#0000 steel wool, the grade for fine finishing
Steel wool comes in grades, and this is the finest one. At #0000 it stops acting like an abrasive and starts acting like a polish. It’s the grade restorers keep on the bench for work that would scratch under sandpaper.
Reach for it to:
- Buff a wax finish to a soft, even shine
- Polish metal hardware bright without stripping the patina
- Clean old glass without scratching it
- Get into corners and around muntins a block can’t reach
Run it dry to polish, or pair it with wax to rub out a finish.
Frequently asked questions
What is 0000 steel wool used for?
#0000 is the finest grade of steel wool, used for fine finishing rather than heavy scrubbing. It buffs a wax finish to a soft, even shine, polishes metal hardware bright without stripping the patina, and cleans old glass without scratching it. It also reaches into corners and around muntins that a sanding block cannot.
Can you use 0000 steel wool on glass?
Yes. At #0000 the grade is fine enough to clean old glass without scratching it. It is the grade restorers keep on the bench for work that would scratch under sandpaper. Run it dry to polish the surface.
Is 0000 steel wool abrasive?
Not in the usual sense. At #0000 it stops acting like an abrasive and starts acting like a polish, so it polishes where sandpaper would leave scratches. It is the fine grade for finishing, not the coarse kind for heavy stripping or scrubbing.
What grade of steel wool do you use on hardware?
Use #0000, the finest grade, to polish metal hardware bright without taking off the patina. You can run it dry to polish or pair it with wax to rub out a finish. Our craftsmen use this ultra-fine grade for polishing hardware, cleaning glass, and applying wax finishes.