Quick Fix: Getting Rid of Dust Nibs in Your Finish

A reader asked last week why their freshly applied finish felt rough instead of smooth. The answer is almost always the same: dust nibs.

What Are Dust Nibs?

Dust nibs are tiny particles trapped in wet finish as it dries. Airborne dust lands on tacky surfaces and gets locked in place. The result feels like fine sandpaper instead of glass.

Prevention Is Everything

The best solution is preventing dust from landing in the first place:

• Clean your workspace thoroughly before finishing
• Wet the floor to keep dust down
• Wear clean clothes (no fuzzy sweaters)
• Filter your finish through a paint strainer
• Work in still air – no fans or open windows

The Fix When It Happens Anyway

Despite best efforts, some dust always finds its way in. Here’s how to deal with it:

Between coats: Once the finish has fully cured, sand lightly with 320-grit paper. This levels the nibs without cutting through to bare wood. Wipe with a tack cloth before the next coat.

On the final coat: Let the finish cure completely (at least a week for oil-based finishes). Then rub out with 0000 steel wool and paste wax, or sand progressively through higher grits (400, 600, 800) and buff.

When to Accept Imperfection

Perfect glass-smooth finishes require near-cleanroom conditions. For most furniture, a few tiny nibs are invisible at normal viewing distance. Spend your effort on proper preparation and application technique rather than obsessing over microscopic imperfections.