Save on sandpaper AND have precise control.

[Bills72sj]

I was looking for a way to sand some ridges out of the paint on my 67 Shelby with painted stripes. Folded sandpaper is awkward to hold and sand with fine control. What I needed was a 1:25 scale "long board" sanding block. I figured out how to accomplish all these criteria in one fell swoop.

1" long chunks of Plastruct 7/16" I-beam.

Various grades of sandpaper cut into 1" squares.

Office supply binder clamps (small size)

Simply assemble and sand away. They provide very precise control of what you are sanding. The binder clamps hold the sandpaper securely for you. The size fits very comfortably in your hand. It does not "unravel" when you let go of it. If you mark the clamps like I did, you know what grit you are grabbing. I added mini magnets on my light fixture to always have them at the ready. Using just 1" squares at a time will let your sandpaper go a long way.

[Ace-Garageguy]

Nice thinking.

[Raoul Ross]

That is an excellent idea, Thanx!

[dragstk]

Thats a great idea. Im going to have to steal that one. ?

Thanks for sharing

[Bills72sj]

Thanks guys. Here is a pic of them on my bench.

[Straightliner59]

Excellent idea! 

[Bugatti Fan]

Brilliant idea and so simple!

[Andrew McD]

Very clever!  A simple solution to a problem I frequently encounter.  Thanks for sharing it.

[peteski]

That is pretty clever. I have in the past super-glued strips of wet/dry sandpaper to pieces of strip styrene for some specific tight-quarters sanding applications.  I wet-sanded, so the sandpaper did not get loaded up with the plastic dust, allowing the strips to last for a while.  I do like your idea of the sandpaper being easily replaced on your "sanding blocks".

[Bills72sj]

2 hours ago, peteski said:

That is pretty clever. I have in the past super-glued strips of wet/dry sandpaper to pieces of strip styrene for some specific tight-quarters sanding applications.  I wet-sanded, so the sandpaper did not get loaded up with the plastic dust, allowing the strips to last for a while.  I do like your idea of the sandpaper being easily replaced on your "sanding blocks".

Thanks, If I am going to cut on some sandpaper anyways, I just make a dozen or so squares and tuck them in a little ziplock baggy. At the rate I build, one sheet will last me years.

[Bill Eh?]

I really like this idea. Something that occurred to me, would be to make a variation of the same. If you glued a piece of half-round to the edge of the I-beam, it would be great for sanding tight curved surfaces.

[NOBLNG]

Looks like a great idea!?

[Bainford]

Very nice, Bill. This is a great tip, and I can see adaptations for specific sanding situations. Thanks for sharing.

[Paul Payne]

Again, a great idea, a adaptable using various styrene shapes and even scrap.