Smoothing SMALL areas

beeg · Post by **beeg** » Mon Mar 09, 2009 4:49 pm

I'm making a tug boat toothbrush holder out of walnut. How can I smooth the vertical areas in the wheel house. Which are about 1/4 inch deep and about half inch high. The whole thing is about 3.5 inches high and 8 inches long.[ATTACH]3474[/ATTACH]

tdubnik · Post by **tdubnik** » Mon Mar 09, 2009 5:07 pm

Sandpaper glued to a popsicle stick?

john · Post by **john** » Mon Mar 09, 2009 5:11 pm

I have a small 1/2" plastic sandpaper holder that I sometimes use but I also just glue sandpaper to a small length of wood about 3/4" wide, 1/4" thick and six inches long. Glue a different grade on each side and it comes in real handy.

Good luck.

John

charlese · Post by **charlese** » Mon Mar 09, 2009 7:26 pm

I like John's solution. I also like Popsicle sticks. Years ago in carving class, I bought a box of Popsicle sticks (2500 of them) Still have lots even with giving many away! They are cheap at Michaels or Wal Mart.

You can even use the edge of Popsicle sticks to get into real small places, if you glue sandpaper around the edge.

Another way, if you want to go big - is to buy a SS Strip Sander.

P.S. Nice looking TUG!!

a1gutterman · Post by **a1gutterman** » Mon Mar 09, 2009 9:11 pm

Those are good ideas. Before you sand, if you have any "high" spots (I think I see a couple of them

) the use of a file might shorten the sanding session.

I wonder if the LOML has any emery boards; that might be useful.

horologist · Post by **horologist** » Tue Mar 10, 2009 8:42 pm

Bob,

You have had some good ideas, I also like:

http://www.woodcraft.com/product.aspx?P ... milyID=274

There is also a tool with a narrow strip of sandpaper that mounts like a blade in your scroll saw. I have one somewhere safe... If I ever find it I will give it a try and report.

Troy

john · Post by **john** » Wed Mar 11, 2009 5:02 pm

Those sanding sticks are the same as the ones I referred to as "plastic holders" in my post. The taperd end sometimes allows easier access in some applications.

I also have the scroll saw strips Troy referred to, and like him, they are somewhere where I tend to forget I even have them.

Isn't it amazing how many sanding tools we have?;)

John

Len · Post by **Len** » Fri Mar 13, 2009 8:55 am

While I love my SS, you might consider Dremel.

beeg · Post by **beeg** » Fri Mar 13, 2009 11:47 am

Thanks to all for the suggestions. What I finally used was the Popsicle glued sandpaper and a 1/4" chisel. It took SOME time, but I got the bandsaw marks smoothed out.

kalynzoo · Post by **kalynzoo** » Fri Mar 13, 2009 9:56 pm

I've have experimented and used many methods to smooth and polish small cutouts. First, and least used is a sanding strap which fits on the scrollsaw. It is easy and quick, but there is a loss of control, even at slow speeds. My most used is to cut a small block (like the Popsicle stick but thicker) and use spray adhesive to attach the finest sandpaper I can use. Usually start with 320 then 600. The idea is to remove the saw marks, but not to dig into the square corners. Also you often are going against the grain, so working with fine paper gives a nicer finish. I also keep adhesive backed sandpaper rolls on hand to attached to sanding blocks.
The project looks really nice so far.