A tack rag or cloth is a specially treated wiping material meant for eliminating dust particles, lint, dirt, and additional items capable of contaminating a surface when finishing processes are required. Industries or individuals who must remove contaminants from a surface to paint, laminate, coat, or perform additional forms of finishing use a tack rag to pick up items without leaving residue such as cloth fibers on the substrate. A good example of use involves the application of a tack rag to eliminate sanding dust from the body of a car prior to painting. They have been a common finishing aid in various industries for over one-hundred years.

The design of a tack rag and its quality vary greatly between manufacturers and it is important to know what makes a good product. Tack is a resinous material designed to be solvent, water, or hot-melt based as a cloth can be used to serve multiple purposes. Treatment materials along with formation methods supply advantages and disadvantages to buyers. Certain chemicals interfere with the coating application or cause liabilities regarding hazardous air pollutants. Tack rag performance should be based on precise qualities such as adhesion. Base materials used to create these products are typically a cotton gauze textile or cheesecloth; however, buyers easily run into different materials of varying grades.

The Advantages of Using Tack Cloth

Tack rags remove contaminants from a surface before stains, finishes, sealers, or paints are applied. The stickiness provided by the tack material makes it easier to create a clean surface as many common cloths leave lint or resin. A tack rag should not be used for water-based products unless specifically stated by the manufacturer because it will leave residue that prevents the necessary adhesion required by the finishing product. Also, these rags are truly meant for one time use and reuse could result in contaminants remaining on the substrate. Excessive pressure is not recommended as it is capable of harming the surface and a light dusting provides enough pressure to capture undesired particles. Tack rags provide several benefits over using an air compressor or vacuum to accomplish the same task and leave the surface clean of debris for preventing imperfections.

Tack rags supply a less bulky, simple to use, and portable solution for substrate preparation. The product is inexpensive to purchase; therefore, throwing them away does not significantly affect company overhead. It is important to spend time evaluating the qualities needed for a specific project since these rags are made of multiple materials. Water-dissolvable tack treatments are applicable for some projects because they make it easier to wash chemicals from hands, tools, and the substrate and reduce the chance of resin transfer. Different qualities will determine the effectiveness of a chosen cloth such as the type of substrate or applied finish. You should be aware of each quality before choosing a tack rag to make certain it will perform as desired.

Tack rags are highly effective as a cleaning aid when surface preparation is necessary. For more information about tack rags or our other products, please call (800) 886-8240 or email info@ecolink.com.