/towels carefully. I like them because of their uniform size. Not the cheapest way to go but when you're staing 1000 sq.ft. by yourself, you want a system that is efficient and as easy as possible. I've tried other ways. This works for me. I can stain 1000 sq.ft. and use three dozen towels ( cost: $11.52 ). I charge $.75 per sq.ft. EXTRA for stain. So figure cost of material, towels, stain, applicator at about $125.00 per 1000 sq.ft. That leaves $625.00 for labor cost. I can stain 1000 ft. by myself in 4 hours EASY so I getting $156.00 per hour. You also need to figure in the extra labor in SANDING a floor that is going to be stained as sanding marks will show more readily. Good Luck.

Gary
How do you get rid of the lint? Does it vac up, or do you need to buff?


Thanks again to you Gary, and Marco for the GREAT advice.....Pete

Pete
Are you sure your ready to be going out on your own? Just going on what you've written, by most measures, you don't quite sound ready. Just a thought.

I've got some classes lined up and some "apprentice" time to do with people who take pride in their work, before I'm ready to go out on my own. Thanks.....Pete