0000 Steel Wool Brand Recommendations

[Adam Buttry]

I need to pick up some 0000 Steel Wool. There are lots of mixed reviews out there for various brands so I thought I'd ask here. Can anyone recommend a known, quality brand and possibly a good vendor to acquire it from? Thanks.

 

[Andy Lewis]

Heya Adam. I've had great luck with Liberon wool from the UK. It's oil free and a bit pricey up front, but the 0000 grade holds together longer than other makers I've tried. Also, regardless of the brand, it helps to cut or shear off what you need rather than just pulling the bale apart. I bought mine from Gramercy but Rockler, Amazon and the like carry it too I bet.

 

[The Burgh]

Don't know what uses you're putting the 0000 into. There has been much discussion over on the gun forums, warning about most modern steel wool when used on wood (gunstocks).

Seems it is manufactured in a very large foreign nation to very low tolerances. The strands have micro barbs on them which can embed into the wood and later rust.

Based on these warnings, I moved all of my fine wood "sanding" over to synthetic polishing pads which also come in varying degrees of fineness. Most hardware stores seem to carry them.

Oh yeah, they don't shed, splinter and deteriorate. Use repeatedly.

 

[Andy Lewis]

Don't know what uses you're putting the 0000 into. There has been much discussion over on the gun forums, warning about most modern steel wool when used on wood (gunstocks).

Seems it is manufactured in a very large foreign nation to very low tolerances. The strands have micro barbs on them which can embed into the wood and later rust.

Based on these warnings, I moved all of my fine wood "sanding" over to synthetic polishing pads which also come in varying degrees of fineness. Most hardware stores seem to carry them.

Oh yeah, they don't shed, splinter and deteriorate. Use repeatedly.

I mostly switched to using card scrapers, Norton polishing pads (BearTex?) and 3M's Imperial polishing papers for the same reasons. Steel wool still has its place though.

 

[JBC69]

Seems it is manufactured in a very large foreign nation to very low tolerances. The strands have micro barbs on them which can embed into the wood and later rust.

I've heard those tales also.... but many after a couple decades and countless refinished gun stocks/knife handles/other wood projects later, I've yet to experience it.

 

[Adam Buttry]

I appreciate the feedback Andy. Liberon and Lustersheen were at the top of my list and I was hoping to hear from a maker who'd actually used one of the two. I went ahead and ordered a 1/2 lb of the Liberon to try for myself. Thanks again.