If you use 0000 steel wool, as I do on small turnings, first cut a small piece off about the size of you thumb print. Using a large piece can get caught on itself, pull out of your hand and cause a fire because of friction on lathe parts. Not only does it burn fast, but with wood dust in it can cause a big fire. Which brings up part 2..........Keep a fire extinguisher close and easy to get to.

Excellent!

Good Idea.. I use 0000 in my lacquer finishing. It knocks the, just been made, off....Along with Johnson's Wax. They are partners in everything I do!

 

I see the small guys getting pulled into a whizzing piece of wood on a lathe. Wonder how many inches he could grow before he could get to the switch... Thats a thought, I'm only 5' 8

I had some old steel wool that I took to Glen Huey's shop.   The first thing he did was try to set it on fire.   I am not sure if he was testing to see if it was oiled or what.  I have been using Liberon 0000 exclusively in my work.  I believe it is not oily.  And it works great.

 

And as a word of warning, avoid steel wool on water-based finishes  (shards can rust, use Scotch-Brite instead) a  (nd avoid on tannin rich woods like oaks - chemical reaction with iron and tannin makes black stains.  Hence the use of vinegar and steel wool on oak to stain black.

Liberon is great stuff. I don't use it on bare wood at all. Mostly, as a wax applicator over oil based finishes. Dunno how it would be on spinney things. It doesn't come apart really easily. Possibly, it could be used in strips.