In just about every type of craft -- from walls to detailed woodworking -- there's a use for sandpaper and a sanding device. Following is some information on sanding devices and some tips for storing your sandpaper. Sandpaper comes in three basic forms: - Sanding sheets
- Sanding belts for belt-sanders
- Sanding discs for orbital sanders
Sandpaper also comes in a variety of "grits" or grades of texture, from extra fine to extra course. There are also types for sanding wood or for other materials such as metal. To keep your varieties and grades of sandpaper organized and easy to access, consider building a sandpaper storage shelf.
This handy storage system (figure A) is easy to build, consisting of a simple wooden box with shelves.
Slots are dado-cut into the side pieces to accommodate individual shelves (figure B).
Begin with five pieces of wood to form the box. The pieces are miter-cut at their ends so that they can be glued together. Before the box is assembled, slots are dado-cut in the two side pieces at regular intervals (figure C). To make sure that the slots match exactly in the opposing sides, make the dado cuts in a single piece of wood before cutting it in half to form the two sides. Then position the side pieces so that the slots line up (figure D), and glue and clamp the assembly.
Tip : Palm sanders require small squares to cover their sanding surface. Rather than buying sanding squares, you may want to make your own. If you build a sandpaper filing system like the one described here, consider marking a template on the top of your storage unit for tearing pieces to size. Here are the steps:
- Place your palm sander on top of the box to get the proper placement and dimensions (figure E).
- Scribe two lines on the top of your box -- one for the length of your sander surface, and one for the width (figure F).
- Mount an old hacksaw blade along the edge of your box to serve as a tearing aid (like the ones on everyday aluminum foil rolls).
- Use the marks and the blade along the edge to tear standard sheets of sandpaper into the squares needed for your palm sander (figure G).
Another handy storage tip for organizing and storing sandpaper is to use an ordinary three-ring binder. Gallon-sized zip-lock bags are the perfect size for holding standard sheets of sandpaper. Simply use a three-hole punch to make holes in the edges of these zip-locks so they can be used like leaves in a notebook. Store your sheets of sandpaper in the individual bags (figure H) according to variety and grit-number. The zip-lock bags will also help protect the sandpaper from moisture. You can also store the discs used for rotary sanders in this way. Orbital sanding discs have a backing that helps them adhere to the sander (figure I). These discs are not cheap, and storing them carefully in this manner will help prevent their getting lost or damaged. Belts (figure J) for a belt sander are fairly expensive as well. To prevent loss or damage to belt material, store it safely on a hook or on your pegboard (figure K).
RESOURCES :
The Small Wood Shop (The Best of Fine Woodworking)
Author: Helen Albert (Editor)
Publisher: Taunton Press
ISBN: 1561580619
Special thanks for DIY's The Ultimate Workshop
Popular Woodworking magazine
Web site: www.popularwoodworking.com
American Tool
Web site: www.americantool.com
Black and Decker
Web site: www.blackanddecker.com
Ryobi Technologies Inc.
Web site: www.ryobitools.com
Stanley Tools
Web site: www.stanleyworks.com
Vermont American
Web site: www.vermontamerican.com
Setting Up Shop: The Practical Guide to Designing and Building Your Dream Shop
Model: 156158360X
Author: Sandor Nagyszalanczy
The Taunton Press Inc.
Website: www.taunton.com
The Workshop Book
Model: 1561582719
Author: Scott Landis
The Taunton Press Inc.
Website: www.taunton.com
How to Design and Build Your Ideal Woodshop
Model: 1558704817
Author: Bill Stankus
Popular Woodworking Books
Setting Up Your Own Woodworking Shop
Model: 0806983140
Author: Bill Stankus
Sterling Publishing Co. Inc.
Website: www.sterlingpub.com
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