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  • On Cherry or Reddish wood surfaces should you use Trade Secret Dark Scratch Remover full strength or should you mix the light and dark remover half and half?

    Because there is so much tone variety in all species of stained wood, it’s hard to say without seeing the piece, but a general rule of thumb is most Cherry tones tend to get the best results with dark scratch remover. In questionable cases, the light scratch remover can be used on darker surfaces and still provide satisfactory results. If it’s a borderline tone, that’s usually the way to go.

    If you are looking for exacting results, use both products and tone the light with the dark until it yields a perfect tone.

    Can I remove the rust from cast-iron cooking pots and use again?

    Yes. Simply spray on the Must for Rust being sure to keep the surface moist as it works. Once the rust has been removed from the pan surface, rinse thoroughly and dry well. Return the pan to the oven using a low setting or a burner on low for a few minutes. When the surface becomes good and dry; retreat the pan with oil and start baking in it again like new.

    RemovALL 520 worked like a champ on some steel automobile wheels I am refinishing. Can I submerge the wheels into a Phosphoric Acid bath for rust removal after using RemovALL 520?

    As both products are acids there should not be any negative reaction.

    Does RemovALL require neutralization?

    No. After the coating is removed and the RemovALL product has been rinsed off the surface and been allowed to dry RemovALL is no longer a consideration. For added piece of mind consider an additional washing with warm soapy water and rinse afterwards. Residue is never good to be left behind on any surface but if you can’t feel or see it you are 99% safe to continue.

    If you have light to no residue left behind you should be ready to recoat after the rinse/dry. If you will be staining the piece then you need to ensure that all residue is 100% removed. Otherwise your wood may stain blotchy and require several coats to correct. We recommend using the ProPrep Razor scraper in conjunction with removing the stripper. This helps to lift remaining residue from most wood surfaces. It will often make the stain shine on the first coat. see example…

    Since RemovALL is mainly comprised of alcohols it stands to reason that evaporation of product naturally occurs. The product will appear to shrink away from the edges.

    Additional applications of the product may be necessary around the edges. For the Marine and Industrial product line (i.e. RemovALL 200, 510, 520, 610 and 620). These products are a little less water soluble. The manufacturer has noted some situations in which several layers of paint were removed but there are still other layers attached to the surface. This is a little more difficult because the paint has already been impacted by the stripper, but again with careful rinsing and a little agitation or pressure washing (recommended), this method has proved more than adequate in most situations to achieve a surface that can be painted again with success.

    A common sense approach is to let your surface dry and then perform an adhesion test. You can never go wrong with this approach. Adhesion testing kits can be purchased at most home centers. For the do it yourselfer, a good razor knife and a 2in or wider masking tape can easily do the trick. On the painted surface that requires adhesion testing cut a cross hatch (several tic tac toe boards close together). Take the 2in or wider masking tape and place it over the cross hatches then rub firmly with your fingers and remove the tape. If little squares of paint do not come off with the tape you are probably in good shape to recoat and you have good adhesion. Be sure to examine the test surface carefully and remember the surface must be clean and dry. Also the tape must adhere to the surface being tested well, otherwise the test results are of no value.

    How do I get a Saman Stain Color chart?

    Go here and request a printed copy. Be sure to include your complete postal mailing address and mention Saman Stain.