Sander Circle Jig
I find myself needing a lot of small circles for use on wooden toys. When I cut those disks out with a circle-cutting jig on the band saw, the edge is a little too rough, so I’ve made a fixture [...]
DEROS Random-orbit Sander
Tool: DEROS Manufacturer: Mirka MSRP: $625 Editor’s note: This review originally appeared in the April 2015 issue of Popular Woodworking. The tool is still available and just as great as [...]
Arbortech Contour Random Sander
Tool: Contour Sander Manufacturer: Arbortech MSRP: $79 I’ve been building a stacked-lamination piece with plenty of concave and convex curves that require a good deal of sanding. Arbortech’s new [...]
Set-up / Sanding Combo
Tool: Table Saw Setup and Sanding Disks Manufacturer: Infinity MSRP: $29.90 This tablesaw set-up/sanding kit from Infinity really hits the mark for me. As I’ve noted in the past, a tool [...]
5 Great Sanding Tricks
Sanding is nobody’s favorite task, but if you use these tricks, you might find it just a little more bearable. Flexible Sanding Tool A complex moulding can be difficult to sand. Softening [...]
Hand-Sanding Helper
Clogged sandpaper is really a pain, rendering useless your sandpaper and your effort. I was mindlessly sanding a project a while ago when I looked at my pile of discarded paper and had a [...]
Workshop Tips: Duct-Taped Sanding Block
Sometimes I prefer to sand by hand using a rubber block. This method gives me a better feel for the work than using a random-orbit sander does. Blocks like mine have been around for many years, [...]
Sanding Our Past Away: Please Take off Your Shoes
Before I give my students their sandpaper for the first time, I ask them if they have noticed the depressions in the treads of our school’s stone stairs. Most of them have not, so I continue to [...]
Workshop Tips: Convex Sander Pad
In the process of refinishing an old chair, I found that my random orbit sander’s flat surface didn’t work for sanding the concave hollow of the seat. My sander uses hook-and-loop paper, so I [...]
Corning and How to Avoid It
What is corning and how do you prevent it from happening? Our finishing expert Bob Flexner tells you how to avoid this common sanding problem.
The Real Reason to Sand and Soften Sharp Edges
Sometime early in your woodworking career you probably learned that you were supposed to sand sharp edges to soften them. What you’re really trying to avoid is “fat edges” when the finish is applied.
Can You Close the Pores in Wood by Sanding with Too Fine a Grit?
Can sanding with very fine-grit sandpaper closes the pores of wood? Bob Flexner investigates this long-standing claim.
