Storing Stain Rags

I had no idea that my father was hoarding piles of old socks in his basement.

Earlier this week, dad decided that I need to learn how to cut wood and ceramic tile.  I was thrilled to get a lesson, since I enjoy DIY projects.  Our first stop was the basement.

Dad has been working with wood nearly every day since he retired.  His works of art often involve a few coats of stain and polyurethane.  That's where the sock stockpile comes in handy.  My father doesn't like to waste ANYTHING.  A penny saved is a penny earned in his mind.  So, if he can find one final use for socks with holes, he's a happy man.  

Actually, socks work great for staining wood.  While the family jokes about his "cost-conscious" habits, I do think his idea for storing the socks is a good tip.  Whenever dad works on a new project that requires more than one coat of stain or polyurethane, he'll store the used sock in a plastic sandwich baggy overnight.  It keeps the sock moist, so you can use it again for your second coat the next day, etc.  I love learning little workshop tips from my dad.  I'm not sure how he'll feel about this, but every time I discover a hole in my sock, I will think of dear old dad.